3D-Printed Microfluidic Sensor in Substrate Integrated Waveguide Technology

This paper presents a microwave microfluidic sensor based on a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity, fabricated using 3D printing technology. 3D-printing is a very attractive manufacturing technology, which allows reduction in manufacturing time, costs and complexity. The proposed sensor consists of a meandered micro-pipe inside an SIW cavity, where the sample fluid can be easily injected. The electrical properties of the sample fluid are determined from the shift of the cavity’s resonant frequency and quality factor. The design of the 3D-printed microfluidic sensor is described, along with the experimental validation of a prototype by the characterization of several fluids.