Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 15(8), 721 (1999).

Microfabricated Silicon Flow-Cell for Optical Monitoring of Biological Fluids
Lai-Kwan CHAU*,**, Thor OSBORN*, Cai-Cai WU* and Paul YAGER**
*Center for Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, U.S.A.
**Department of Chemistry, National Chung Cheng University, Ming-Hsiung, Chia-Yi, Taiwan 621, R.O.C.
The feasibility of the optical monitoring of biological fluids, for example, albumin in serum, in a microfabricated silicon flow cell has been demonstrated. This module couples a fiber-optic reflection probe (one emitting fiber and six receiving fibers) to a small-volume silicon flow-cell (in ml range) for reflection-absorption measurements. The coupling efficiency of light between the optical fibers in such a system has been calculated (7.07%), and its optimum values (19.5% - 19.6%) as a function of the cover glass thickness and the silicon channel depth predicted. (Keywords: Optical flow cell, micromachining, albumin)