Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Platform Technologies for Molecular
Diagnostics Near the Patient's Bedside
Soeren Schumacher, Christine Lüdecke, Eva Ehrentreich-Förster
and Frank F. Bier
Abstract It is believed Lab-on-Chip systems will become a mainstream tech-
nology within the next centuries. Especially because of new findings in molecular
medicine and global trends such as the changing global population in third world
countries and an ageing population in industrial countries, the need for fast and
reliable diagnostics is rising tremendously. Hence, diagnostics have to become
more frequently and more easily available. In this regard, technologies have to be
found that enable the cost-effective production and hence an affordable price. In a
joint-project between seven Fraunhofer institutes a Lab-on-Chip system was
developed which consists of a credit-card-sized cartridge and a base station. The
cartridges contain besides the reagents necessary for a specific assay also func-
tionalities such as pumping or heating enabling a self-contained system without
any fluidic interfaces, which tend to be error-prone. Because of the modularity of
the system it is possible to integrate an optical sensor as well an electrochemical
sensor into the cartridge. Hence, the system can be customized to serve the needs
of the particular assays. This chapter will describe the system including generic
design rules for such Lab-on-Chip systems, the development of these rules into a
modular Lab-on-Chip system, the integration of biomedical assays, and the pro-
duction possibility of this system.
Contents
1
Introduction..........................................................................................................................
76
2
ivD-Platform ........................................................................................................................
77
2.1
Technical Design ........................................................................................................
77
2.2
Cartridge......................................................................................................................
78
2.3
Possible Sensors: Optical or Electrochemical ...........................................................
80
On behalf of the Fraunhofer ivD-consortium
S. Schumacher (
)
C. Lüdecke
E. Ehrentreich-Förster
F. F. Bier
Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Branch Potsdam,
Am Mühlenberg 13, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
e-mail: soeren.schumacher@ibmt.fraunhofer.de
URL: www.ivd-platform.de
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