Lab-on-Chip Pogo Pin

A lab-on-chip (LOC) pogo pin is a specialized electrical connector designed to facilitate reliable and precise signal and power transmission between a lab-on-chip device and external measurement or control systems. Lab-on-chip technology integrates multiple laboratory functions onto a single microfluidic chip, enabling miniaturized, automated analyses in fields such as biotechnology, medical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring. The pogo pin, with its spring-loaded design, plays a critical role in establishing temporary yet robust electrical connections to the chip’s microelectrodes, which are essential for detecting analytes, controlling fluid flow, or powering on-chip components.

The key features of a lab-on-chip pogo pin include its small size, high precision, and ability to maintain consistent contact pressure. These pins are typically miniature, with diameters ranging from 0.2 mm to 1 mm, allowing them to align with the tiny electrodes on lab-on-chip devices, which may be spaced just a few micrometers apart. The spring-loaded mechanism ensures that the pin maintains a stable contact force—usually between 10 and 50 grams—even if there are slight variations in the chip’s position or thickness, preventing intermittent connections that could compromise data accuracy. This is particularly important in dynamic lab-on-chip applications, such as real-time monitoring of chemical reactions, where continuous, reliable signal transmission is essential.

Material selection is crucial for lab-on-chip pogo pins to ensure compatibility with the chip’s environment. Many lab-on-chip devices use corrosive reagents or operate in humid conditions, so the pins are often plated with noble metals like gold or palladium, which offer excellent corrosion resistance and low electrical resistance. The spring inside the pin is typically made of stainless steel or beryllium copper, materials chosen for their durability and ability to maintain spring tension over thousands of connection cycles—important for reusable lab-on-chip systems.

In operation, lab-on-chip pogo pins are often arranged in custom arrays that match the layout of the chip’s electrodes. This array is mounted on a probe card or test fixture, which positions the pins precisely over the chip. When the chip is loaded, the pins make contact with the electrodes, enabling the transfer of electrical signals for tasks such as impedance sensing, amperometric detection, or electrokinetic fluid control. For example, in a glucose-sensing lab-on-chip, pogo pins connect the chip’s working and reference electrodes to a potentiostat, allowing for accurate measurement of glucose concentration via electrochemical reactions.

Designing a lab-on-chip pogo pin system requires careful consideration of alignment accuracy, contact force, and signal integrity. Misalignment by even a few micrometers can lead to missed connections or short circuits, so fixtures often include micropositioning stages to ensure precise alignment. Additionally, the pins must be designed to minimize signal noise, which is critical for detecting weak electrical signals from low-concentration analytes. Shielded pogo pins or coaxial designs are sometimes used to reduce electromagnetic interference, ensuring that the measured signals accurately reflect the on-chip processes.

 lab-on-chip pogo pins are indispensable components that bridge the gap between microscale lab-on-chip devices and macroscale instrumentation, enabling the high-performance, automated analyses that make lab-on-chip technology so valuable in modern research and diagnostics.

Read recommendations:

European standard socket five-piece set

Manufacturer of magnetic connector

European standard external thread charging gun terminal

High - frequency Quick insertion and removal of pogopin for PCBA

Performance Testing of Double - Ended Pogo Pins