5 ms·
Pros: existing tools and knowledge transfer over, d-subs have been field proven and plenty of experience exists for folks who worked with them. Cons: it is now
by palijer 4y ago
Pros: existing tools and knowledge transfer over, d-subs have been field proven and plenty of experience exists for folks who worked with them.
Cons: it is now possible to connect microfluidic connections to electrical, or use the wrong sort of couplers, or a bunch of other issues that pose risks to new uses and existing usages of electrical d-sub connections.
Like, imagine if they used regular Edison power cables, or HDMI etc. Sometimes there are good reasons not to use existing standards.
- MisterTea 4y ago> Edison power cables Edison power cable?
- dark-star 4y agoI don't think there is any real danger in connecting an "electrical" sub-d to a "fluid" sub-d. You'd just have a non-working connection from both sides. It's similar to many devices having RJ-45 serial console ports, that look like network ports, and if you accidentally connect the wrong cable to it, nothing bad happens. On the other hand, I could really see hybrid connectors as a solution, i.e. have 4 electrical pins and 5 fluid pins. That way you could have some signalling between the devices and not start pushing fluid through the tubes unless a "correct" device is attached.
- actionfromafar 4y agoI think the Borg used that.
- yuubi 4y agoif a pin expects rs232, and you give it 120v ac, or saline,
- dodslaser 4y agoWhy not both?
- kube-system 4y ago> One of the key barriers to the widespread adoption of microfluidic technology outside of specialized research laboratories (e.g. in clinical settings) is that microfluidic devices are often complex to operate. If their goal is to make something for clinical applications, having an unexpectedly non-working connection could be a problem. Non-"standard" RJ45 and DB9 connections are notorious for confusing end users.
- dekhn 4y agoThe fluids contain charges and salts, I could see all sorts of corrosion and shorting damage.
- nyanpasu64 4y agoWe're fast approaching HDMI to garden hose connectors in real life.
- elil17 4y agoI wouldn't really say that it's a proven technology because the core issue for microfluidic applications is having a air- and water-tight connection, which is not proven out by electrical connectors of any sort.