The report first provides an overview of this technology which covers definitions, general product categories, and issues which will impact the continued growth and commercialization of microfluidic devices. These issues include packaging, assembly, market hype, integration, fluid dynamics on the microscale, and interconnection difficulties. The report then looks at those involved in the research, development, design, and fabrication of microfluidic devices, and provides profiles of manufacturers, universities, government laboratories and other major organizations, both in the United States and abroad. The report includes sections on technology, including discussion of the major product categories, microfabrication techniques, new developments via recently issued patents, and applications by end-use, including those which are currently available, as well as those still under development. The report concludes with a discussion of where microfluidics technologies and markets will head beyond 2003.
Appendices cover important terminology, publications, and professional organizations.
BCC based data projections on a variety of factors including technological developments, key issues, commercial reality, and placement of this technology within the product lifecycle, among other conditions, which BCC discusses where appropriate. All dollar projections are in 1998 constant dollars.