University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Capacitive droplet sensing system for a microdialysis neural probe

Licudine, Alyssa

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109150

Description

Title
Capacitive droplet sensing system for a microdialysis neural probe
Author(s)
Licudine, Alyssa
Contributor(s)
Vlasov, Yurii
Issue Date
2020-12
Keyword(s)
  • Microfluidics
  • Microdialysis
  • Neural probe
  • Interdigitated electrodes
  • Capacitive sensing
  • Relaxation oscillator
Abstract
This thesis presents the construction and design choices behind an on-chip capacitive droplet-counting and content-sensing system that will enhance temporal and spatial resolution of neurochemical sensing of a silicon microdialysis neural probe. The parameters of a coplanar interdigitated capacitor system were optimized to the microfluidic channel design of the probe through theoretical analysis, simulations via finite element analysis, and testing of the fabricated designs. The performance of these designs was assessed by the differential capacitance measured between water and oil droplets; a larger differential allows for more accurate distinction between the two liquids as they pass through the sensor. The use of a relaxation oscillator circuit as a method of measurement for sufficient resolution of sub-picofarad differentials, along with techniques for de-embedding shunt and stray capacitance contributions, are explored. The resulting droplet counting system achieves 0.01 pF resolution within one second and enables facile, on-line, on-chip droplet detection, consequently improving temporal, spatial, and chemical resolution when analyzing the samples with various options for sensing modalities, including capacitance, electrochemistry, and mass spectrometry.
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109150

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