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Optimal microchannel design using genetic algorithms

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Abstract

This paper presents a novel method of optimizing particle-suspended microfluidic channels using genetic algorithms (GAs). The GAs can be used to generate an optimal microchannel design by varying its geometrical parameters. A heuristic simulation can be useful for simulating the emergent behaviors of particles resulting from their interaction with a virtual microchannel environment. At the same time, fitness evaluation enables us to direct evolutions towards an optimized microchannel design. Specifically, this technique can be used to demonstrate its feasibility by optimizing one commercialized product for clinical applications such as the microchannel-type imaging flow cytometry of human erythrocytes. The resulting channel design can also be fabricated and then compared to its counterpart. This result implies that this approach can be potentially beneficial for developing a complex microchannel design in a controlled manner.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Institute of Advanced Machinery & Design, Seoul National University, Shillim 9-dong Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Hyunwoo Bang, Won Gu Lee, Hoyoung Yun, Junggi Min & Dong-Chul Han

  2. Digital Bio Technology, Inc., Shillim 9-dong Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea

    Junha Park

Authors
  1. Hyunwoo Bang
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  2. Won Gu Lee
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  3. Junha Park
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  4. Hoyoung Yun
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  5. Junggi Min
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  6. Dong-Chul Han
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dong-Chul Han.

Additional information

This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Hong Hee Yoo

Hyunwoo Bang was born in Korea on June 2, 1978. He received the B.S. degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea in 2001 and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering from Seoul National University in 2007. He did postdoctoral research at University of California Los Angeles, CA that involved the integration of functional biological components into engineered devices with Prof. Jacob J. Schmidt from April 2007 to August 2008. His current research interests include microfluidics based Lab-on-a-chip devices and their design optimization using artificial intelligence.

Dong-Chul Han received the B.S. degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, in 1969, and the Dipl.-Ing. and Dr.-Ing. degrees from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany, in 1975 and 1979, respectively. He also received the Habilitation from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Karlsruhe. He had been a professor in the school of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University from 1982 to 2008. His research interests include active magnetic bearing systems, mechanical lubrication, Bio-MEMS (MicroElectroMechanical Systems) and nano-fabrication.

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Bang, H., Lee, W.G., Park, J. et al. Optimal microchannel design using genetic algorithms. J Mech Sci Technol 23, 1500–1507 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-009-0403-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-009-0403-7

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