Packaging for Bio-micro-electro-mechanical Systems (BioMEMS) and Microfluidic Chips

In the last two decades, fundamental and application-driven research on microfluidics and bio-micro-electro-mechanical systems (BioMEMS) has flourished in academia and industries and has begun to make impact on medicine and biosciences. Packaging of these systems is an integral if not critical part of the device/system design and function. Because the applications and the designs of the chips are wide ranging, it is difficult to achieve a universal packaging scheme that meets the requirements of all applications. Instead, research and manufacturing practices of each type of biochip have come up with specialty techniques. This chapter will review these techniques in the specific contexts of the chip applications, as well as materials requirements. In addition, we will highlight common and advanced practices and point out research needs in these areas.