Figure 1. Axotomy chip overview.

A schematic top-view of the microfluidic chip. The loading chamber is used to house the animals throughout the automation process. The staging area isolates a single worm from the whole population kept in the loading chamber and sends it to the trapping area for immobilization and axotomy. The T-shaped trapping area with a sieve structure enables rapid immobilization of single worms. 3D interconnects enable access to the fully sealing valves to enhance the repeatable localization of worms against the sieve structure in the trapping area by completely stopping the flow to the exit outlets. After each axotomy, the flushing inlet guides the flow to take the worm through one of the outlets.