Project Design

The DX-Demo is a automated testbed that combines innovative biological processes to demonstrate the ability to rapidly decrease the time of accurate diagnosis. In the future, this product would be used to analyze blood samples to assist medical professionals to diagnose and choose successful treatment plans. Currently, the goal of this project is to demonstrate how combining standard biology lab practices with automation can advance the medical field and improve the quality of healthcare. In order to achieve this, the design includes a collaboration of both mechanical and electrical based subsystems that will aid in demonstrating multiple complex bio-tech and diagnostic sub-processes. The DX-Demo Testbed is a steppingstone towards what could be a game changer in the bio-medical field in years to come. ​

The Final Product

Biological Processes Simulated:

  • Thermocycling: The heating and cooling of a fluid is utilized for a biomedical process called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Through the use of the Thermocycler, DNA sections can be quantified (or amplified) without the degradation of RNA in a series or cycles of temperature changes. This process aids in detecting the presence or absence of a gene to help identify pathogens during infections.

  • Sonication: Ultrasonic frequencies are used for a process called Cell Lysis which is essentially just the breaking down of the membrane of a cell. This is done through the generated waves from the Ultrasonic Transducer. The intensity of these waves increase the permeability of biomass cell walls by generating cavitation events. This aids in rupturing the cell wall, allowing for the release of intracellular constituents such as DNA.

  • Magnetic Separation: Magnetism is utilized in microfluidic technologies to locate desired molecular targets. In this process, magnetic nanoparticles are created to bind to targets, so that when an external magnetic field (via the Magnetic Linear Actuator) is applied, separation of the molecular targets occur. This aids in the separation of small molecules, proteins, tissues, organisms, and inorganic materials, therefore having the potential to detect and monitor bacterial, viral, and other pathogenic contamination.

  • Optical Examination: Optical photonics is used to examine the way that light interacts with biological substances. When conditions of pathology (disease) are present, the absorption, scattering fluorescence, amplitude, wavelength, and polarization properties of light passing through a biological sample often undergo significant changes that are measurable through optical examination. This aids in non- or minimally-invasive, high resolution, rapid-real-time measurements differentiating healthy and diseased conditions at their earliest stages.

System Level Diagram

Subsystems:

  • Cartridge

  • Emptying Container

  • Electrical Box with a Custom Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

  • Fill Container

  • Laser Diode

  • Linear Axis Microscope Camera

  • Magnetic Linear Actuator

  • Photodiode and Blackbox

  • Solenoid Valves

  • Syringe Pump

  • TEC Module Assembly with an RTD Sensor

  • Ultrasonic Transducer