Inline Viscometer for Microfluidics
Compact and easy-to-use for flow experiments
Wide range of viscosities
Measure any type of liquid with high accuracy
Drift detection
Know if issues prevent reliable measurement
Compact with small sample volume
Avoid sample waste
Need a microfluidic SME partner for your Horizon Europe project?
Inline viscometer for microfluidics
Accurately measuring viscosity in microfluidic systems can be challenging, especially when working with diverse fluids. Current solutions often require large volumes of samples (> 1mL) and do not allow easy switching between successive measurement conditions (liquids, temperature …).
Our new inline viscometer addresses these issues by measuring a wide range of viscosities, harnessing microfluidic technologies to provide seamless liquid switching at different temperatures. Compact and requiring very small sample volumes, this viscometer offers a practical, reliable solution to simplify your workflow.
Setup
Pressure-driven flow controller, syringe pump, or peristaltic pump
Flow sensor (e.g. Galileo, optional)
Inline Viscometer
Reservoirs
Tubings and fittings
User guide
Software
The inline viscometer was designed to be effortlessly included in your current setup, whether you use pressure-driven flow controllers, syringe pumps, or peristaltic pumps. You connect its inlet to the outlet of your reservoir or syringe and its outlet to your chips. It’s controlled by a dedicated software for data storage, but you can also read the measurements in real-time on the screen.
Reservoirs, tubing and connectors are all commercially available, can be reused or disposable, and can be bought separately, either sterile or not. The system was conceived to work with any type of chip, whether it’s commercial or home-made.
Viscometer applications
Some biological applications of our inline viscometer include:
- Blood analysis
- Real-time reaction monitoring
- Quality check for nanoparticles production
- Advanced diagnostics
- Polymer characterization
And many more!
The inline viscometer comes with pre-calibrated liquids and the following specifications:
Inline Viscometer technical specs
The inline viscometer comes with pre-calibrated liquids and the following specifications:
| Components | Technical Specifications |
|---|---|
| Viscosity | 0.2 to 100,000 cP |
| Minimum sample volume | 0.1 mL |
| Wetted materials | PEEK, Silicone |
| Sterilization | Not autoclavable, sanitization protocol available |
| Temperature range (hardware) | 10 to 70ºC, incubator-friendly |
Download the MIC Horizon Europe 2026/2027 Calls Calendar:
Funding and Support
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon research and innovation program under HORIZON-EIC-2022-TRANSITION-01, grant agreement no. 101113098 (GALILEO). It has also received funding from the European Union’s Horizon research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreements no. 101119956 (DarChemDN) and agreement No 956387 (LasIonDef), and EIC Pathfinder program of 2024 (Project ERMES).
Products & Associated Accessories
FAQ - Inline Viscometer
What is the MIC Inline Viscometer?
It is a compact instrument that measures the viscosity of liquids in real time inside a microfluidic flow setup, designed to connect between your reservoir or syringe and your chip.
What problem is it meant to solve?
Conventional viscosity measurement methods often need large sample volumes (the page states more than 1 mL) and do not let you switch easily between successive conditions such as different liquids or temperatures. This device is presented as needing very small volumes and allowing seamless liquid and temperature switching.
What viscosity range does it cover, and how much sample does it need?
- Viscosity range: 0.2 to 100,000 cP
- Minimum sample volume: 0.1 mL
What temperatures does it support, and can it be sterilized?
- Hardware temperature range: 10 to 70 ºC, described as incubator-friendly.
- Sterilization: not autoclavable; the manufacturer says a sanitization protocol is available.
How does it fit into an existing microfluidic setup?
It is designed to drop into existing setups using a pressure-driven flow controller, a syringe pump, or a peristaltic pump. You connect its inlet to the outlet of your reservoir or syringe, and its outlet to your chip. It is run by dedicated software for data storage, and measurements can also be read in real time on an on-device screen. It is stated to work with any chip, whether commercial or home-made.
Can it be used to measure apparent viscosity of Non-Newtonian fluids?
This viscometer can be used with any Newtonian fluid for now. Let us know if you would like to analyze Non-Newtonian fluids with our viscometer (“Contact us” button on top right).
Can it be used as a stand-alone viscometer?
Yes. You would just need a source of flow connected to the viscometer.
Will I lose any sample?
No. You can collect your sample back, both in the inline and the standalone configurations.
Can it be placed inside the incubator?
Yes, the inline viscometer is incubator-friendly.
