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This series will focus on integration of an assay from standard laboratory ware, e.g. a microtiter plate, and ‘porting’ it into a microfluidic cartridge. The assay protocol will be managed through an instrument interface, usually a small benchtop or handheld product. To develop a design concept for the overall cartridge, the assay workflow integration needs to be addressed in a step-wise fashion. Whether the assay protocol is a sandwich immune assays, PCR, and cell-based assays, the same considerations apply in the design development. The objective is to create a set of cartridge specifications that will enable design for manufacture while delivering…

“On behalf of the organizing committee for the SoCal Micro and Nanofluidics Symposium, I want to thank you and ALine for your generous support this year. The meeting was a great success and we were very excited to present the $250 awards.  David Li from UCI won the Best Oral Presentation Award, and Janay Kong from UCLA won the Best Poster Presentation Award.” ALine is proud to support students in the UC system who are pursuing careers in biomedical engineering. We look forward to next year’s symposium.

The 4th annual SoCal Micro & Nanofluidics Symposium will be held at UC Santa Barbara this Thursday and Friday, Aug. 24-25, 2017. The symposium brings together students and faculty from across the UC system.  ALine is sponsoring two awards for the best presentations by students, as well as supporting the symposium generally. Speakers spanning mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry, neuroscience and bioengineering will present their work and discuss the future of micro and nanofluidics in biotechnology and medicine. Dr. Levine, President and CEO of ALine commented, “Even though I run a company, I still think of myself as a scientist, and…

Integrate pneumatically controlled valves, pumps, metering channels, vents, and bubble mitigation strategies using ALine’s engineered components to add fluid circuit functionality to your microfluidic design. You provide a schematic of your desired workflow, we provide an efficient and scalable microfluidic circuit chip design integrated with instrument control and an actuation routine. These well-characterized engineered components have been incorporated into tens of thousands of devices over the last ten years. Our technical articles demonstrate their reliable performance over a range of conditions. ALine On-Board Fluidic Components Pressure (psi) Area (mm2) Volume (uL) Specs Valves -10 to +25 6.0 to 10 0.3 to 0.5 <…

The chip to world interface is one of the tougher problems to solve when developing a new microfluidic chip. While there are connectors available, the price can be daunting, pushing up development costs in areas where you’d rather not spend a lot of money. We’ve solved this issue using low cost injection molded, bondable connectors that are multi-functional and simple to bond using epoxy or UV cure adhesives. We routinely use these for custom Lab on Chip development programs, and now offer them for you to integrate into your own device. Bondable Hose Barbs in two styles: elbow or straight, for 1/16″OD or…

In a single-use cartridge for the point of care, why use pneumatic control of on-board diaphragm valves in the cartridge when a linear actuator against a flexible layer works just as well? This question was recently posed by a client as they consider their development path from proof of concept. They envision a couple of different product use environments, one involving a benchtop instrument, and another a portable handheld using battery power. In some cases, the answer might just boil down to personal preference. But from a development perspective,  pneumatically controlled on-board valves offer more flexibility in design of the cartridge….

3D printing lends itself to the manufacture of components which are tailored to specific needs of the end user. For example, an early application of 3D printers was in the manufacture of custom hearing aid shells, designed to fit comfortably into the ear of the individual patient. In dentistry, it has been used to create crowns, mouth guards and braces. Applications in the Life Sciences and Medical Device industry continue to grow as the print resolution, and available materials expand. Exotic applications in tissue engineering, with the goal of producing organs and tissues with defined composition, are being explored. For…

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Stefano Begolo, a recent post doctoral fellow in Rustem Ismagilov’s lab, is joining ALine, in early August 2015. Stefano was a customer while he was working on the Slip Chip technology at CalTech and he enjoyed interacting with us enough to be interested in being part of the team! Stefano’s expertise in microfluidics, his familiarity with assay development and PCR, and his interest in working on a variety of client programs will add tremendous depth to our offering. With his expertise in 3D printing, we plan to offer this capability along with our popular laminate…