Fluidic Sorter for Microtransponders

描述（由申请人提供）：我们建议开发一种基于流体的微转发器自动分选器，以补充现有的PharmaSeq仪器和试剂系列。PharmaSeq提供超小型光动力微转发器和基于流体的台式流量读取器，作为执行复杂生物测定的工具。微转发器是500 × 500微米和250 × 250微米的电子芯片，采用标准的CMOS工艺生产，包含用于电源的光电池、数字逻辑、ID存储器和射频发射天线。这些芯片是独立的，在潮湿或干燥的条件下都能很好地工作。主要项目目标是生产一个分拣器，它使用交叉流将芯片路由到基于微应答器ID的选定输出端口。这种优选的方法采用低压调节器、电磁阀、输送液体和低质量芯片作为唯一的运动部件，这表明高速、高可靠性、低成本的分选系统是可行的。分选器将包含一个ID读取器来识别微应答器和一个路由器模块来操作它。自动分选器将使微应答器上的组合化学成为可能，从而加速药物的发现。在平行应用中，该分选器还将降低用于DNA和蛋白质多重分析的微应答器试剂盒的成本。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to develop a fluidics-based automated sorter for microtransponders to complement the existing line of PharmaSeq instruments and reagents. PharmaSeq provides ultra-small light-powered microtransponders and a fluidics-based bench-top flow reader as tools to perform complex bioassays. The microtransponders are 500x500 micron and 250x250 micron electronic chips, produced with standard CMOS processes, and contain photocells for power, digital logic, memory for an ID, and an RF transmitting antenna. The chips are self-contained, and function well in wet or dry conditions. The main project goal is to produce a sorter which uses cross-flow to route chips to a selected output port based on the microtransponder ID. This preferred method employs low pressure regulators, solenoid valves, transport liquid, and the low mass chips as the only moving parts, suggesting that high-speed, high-reliability, low-cost sorting systems are feasible. The sorter will contain an ID reader to identify a microtransponder and a router module to manipulate it. An automatic sorter would enable combinatorial chemistry on microtransponders, accelerating drug discovery. The sorter, in a parallel application, will also reduce the cost of microtransponder kits for DNA and protein multiplex assay.