TTP Ventus and Sensirion collaborate on high-performance microfluidic driver

• TTP Ventus Disc Pump combined with Sensirion liquid flow sensor
• Together, technologies provide exceptional liquid flow control
• New system suitable for laboratory testing and product prototyping

Cambridge, UK, 07 October 2020: Micropump manufacturer TTP Ventus Ltd today announces its collaboration with Sensirion AG – a leading manufacturer of high-quality sensor solutions – on the design of a compact high-performance microfluidic driver. The system has been created to support laboratory prototyping and product development for a wide range of microfluidics applications, from laboratory test systems, to diagnostics and analytical instruments. The companies have made the design available online for customers to recreate and adapt to their needs.

The companies have integrated Sensirion’s next-generation SLF3x series liquid flow sensor with TTP Ventus’ Disc Pump Evaluation Kit, taking advantage of the class-leading capabilities of each technology. The resulting stand-alone system provides a closed-loop, constant flow rate source for high-precision applications.

The system operates on a “pressure-driven flow” or “air over liquid” principle, where gas pressure generated by the pump is used to drive liquid flow through the microfluidic circuit. If cross-contamination between liquids must be avoided, Sensirion’s LD20 single-use sensor can be used instead of the SLF3x sensor series. This separation of the pump from the liquid supports the reusable-consumable model widely adopted in diagnostic and analytical instrumentation, with the pump located in a reusable part of the system and the liquid path and sensor in a consumable.

The micropump’s pulsation-free pressure generation delivers smooth liquid flow with none of the oscillation often seen with conventional technologies, such as peristaltic pumps. This brings a number of benefits, including the ability to create laminar flow, reduction of measurement noise, and gentle handling of delicate materials. The pump also provides excellent pressure control which, together with the high-resolution capability of the sensor, result in unrivalled liquid flow control.

Both technologies offer a wide dynamic range, enabling flow control over several orders of magnitude, from microlitres a minute, to several millilitres per minute, providing full flexibility when designing flow control protocols. The closed-loop flow regulation enables the system to respond to full-scale set point changes in just a few seconds, enabling protocols to be sped up, and minimising wastage of precious or expensive materials.

Tom Harrison, Business Development Manager, TTP Ventus, commented:
“With this collaboration, we wanted to show what is possible by combining TTP Ventus and Sensirion technology. We’ve demonstrated exceptional flow control with components small enough to be integrated into portable point-of-care devices.”

Susanne Pianezzi, Product Manager Liquid Low Products, Sensirion, added:
“We hope the system we’ve created will provide a platform for product development and prototyping across the life science and industrial sectors, supporting the creation of a new generation of microfluidics devices.”

A guide to setting up the system, together with ordering information, is available online at www.ttpventus.com/microfluidics-driver-pr.

Media Contact Information: 

For further information please contact:

TTP Ventus Ltd
Tom Harrison
Tel: +44 1763 262626
Email: tom.harrison@ttpventus.com

Sensirion AG
Barbara Thurnherr
Tel: +41 44 306 40 00
Email: media@sensirion.com

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About TTP Ventus www.ttpventus.com
TTP Ventus manufactures the Disc Pump range of award-winning micropumps, which are enabling innovation across sectors from medical and life sciences, to environmental and defence. The pumps deliver high pressure and flow, silent operation, rapid response time, accuracy, infinite turn-down ratio and ultra-smooth flow – all in a tiny package, to support product innovations through wearability, portability, and simplicity.

Disc Pumps excite a high-frequency acoustic standing wave in a fixed-volume cavity. A patented ultra-fast valve technology rectifies this standing wave to deliver pumped flow. The platform has been recognised with awards including the Institute of Physics’ Business Innovation Award and Business Weekly’s Disruptive Technology Award.

Formed in 2016, as a spin-out from The Technology Partnership (TTP Plc), TTP Ventus is based in Cambridge, UK and is focused on the manufacture and supply of the Disc Pump range.

About Sensirion www.sensirion.com
Headquartered in Stäfa, Switzerland, Sensirion AG is a leading manufacturer of digital microsensors and systems. Its product range includes gas and liquid flow sensors, differential pressure sensors and environmental sensors for the measurement of humidity and temperature, volatile organic compounds (VOC), carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5). An international network with sales offices in the USA, Europe, China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea supplies international customers with standard and custom sensor system solutions for a wide range of applications. Sensirion sensors are commonly used in the medical, industrial and automotive sectors, and in analytical instruments, consumer goods and HVAC products.

One of the hallmark features of Sensirion products is the use of its patented CMOSens® Technology, which allows for intelligent system integration of the sensor element, logic, calibration data and digital interface on a single chip. Sensirion's credentials as a reliable supplier are evident from its loyal customer base, reputation for quality (ISO/TS 16949) and excellent customer pedigree.