Challenges and solutions of photonic chip integrations into micro-fluidic cartridges

Integrating Photonic-Integrated Circuits (PICs) into microfluidic devices for diagnostics faces several challenges such as handling small PICs, ensuring interface access, managing temperature and UV sensitive coatings, and maintaining bubble-free sample transfer. CSEM offers unique services merging cleanroom packaging, microfluidic design, and prototyping, aiding PIC and diagnostics industry partners. Collaborations with different partners have led to tailored PIC integration solutions for sepsis detection, bioreactor contamination detection, food safety testing, and extracellular vesicle detection. CSEM's packaging for small PICs drastically reduces costs (up to 10-fold) and enhances market competitiveness. Leveraging simulations for fluid dynamics and chemical interaction optimizes development, increasing detection speed in one case by around 4000 times. CSEM has also pioneered in-line degassing, on-cartridge heating, and liquid storage solutions. Our upcoming talk will explore these challenges and present solutions within specific use cases.