Difference between revisions of "Team:Munich/Hardware"

Complete overview of all modular parts of our patogene detection device. The upper left image shows our Quake valve that controls fluid flow that is powered with an air balloon. The image in the middle left shows our portable PCR machine that can processes samples. The image in the lower left shows our Paperstrip where a reaktion mix is stored and the final readout takes place. The image on the right side shows our low-cost fluorescence detector (Lightbringer) that performs the final readout on the paperstrip. Images are clickable and are linked to their corresponding subsection.

The liberation of diagnostic tests from expensive lab infrastructure requires innovative ways of sample processing and measuring. We therefore developed a set of portable hardware tools with the goal of providing an automated sample-to-answer solution. The heart of our system is ‘Lightbringer’, our fluorescence detector, which is capable of measuring kinetics of biological or chemical reactions on paper. Built from 3D–printed parts and standard electronic components, it can be assembled for less than 15$, while offering a sensitivity competitive to commercial fluorescence readers. Additionally, tackling the challenge of sample pre-processing in field, we developed a portable fluidic system system featuring a temperature control unit for lysis and isothermal PCR. Conceiving a platform independent of lab infrastructure, we demonstrate the feasibility of controlling fluid flow with bike tires and air balloons. All hardware components are designed and documented with the aim of enabling the community to reproduce and extend our set of tools.