Optical Profiling: A Workhorse for Fast Metrology Analysis of Microfluidic Devices, Micro-Needle Production and Forensics

Vamsi Velidandla, Zeta Instruments, San Jose, CA 95131, United States
Shlomo Rosenberg, Dashro, Shoham, Israel
Nitigya Kathuria, Zeta Instruments, San Jose, Ca 95131, United States

Instrumentation available to scientists today is extraordinary, however often time-consuming and laborious to use. 3D Optical Profilers are gaining popular use in a wide variety of areas, especially in the biological sciences. Biology has always been the messy science, rarely using the rigid metrology tools used in such disciplines like semiconductors. But because of their low cost, minimal preparation, and speed of scanning, these instruments are becoming workhorses in both research and production facilities.

This presentation will highlight application specific uses and real-world examples of 3D Optical profilometry use in: microfluidic device design, microneedle quality control and development forensic applications.

In microfluidics, the 3D Optical Profiler is being used to look inside sealed, transparent devices. Examplesinclude:

An animal reproduction facility to confirm the quality of off-site produced microfluidic devices, measuring the length and width of sealed microfluidic devices used for sperm differentiation
(Figure 1).

Designers are measuring up to 8 separate, layered transparent surfaces, as shown on include measuring the thickness of each layer on a glass slide/coverslide/coverside/silicon stack
(as an example – see Figures 2 & 3)

Over the past 15 years, microneedles have come to the forefront of a revolution in drug delivery, with the potential to replace syringe injections with stable, pain-free, low-cost, dermal microneedle patches. Optical profilers are well suited to monitor production quality as industry ramps up used of these novel drug-delivery mechanisms. (Figure 4)

In forensics, Optical profilers are preferred for their fast, non-contact analysis.
For anti-counterfeiting, countries often use transparent and colorful features on their currency, printed on a mixed, uneven surface. The 3D Optical Profiler quickly provides an accurate 3D profile of the currency in true color and extreme accuracy.  (Figure 5)