Integration of Microfluidic assembly with CMOS electronics for Point-of-care devices

Point-of-care (POC) medical diagnostic devices are a rapidly growing field of research both in the western world and in Low-and-Middle-income countries. One common feature of POC devices is that they all require complex microfluidic manipulation of samples such as blood, urine, saliva, and liquid reagents, and so on. Therefore, it is essential for POC IVD systems to have built-in liquid-handling capabilities in order to achieve the efficiencies of traditional laboratory based operations. While CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) integrated circuits are the backbone of sensor electronics necessary for such POC applications, the integration of microfluidic assembly with CMOS is still in its nascent state. This is of particular importance when the POC devices are targeted for hand-held applications and operated by patients or health-care providers with low technological knowhow. In a resource poor setting (e.g., remote LMIC locations), it is expected that the sensor electronics and the micro-fluidic assembly will not only be integrated in hand-held format but will also operate with minimal external intervention. This necessitates number of innovations that will ensure sample filtering, reagent reservoirs, active pumps, wash steps etc., all in a tiny match-box sized device.

This is a four-year PhD that will be undertaken within the Centre for Doctoral Training in Intelligent Sensing and Measurement. See http://www.cdt-ism.org for programme details and information on how to apply.