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Microfluidic technology, the transport and manipulation of small quantities of fluids,  offers the prospect of extending conventional fluid-based technologies to levels of higher resolution or precision, e.g. ink jet printers or micro-reactors and also of developing new technologies that are enabled as a consequence of the minaturization process, e.g. lab on chip and microspheres generation.

As the cross-section of the fluid path is reduced, the surface area/volume ratio increases and the behaviour of the fluid becomes increasingly influenced by the surface component. While the transition from macro to micro is not solely determined by these physical dimensions, typically, we are talking about structures with cross-sections of less than ~0.1 x 0.1 mm (a human hair is ~ 0.1- 0.2mm diameter). 

                                           Array of devices - fluorescent dye to highlight different fluid paths.

Some of the benefits of microfluidic systems are:-

• Highly efficient use of fluids - little waste.
• Continuous or digital flow control of fluids.
• Precise control of fluids.
• Greater control of reaction rates due to thermal & diffusion mechanisms.