FLUIDIC CONNECT 4515
User Manual - Version 1.5

Visiting address Colosseum 15 · 7521 PV Enschede · The Netherlands
Phone +31 53 850 6 850 Fax +31 53 850 6 851 E-mail info@micronit.com Internet www.micronit.com

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CONTENTS
1

INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................

4

2

ASSEMBLY AND ADJUSTMENTS...........................................................................................

5

Step 1: Parts Check.......................................................................
Step 2: Chip Placement.................................................................
Step 3: Placing the Alignment Nuts...................................................
Step 4: Connection of Fittings.........................................................

5
5
6
7

3

FRAME............................................................................................................................

12

4

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS................................................................................................

13

5

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR CONNECTION....................................................................................

15

Tightening force..........................................................................
Stainless Steel / Teflon Connection Kit...............................................

15
16

2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4

5.1
5.2
6

SPECIFICATIONS..........................................................................................................

17

7

PARTS LIST....................................................................................................................

18

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1

INTRODUCTION

This manual describes the use of Fluidic Connect 4515 and the installation of the microfluidic
chips and the Fluidic Connections. Three different connections will be described in this manual:
Fused Silica Connections• fused silica capillaries (375 µm OD, 150 µm ID), 'Nanoport' ferrules and nuts
Stainless Steel Connections• stainless steel tubing (1/16” µm OD, 250 µm ID), 'Flat-bottom' ferrules and nuts
Teflon Connections• teflon tubing (1/16” µm OD, 250 µm ID), 'Flat-bottom' ferrules and nuts
The chip holder has viewing windows in top and bottom parts. These openings allow the chip to
be inspected while in the chip holder, using an inverted or standard microscope. Multiple chips
can be connected in parallel or in series for additional flexibility.
Key features of Fluidic Connect 4515:• User friendly, leak-free microfluidic connections• Easy chip replacement thanks to Fluidic Slide• Improved alignment of the microfluidic chip
• Improved chip support to prevent chip breaking• Chemically inert materials (sealing rubbers, chip and chip holder)• Smaller distance between chip and microscope objective• Larger chip area to detect with microscope objective• Chips can be connected in series or in parallel using multiple holders

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2

ASSEMBLY AND ADJUSTMENTS

In this section, the assembly of the chip holder will be discussed step by step. Please pay
attention to step 4, as this step contains two different assembly methods, depending on thetype of Fluidic Connection Kit that is used.

2.1

STEP 1: PARTS CHECKCheck the parts list on page 18 to see if all the parts are included.

Figure 2.1. All the parts of Fluidic Connect 4515

2.2

STEP 2: CHIP PLACEMENT

Clean the chip holder and place the chip in the chip holder. The user-friendly design allows theuser to push (slide) the chip into the chip holder over a flat surface (see Figure 2.2). Make surethat the arrow on the chip cartridge directs to the holder.

Figure 2.2. Slide the chip into the chip holder

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2.3

STEP 3: PLACING THE ALIGNMENT NUTS

With the Fluidic Connect 4515 two alignment nuts are supplied. The alignment nuts are needed
to guarantee good alignment of the chip and should be used after the chip has been placed in
the chip holder and before the fluidic connections are made.
Screw the alignment nuts into the alignment ports (see Figure 2.3 and Table 2.1). It depends on
the type of chip what ports you should use as alignment ports. You only need to slightly press thenuts into the ports to align the chip properly.
Do not over tighten the alignment nuts; this might damage the chip!
The alignment nuts will position the chip such that the holes in the chip are concentrically to theports in the chip holder.

11

4

5

6

1

10

2

7
8

3

9

Figure 2.3. Screw the alignment nuts gently into the chip holder

Fluidic ports

Alignment ports

Microreactor Chips

2, 4, 8Cross Channel Chips

1, 3, 5, 8

2, 7

Micromixer Chips

6, 8, 103, 7Electrode Chips
Flowcells

3, 7

3, 8

2, 7

2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9

1, 6

Table 2.1. Fluidic ports and alignment ports per chip type

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2.4

STEP 4: CONNECTION OF FITTINGS

Now the fluidic connections can be made. Since different connection types require different
procedures, the connection procedures are described separately below. The procedure for the
Fused Silica Connection Kit is described in Step 4A, for the Teflon and Stainless Steel Connection
Kit the description can be found in Step 4B.
Note that over tightening can break the glass chip, especially when working with a thin-bottom
chip like the R50.332.3 or the X3550CH.3 chip. Use the following protocol to avoid breaking of
microfluidic chips.
Step 1. To tighten finger tight, you should twist the connection with the tip of your thumb andindex finger, until you feel the ferrule pressing onto the chip (tightening resistanceincrease). You should not try to get a better grip on the connection, just proceed withstep 2.
Step 2. After finger tightening, tighten the nut with the extender tool:- another 1/4 round for Flat-Bottom connections (Teflon / Stainless Steel)- another 1/3 round for Nanoport connections (Fused Silica)

2.4.1

STEP 4A - FUSED SILICA CONNECTION KITStep 4A is specifically for the Fused Silica Connection Kit.
1.

Adjusting capillary length
The ‘Nanoport’ ferrules and nuts supplied with the Fused Silica Connection Kit enable low
dead-volume connections, using fused silica capillary tubing of 375 µm outer diameter.
Various tools are available for cutting capillaries to the required length. The capillary canbe cut with a straight edge using a dedicated tool. A well-defined cut is important in order tominimize the dead volume in the connection between the capillary and the chip.
Alternatively, the capillary can be cut using a sharp knife.
ID

SilicaCT
OD

BufferCoating

Figure 2.4. Fused silica
with a polyimide coating

Figure 2.5. Cutting thecapillary

Fluidic Connect 4515 - User Manual V1.5

Figure 2.6. Capillary thathas been cut

7Fused silica capillaries have a protective polyimide coating on the outside (see Figure 2.4).
A scratch can be made into the silica by cutting through the coating with a sharp blade(Figure 2.5). When bending the capillary it will break at the scratch. This is an easy way to
cut the capillary to the required length. Note that the end of a capillary that is cut using theabove procedure generally is not completely straight (Figure 2.6), unlike the end of a precut and polished capillary. The latter are commercially available from various capillarytubing suppliers.
2.

Connecting the ferrules
After cutting the capillaries to length, the ferrules need to be added. First slide the nut overthe capillary (Figure 2.7.1) followed by the sealing ferrule. Either the flat side or theconical side of the ferrule should be flush with the tip of the capillary (Figure 2.7.3). The
capillary should not protrude (Figure 2.7.2).
The ferrule can be used in two different ways:?
with the conical side down, pressed into the conical hole of the chip(lowest dead volume)?
with the conical side up, flat area of the ferrule will be pressed onto the glass(for high pressure connections)
It is advised to use latex gloves during handling, in order to prevent contamination of theferrules. Also rinse the ferrules with deionized (DI) water to make sure they are clean. The
ferrules are made of PERLAST™. This material is chemically resistant to most solvents.

Figure 2.7.1. Fitting over cap

Figure 2.7.2. Wrong

Figure 2.7.3. Like thisAfter fitting the ferrules onto the capillary, the capillary should be rinsed to remove any
glass particles resulting from cutting the capillary. Filtered deionized (DI) water is advisedfor flushing the capillary.
3.

Making fluidic connections
At this stage you can place the fittings in the appropriate fluidic ports (see Table 2.1). The
fittings can be tightened individually by hand using a special extender tool (Figure 2.8).

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Figure 2.8. Using the extender tool for tightening the fittings

4. Visual check
A visual inspection of the ferrules can be performed, revealing if the ferrules properly fit
inside the chip holes or onto the top surface of the chip and to confirm that the capillaries
are aligned with the channels (Figure 2.9).

ChannelCapillary

Sealing rubber
Figure 2.9. Capillary correctly positioned above the channel

When sealing with the conical side inside the hole (which is optional), the intensity of thecolour of the seal will change by tightening the fittings. The reason for this is the increasing
contact area between the sealing rubber and the sidewall of the hole.

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2.4.2

STEP 4B - TEFLON OR STAINLESS STEEL CONNECTION KITStep 4B is specifically for the Teflon or the Stainless Steel Connection Kit.
1.

Assembling the fittings
The procedure is basically the same for stainless steel as for teflon tubing. It is advised toclean the chip holder before assembling, and in particular the fitting assembly hole (port
no. 11). Particles can damage the ferrule. Before cleaning the chip holder, separate the top
from the bottom part using the Allen key.
For the assembly, slide the nut, steel compression ring and ferrule (in that order) onto thetubing. The flattened end of the ring should face towards the nut with the narrow end of theferrule towards the ring (Figure 2.10). For the untrained eye it can be hard to determine
which side is narrower, so double check if you are not sure. The metal ring should be pushed
onto the ferrule, in that way ensuring concentricity of ferrule and ring (Figure 2.11).

Figure 2.10. Fittings orderFigure 2.11. Ensure concentricity ofcompression ring and ferrule

Press the tubing and ferrule to the bottom of the fitting assembly hole (port number 11) inthe chip holder while tightening down the nut (Figure 2.12). Tighten comfortably fingertight. You may use the extender tool to tighten some more, however be sure not to overtighten the ferrule.

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Figure 2.12. Threaded hole for the assembly of ‘Flat-Bottom’ fittings
2.

Ferrule assembly
Check if the compression ring and ferrule are properly mated as shown in Figure 2.13.

Figure 2.13. Proper assembly of compression ring and ferrule

3.

Making fluidic connections
Tighten the fitting in the appropriate fluidic ports (see Table 2.1.) by using the extender
tool as shown in Figure 2.14. No extreme force should be necessary.

Figure 2.14. Tightening the connection

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3 FRAME
The Fluidic Connect 4515 is supplied with the Fluidic Support. The support frame can be used foreasy inspection of the chip from the bottom side. The chip holder can be placed upside down in
the frame (Figure 3.1). Connect the tubing to any auxiliary equipment. The chip holder frame
allows the tubing to be guided straight down or to the sides.

Figure 3.1. Chip holder upside down in the chip holder frame

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4

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

This section answers frequently asked questions.
There are some air bubbles in the connection, how do I remove them?
To prevent air bubbles getting trapped between the connections, it can be helpful to put
some DI water or a bit of the sample fluid in the holes of the chip before making theconnections. When the sealing rubbers are placed, excess liquid will be pressed out of theholes. The connection will be bubble free.
There is no liquid flow.
If you are using low pressure pumps like membrane pumps, the pump may not havesufficient power to fill the system with water. It can help to place the fluid reservoir on ahigher position, thus allowing both capillary action and gravity to help filling the system. Or
try to fill the system with DI water before switching on the pump.
Otherwise check to make sure that the channel is not obstructed by debris or the Nanoport
ferrules. The chips are clean room packed and free of debris, however there is always therisk that somewhere between the clean room and your experiment some particles foundthere way into the chip. Blocking with Nanoport ferrules is possible when the Nanoport
ferrules are used with the conical side pressed in the chip hole and the fittings are tightened
too much. Release the fittings slightly and check whether a flow is present.
The connection leaks during testing.
When the ferrules are not assembled straight onto the glass chip, there can be a leakage.
Assemble the connections again, following the instruction of this manual.
The dead volume seems to increase.
When the bottom side of the sealing rubber is damaged, it will increase the dead volume inthe connection. The area of contact between the sealing rubber and channel becomes
smaller. Check the sealing rubbers and replace them if necessary.
The chips does not fit the chip holder.
Despite the checks at Micronit it is possible that a chip is slightly larger than specified. Thisis an exception. We can rework the chip to the right dimensions.
During my analysis the chip suddenly cracked, how is this possible?
The chip is made of glass, tiny cracks in glass can propagate during your tests when the glassis stressed. If this happens, the connections are most likely too tight. Especially with thinbottom chips this is more likely to occur.

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How many times can I use a ferrule?
Both Nanoport and Flat-bottom ferrules can be used multiple times. There are some factorsthat can reduce the lifespan of the ferrules.
When using the Flat-bottom ferrules it is possible that the ferrule are tightened over theedge of the glass holes, which can damage the sealing area of the ferrule. After reusing theferrule multiple times the damage can be cause leakage and replacing the ferrule isrequired. The damage should be visible to the naked eye.
The seal is created by elastic deformation of the ferrule. Too much tightening can cause
plastic deformation, reducing the ability to create a functional seal.
When using Nanoport ferrules, the ferrules are sensitive to thermal cycles. Unloaded
ferrules can withstand high temperatures up to 200°C, but when compressed to create theseal (applying pressure and torque on the material), temperatures above 50°C are notadvised. Also long term experiments can result in chemical changes of the ferrule, reducing
its function.
I can see fluid flowing in degassing lines, is the chip broken?
The glass chips contain so-called degassing channels; these are non-functional channels
solely used for manufacturing purposes. When you see fluid in these degassing channels,
this does not mean that the chip is broken. Normally there is no water in the degassing
channels, but it is possible that during cleaning or after previous leakage, fluids flows inthese degassing channels from the sides of the chip. When fluids are visible check the fluidic
connections to see if there is no leakage from these fluidic connections.
Is it possible to place the chip holder in a bath with an elevated temperature?
The Fluidic connect has a maximum working temperature of 50-80C depending on theconnection type used. The Nanoport ferrules (supplied with Fused Silica Connection Kit) canonly be used up to 50°C when tightened. The materials used are all corrosion resistant andcan be used under water. Note that when using Nanoport ferrules, there is a chance that theferrules can leak due to softening (which is reversible) of the material when the initialtightening force was insufficient to compensate for this 'loss of physical properties'. The lossof physical properties also depends on the temperature, chemicals used and appliedtightening force (torque). With increasing time at high temperature, chemical changes
occur. These generally cause an increase in hardness, along with volume and compression
set changes.

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5

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR CONNECTION

Please read the tips and tricks before connecting Fluidic Connect 4515.

5.1

TIGHTENING FORCE

Why is the tightening of the connections specified?
1. To create a proper sealing between the ferrule and the chip, the ferrule must be pressedtight against the chip.
2. Once the seal is created, additional force enables a higher back pressure of the fluid, but
the additional force needed for e.g. 100 bars, is relatively small. Tightening finger tightis estimated to be roughly 7cNm of torque.
3. Applying even more torque is unnecessary; it will only stress the chip, possibly breakingof the chip or permanently deforming the ferrule.
The manual says that I should tighten the connection finger tight, how do I know if the connection is finger tight?
Note that over tightening can break the glass chip, especially when working with a thin-bottom
chip like the R50.332.3 or the X3550CH.3 chip. Use the following protocol to avoid breaking of
microfluidic chips.
1. To tighten finger tight, you should twist the connection with the tip of your thumb andindex finger, until you feel the ferrule pressing onto the chip (tightening resistanceincrease). You should not try to get a better grip on the connection, just proceed withstep 2.
2. After finger tightening, tighten the nut with the extender tool:• another 1/4 round for Flat-Bottom connections (Teflon / Stainless Steel)• another 1/3 round for Nanoport connections (Fused Silica)

Figure 5.1. Extender tool, for 1/4 or 1/3 round additional tightening

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5.2

STAINLESS STEEL / TEFLON CONNECTION KIT

The tips and tricks in this section are related to the Fluidic Connect in combination with theStainless Steel or Teflon Connection Kit.
I connected all components according to the manual, but the connections still leak. What can be wrong?
1. Make sure the connections are finger tight (see 5.1. Tightening Force), if so DO NOT
tighten the connections any further, it might break the chip.
2. Check if there is no tension on the tubing, causing the tubing to exert a force on the seal.
3. If the tubing exceeds the ferrule edge, this can cause the problem, see figure 5.2.

B

A
Ferulle andtube incorrect
assembled

Figure 5.2. Assembly of tubing and ferrule

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SPECIFICATIONS

6.1

FLUIDIC CONNECT 4515

Chip Holder• Maximum pressure• Maximum working temperature• Dimensions (l x w x h)
• Material holder: 100 bar / 1450 psi (10 bar for thin bottom chips): 50 °C (with Fused Silica Connection Kit)
80 °C (with Teflon or Stainless Steel Connection Kit)
: 80 x 55 x 9.5 mm: stainless steel 316

Inverter Frame• Maximum working temperature• Dimensions of frame ( l x w x h)
• Material of frame: 80 °C: 100 x 75 x 24 mm: POM (Polyoxymethylene)

6.2

FLUIDIC CONNECTIONS

Fused Silica Connection Kit• Dimensions capillaries• Material nuts
• Material fittings: 360-375 µm OD, 150 µm ID: PEEK (Polyether ether ketone): Perlast ™

Teflon Connection Kit• Dimensions capillaries• Material nuts
• Material fittings: 1/16” OD, 250 µm ID: PEEK (Polyether ether ketone): PEEK (seals) / stainless steel (rings)

Stainless Steel Connection Kit• Dimensions capillaries• Material nuts
• Material fittings: 1/16” OD, 250 µm ID: PEEK (Polyether ether ketone): PEEK (seals) / stainless steel (rings)

6.3

FLUIDIC SLIDE (CARTRIDGE AROUND CHIP)• Maximum working temperature• Material Fluidic Slide: 80 °C: PP (Polypropylene)

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PART LIST

Chip holder (assembled)?
Inverter frame?
Allen key?
Extender tool?
2 Alignment nuts?
User Manual?

Please contact us if you have any questions or if you need help with yourFluidic Connect.
We wish you lots of succes with your microfluidic experiments!

© 2009 Micronit Microfluidics
www.micronit.com

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FLUIDIC PRO
BRINGING YOUR MICROFLUIDIC DESIGNS TO LIFE
Let's say you have a great idea for a microfluidic chip but don't have the time or access to acleanroom environment to fabricate it yourself. Then Fluidic PRO is the solution for you.
The Fluidic PRO prototyping service allows your microfluidic designs to be manufactured in aclass 100 cleanroom by professionals. Fluidic PRO enables you to stay focussed on yourresearch. It saves you time both in design and lab hours, speeds up your research, makes you
more productive and allows you to publish sooner.
Fluidic PRO offers maximum freedom through a wide range of possibilities.
• Customized designs• Glass or fused silica• Wide range of channels depths and widths• Thick- or thin-bottom chips, suitable for confocal microscopy• Integrated electrodes• Up to 4 different designs per batch• Small batches starting with only 12 chips per batch
With 10 years of experience in microfluidic chip manufacturing for science and industry,
Micronit is the perfect partner to outsource your microfluidic chip needs.

HOW TO PROCEED?
Make up to 4 different designs of desired channel layouts, based on the standard 10-hole
pattern. Our design experts will transform them to CAD designs. We will send the designs backto you for a final check, and after your approval we will start processing. After 3 to 4 weeks, youwill receive your chips and you can start your research.
Contact the Micronit sales team to discuss the possibilities and to receive a quotation. Call +31
53 850 6 850 or e-mail info@micronit.com