Skip to main content
Article
Effects of Particle's Off-Axis Position, Shape, Orientation and Entry Position on Resistance Changes of Micro Coulter Counting Devices
Measurement Science and Technology
  • Zhenpeng Qin
  • Jiang Zhe
  • Guo-Xiang Wang, University of Akron Main Campus
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-4-2011
Abstract

With the recent advance in micro/nano-fabrication technology, micro Coulter counters have been widely used in detecting and characterizing micro- and nanoscale objects. In this paper, the electrical resistance change during translocation of a non-conducting particle through a channel is studied numerically. The numerical results are validated by proven analytical results available in the literature. The effects of particle's off-axis position, shape and orientation, and entry position are studied for particles with a large dynamic range. From the numerical results, a new fitted correlation is proposed that can accurately predict the resistance change caused by off-axis spherical particles regardless of their size. The shape and orientation effects of the electrical resistance change are studied by changing the axis ratio of spheroid particles and their orientation angles. Results show that a particle's shape and orientation have a significant influence on the resistance change. Simulation of an entry effect indicates that a particle starts to induce a resistance change before it enters the channel and still causes a resistance change even after the particle exits the channel completely. This study will offer some guidelines in designing and implementing Coulter counting devices and experiments, and provide insights into explaining experimental results.

Citation Information
Zhenpeng Qin, Jiang Zhe and Guo-Xiang Wang. "Effects of Particle's Off-Axis Position, Shape, Orientation and Entry Position on Resistance Changes of Micro Coulter Counting Devices" Measurement Science and Technology Vol. 22 Iss. 4 (2011) p. 045804 - 045804
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jaing_zhe/11/