Jerry Wilmink

Jon Wells

Ideation Process

Innovation Situation Questionnaire

1. Brief description of the problem

High Bandwidth Detection System to Monitor Metabolic Activity of Single Cells in Subnanoliter Volumes Using Fluorescent Probes and Interdigitated Micro-electrode Arrays Simultaneously

2. Information about the system

2.1 System name

  • Our problem can be segmented in to a number of different facets
  • Design the Hardware for a 256-channel data acquisition system to read out the Hamamatsu photodiode array based on custom designed amplifiers and National Instruments data acquisition boards.
  • Design a Labview Program to control the 256 channel data acquisition system, to read out a high speed Hamamatsu photodiode array, the optical image recording camera and the potentiostat readout of the interdigitated electrode array, and to provide control signals for the valves driving the BioMEMs devices.
  • Design Hardware to interface the Hamamatsu photodiode array with an inverted microscope and the BioMEMs devices.
  • Devise a calibration protocol for the photodiode array.
  • Record the trans-membrane potential of single cardiac myocytes with fluorescent probes and simultaneously record form electrochemical sensors

2.2 System structure

The system includes the following equipment with the specs defined

  • Biomems biosensors
  • Hamamatsu photodiode array to generate an appropriate wavelength to quantify specific dyes.
  • National Instruments data acquisition system used to read out the high speed photodiode array
  • Inverted Microscope to observe and document dyes characteristics, corresponding to discrete wavelengths, within a particular excitable cell.
  • Optical Image recording camera
  • BioMEMS devices to monitor the excitability of the cardiac myocyte, neurons, and endothelial cells.
  • Control unit to handle read out from BioMEMS devices.
  • Labview used to control the 256-channel data acquisition system, read out a high-speed photodiode array, optical image-recording camera, and potentiostat readout of the interdigitated electrode array, and to provide control signals for the valves driving the BioMEMS devices.

2.3 Functioning of the system

Primary Useful Function:

Monitor Metabolic Activity of Excitable Single Cells using BioMEMS

Reason to Perform the primary useful function:

Quantify the effects that various toxins have on cell physiology

Functioning of the System:

Using the inverted microscope and interdigitated arrays the change in metabolic activity is measured and analyzed.

2.4 System environment

Within a sub nano liter BioMEMS device, a cell is altered by the inclusion of toxins

and the cell's alterations are monitored.

The system is held constant otherwise and the cell's normal conditions are compared to the variation that are caused by the toxin inclusions

3. Information about the problem situation

3.1 Problem that should be resolved

Accurate signatures displaying the physiological affects that various toxins have on excitable cells. The eventual implentation of this knowledge leads to the final evolution of a device that could prevent people from being infected by chemical agents.

3.2 Mechanism causing the problem

Chemical Biological Agents

3.3 Undesired consequences of unresolved problem

If the problem goes unresolved, people could be infected with agents or toxins without knowing so in time

3.4 History of the problem

With the inception of recent biological and chemical agent threats from terrorist groups the research is greatly needed

3.5 Other systems in which a similar problem exists

No such system

3.6 Other problems to be solved

Eventually design the system so that the toxins are not only identified by their signatures but the medicine to counter their effects can also be implented into the design of the chip

4. Ideal vision of solution

People will know when toxins and dangerous agents are present in the air, and they can counter the agents with medicine to save their lives

5. Available resources

  • Hamamatsu photodiode array to generate an appropriate wavelength to quantify specific dyes.
  • National Instruments data acquisition system used to read out the high speed photodiode array
  • Inverted Microscope to observe and document dyes characteristics, corresponding to discrete wavelengths, within a particular excitable cell.
  • Optical Image recording camera
  • BioMEMS devices to monitor the excitability of the cardiac myocyte, neurons, and endothelial cells.
  • Control unit to handle read out from BioMEMS devices.
  • Labview used to control the 256-channel data acquisition system, read out a high-speed photodiode array, optical image-recording camera, and potentiostat readout of the interdigitated electrode array, and to provide control signals for the valves driving the BioMEMS devices.

6. Allowable changes to the system

The dyes will be altered to improve the monitoring of flourescence seen by cells

7. Criteria for selecting solution concepts

The dyes will be chosen according to the metabolic functions that want to be displayed with the most efficacy

8. Company business environment

The company produces over 300 BioMEMS each year

9. Project data

High Bandwidth Detection System to Monitor Metabolic Activity of Single Cells in Subnanoliter Volumes Using Fluorescent Probes and Interdigitated Micro-electrode Arrays Simultaneously

Jerry Wilmink Jonathon Wells

e-mail: e-mail:

Progress Report #1

Progress Report #2

  • Design the Hardware for a 256-channel data acquisition system to read out the Hamamatsu photodiode array based on custom designed amplifiers and National Instruments data acquisition boards.
  • Design a Labview Program to control the 256 channel data acquisition system, to read out a high speed Hamamatsu photodiode array, the optical image recording camera and the potentiostat readout of the interdigitated electrode array, and to provide control signals for the valves driving the BioMEMs devices.
  • Design Hardware to interface the Hamamatsu photodiode array with an inverted microscope and the BioMEMs devices.
  • Devise a calibration protocol for the photodiode array.
  • Record the trans-membrane potential of single cardiac myocytes with fluorescent probes and simultaneously record form electrochemical sensors

Advisor:

Franz Josef Baudenbacher

Research Assistant Prof. Physics; Ph.D, Physics, Munich (TUM), Germany, 1994;

39 Referred Papers

Expertise: fluorescence dyes for biological activity, thin film technologies, silicon micromaching, soft lithography, biomagnetism,

Role in DARPA: Co Director responsible for program coordination and oversight.

Role in Project:

Aid the design and fabrication of the proposed system to optimize biosensors and to integrate biological components in BioMEMS structures.

Problem Formulation

1. Build the Diagram

2. Directions for Innovation

12/13/01 12:39:07 PM Diagram1

1. Find an alternative way to obtain [the] (High Bandwidth Detection System to Monitor Metabolic Activity of Single Cells in Subnanoliter Volumes Using Fluorescent Probes and Interdigitated Micro-electrode Arrays Simultaneously) that does not require [the] (Record the trans-membrane potential of single cardiac myocytes with fluorescent probes and simultaneously record form electrochemical sensors).

2. Consider transitioning to the next generation of the system that will provide [the] (High Bandwidth Detection System to Monitor Metabolic Activity of Single Cells in Subnanoliter Volumes Using Fluorescent Probes and Interdigitated Micro-electrode Arrays Simultaneously) in a more effective way and/or will be free of existing problems.

3. Find an alternative way to obtain [the] (Devise a calibration protocol for the photodiode array.) that provides or enhances [the] (Design the Hardware for a 256-channel data acquisition system to read out the Hamamatsu photodiode array based on custom designed amplifiers and National Instruments data acquisition boards.).

4. Find an alternative way to obtain [the] (Design Hardware to interface the Hamamatsu photodiode array with an inverted microscope and the BioMEMs devices.) that offers the following: provides or enhances [the] (Record the trans-membrane potential of single cardiac myocytes with fluorescent probes and simultaneously record form electrochemical sensors), does not require [the] (Design the Hardware for a 256-channel data acquisition system to read out the Hamamatsu photodiode array based on custom designed amplifiers and National Instruments data acquisition boards.).

5. Find an alternative way to obtain [the] (Design a Labview Program to control the 256 channel data acquisition system, to read out a high speed Hamamatsu photodiode array) that offers the following: provides or enhances [the] (Record the trans-membrane potential of single cardiac myocytes with fluorescent probes and simultaneously record form electrochemical sensors), does not require [the] (Design the Hardware for a 256-channel data acquisition system to read out the Hamamatsu photodiode array based on custom designed amplifiers and National Instruments data acquisition boards.).

6. Find an alternative way to obtain [the] (Design the Hardware for a 256-channel data acquisition system to read out the Hamamatsu photodiode array based on custom designed amplifiers and National Instruments data acquisition boards.) that offers the following: provides or enhances [the] (Design a Labview Program to control the 256 channel data acquisition system, to read out a high speed Hamamatsu photodiode array) and (Design Hardware to interface the Hamamatsu photodiode array with an inverted microscope and the BioMEMs devices.), does not require [the] (Devise a calibration protocol for the photodiode array.).

7. Find an alternative way to obtain [the] (Record the trans-membrane potential of single cardiac myocytes with fluorescent probes and simultaneously record form electrochemical sensors) that offers the following: provides or enhances [the] (High Bandwidth Detection System to Monitor Metabolic Activity of Single Cells in Subnanoliter Volumes Using Fluorescent Probes and Interdigitated Micro-electrode Arrays Simultaneously), does not require [the] (Design a Labview Program to control the 256 channel data acquisition system, to read out a high speed Hamamatsu photodiode array) and (Design Hardware to interface the Hamamatsu photodiode array with an inverted microscope and the BioMEMs devices.).