Microfluidic thermal component for integrated microfluidic systems

We report the development of a packaged thermal component with integrated sensor for use in integrated microfluidic systems that need to accurately and conveniently control fluid temperature in one or more microfluidic reservoirs. The small surface mounted component can be assembled on a circuit board and encapsulated in biocompatible polymer for use as part of a “lab-on-a-chip” system. Such systems can be readily utilized in miniaturized lab applications that require precision heating, such as cell lysing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sterilization.