Figure 2. Typical research devices which use a set of tubes to allow the insertion of fluids and valve control.

(a) A microfluidic device for cell manipulation with integrated pneumatic valves and external pumping. The connections on the left are for valve control. The others are fluidic connections for cell and medium insertion and removal. (b) A microfluidic device for multiplex toxin detection with external pumping. The inlet connections are the pipette tips on the right, and there is a single negative pressure (suction) pumping on the left. Magnetic valves can be seen in the centre of the chip. (c) A capillary device with a sequence of integrated pumps that allow for different flow rates. The fluids are inserted on the right, and a coloured liquid has been pumped by a two-level capillary pumping scheme.