Advancing Microfluidics Research Using High-Speed Cameras

Microfluidics research involves controlling and studying small amounts of liquid, often confined to channels that are as small as only tens of microns wide. With a consistently growing field of microfluidic applications, high-speed camera systems are utilized for accurate analysis of the quickly changing micro scale fluid dynamics. A typical microfluidic experiment requires camera speeds ranging from 3,000 to 25,000 fps and may be captured in an elongated aspect ratio image. This aspect ratio allows for reduced resolutions and increased camera speed with CMOS sensors used in high-speed video cameras. This article discusses using high-speed cameras for microfluidic data acquisition by delivering images with little noise that easily integrate with image analysis software.