Microfluidic Cartridge for Biological Particle Concentration
A biotech startup customer specializing in advanced infectious diseases diagnostic technologies, approached Gener8 for the development of a low-cost, filtration-based device that concentrated biological particles suspended in liquid from a feed suspension.
Challenges
- Designing a consumable with interfaces that can effectively connect with the instrument
- Overcoming the challenge of multiple pressure and valve interfaces in the instrument
- Achieving compatibility between the consumable and the instrument’s interface design
- Ensuring reliable and secure connections between the consumable and the instrument
Solutions
- Implementing a microfluidic control system using a sliding valve
- Employing a linear actuator in the instrument to achieve precision engagement with the sliding valve
- Advancing the valve through seven different valving states to accomplish fluid control
- Designing ports on the cartridge that interface with a manifold in the instrument to accommodate multiple pressure and vacuum interfaces
- Utilizing multiple materials in the design of the cartridge
- Incorporating assembly processes such as ultrasonic welding and press fits for constructing the cartridge
- Bonding a polycarbonate track etch membrane in place within the cartridge for the internal filter
- Hermetically sealing the internal filter using ultrasonic welding
- Engaging a geared mechanism in the instrument to deploy a 100 mm tubing for sample collection from the bottom of the sample container
- Developing a microfluidic channel design in the cartridge to reduce the velocity of the output while meeting pressure requirements
