The purpose of SAGE is to build a lab on a chip (LOC) with microfluidic and genetic engineering capabilities. By designing a chip with many features and functional locations that can be controlled via software, we can provide a programmable LOC with increased throughput and parallelized functionality that can be used for a variety of applications. In this way, the chip is intended to replace current systems which are much larger and require more equipment. The chip will be fabricated in a high voltage silicon CMOS technology, and will be coated with a hydrophobic layer to encourage droplet forming. A top plate will also be placed above the chip and will flatten the droplet to help maintain good electrical contact with the droplet by the electrodes, or “pixels”.
A chip was to have been submitted for fabrication in September 2014.