Miniature instrument for lab-on-a-chip capillary gel electrophoresis of DNA utilizing temperature control technique

AbstractA complete miniaturized instrument for chip-based capillary gel electrophoresis of DNA with fluorometric detection method and temperature control technique is presented. Separation of single-stranded and double-stranded DNA is obtained in a few minutes utilizing reusable glass chip. Real-time detection is performed using laser-induced-fluorescence and miniature CCD camera. Applied temperature control technique affects mobility of different DNA fragments in polymer sieving matrix. Electrokinetic sample plug injection and separation, temperature stabilization and fluorometric detection are automatically performed in the miniature docking station, controlled by dedicated software with real-time fluorescence signal recognition and digital data conditioning. Presented instrument is automatic, low-cost and portable solution, enabling future application of multitemperature single strand conformation polymorphism (MSSCP) genotyping technique for sensitive detection of minor genetic variants in DNA samples

Vacuum and Residual Gas Composition MEMS Sensor

AbstractThe paper presents a MEMS-type vacuum and residual gas composition sensor, which in contrast to the other miniature sensors, works in medium and high vacuum (10−5−10Pa). It operates on the principle of ionization of gases inside a silicon-glass microchamber. Pressure is estimated on the basis of the discharge current value, and gas composition − on the basis of spectra of the glowing gases, recorded by a miniature fiber spectrometer

Integrated gas chromatograph, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2005, nr 1

A portable gas chromatograph with integrated micromachined flushed injector and thermal mass detector (TCD) has been developed. The silicon/glass injector operatesin a fixed volume (2_7 µL) or electronically operated mode. An integrated, pneumatically operated, fast cross-valve is applied in the injector. The TCD detector consists of two Pt microheaters and thermoresistors packaged in a silicon/glassmicromachined chip. The temperature of two capillary molecular sieve separation columns is controlled by a thick-film heater fabricated on polyimide foil. The chromatograph is equipped with two 16-bits microprocessors communicating with the external portable PC. The instrument may operate in the on-line continuous analysis mode

Inkjet 3D Printed Miniature Water Turbine Energy Harvester-Flow Meter for Distributed Measurement Systems

An energy harvester fabricated by inkjet 3D printing based on miniature water flow turbine with mechanical and electrical components necessary for electrical energy generation is shown. Turbine (outside diameter 25.4 mm (1”) and 14 mm length) is able to generate electric power of 4 mW for 14 L/min of water flow and it gives 0.7 V for optimal load resistance (RL = 55 Ω). The harvester itself may be used as self-suppling water-flow, zero-energetic sensor in the distributed nets of water consumption measurement

Threshold sensor for high-doses of radiation

International audienceMEMS threshold sensor for high-doses of radiation (above 10 kGy) has been design and development. In the sensor, small portion of high density polyethylene (HDPE) is trapped inside silicon-glass MEMS hermetically sealed structure. When the sensor is exposed to ionizing radiation, HDPE degrades and releases atomic hydrogen. The resulting pressure of hydrogen destroys thin silicon membrane of the sensor. The proper parameters of the silicon membrane of the sensor have been selected by simulations in ANSYS softwar

Development of a Thermoelectric and Electromagnetic Hybrid Energy Harvester from Water Flow in an Irrigation System

A hybrid energy harvester is presented in this paper to harvest energy from water flow motion and temperature difference in an irrigating pipe at the same time. The harvester is based on the integration of thermoelectric and electromagnetic mechanisms. To harvest the water flow motion, a turbine fan with magnets that are attached on the blades is placed inside of the water pipe. Multiple coils turn the water flow energy into electricity with the rotation of the turbine. The thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are attached around the pipe, so as to harvest energy due to temperature difference. For a maximum temperature difference of 55 °C (hot side 80 °C and room temperature 25 °C), twelve serial-connected TEGs can generate voltage up to 0.346 V. Under a load resistance of 20 Ώ, the power output of 1.264 mW can be achieved. For a maximum water flow rate of 49.9 L/min, the electromagnetic generator (EMG) can produce an open circuit voltage of 0.911 V. The EMG can be potentially used as a water flow meter due to the linear relationship between water flow rate and output voltage. Under the joint action of TEG and EMG, the maximum terminal voltage for TEG is 66 mV and for EMG is 241 mV at load resistances of 10 and 100 Ώ, respectively, resulting in a corresponding power output of 0.435 and 0.584 mW