A Powerful Partnership: Advancing Microfluidics with Flexdym and Integrated Biochip Solutions
Microfluidic CDMO using Flexdym for diagnostics.
The landscape of medical diagnostics and point-of-care testing is rapidly evolving, driven by the demand for faster, more accurate, and more accessible solutions. At the forefront of this transformation is microfluidics, a field that manipulates tiny volumes of fluids within miniaturized devices.
Eden Tech and MicroMed Solutions have joined forces to push the boundaries of microfluidics, combining the innovative Flexdym material with advanced biochip subsystem technologies for a powerful synergy.
Flexdym: A Next-Generation Material for Microfluidics
Traditional microfluidic devices often rely on PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane). However, Flexdym presents a compelling alternative, offering several key advantages.
Developed by Eden Tech, Flexdym is a flexible, moldable, and transparent material with superior optical clarity, higher chemical resistance, and reduced protein adsorption compared to PDMS. These properties are crucial for sensitive biological applications, ensuring accurate and reliable results.
Moreover, Flexdym is compatible with various manufacturing techniques, including laser cutting, hot embossing, 3D printing, and injection molding, enabling scalability from prototyping to mass production.
MicroMed Solutions: Expertise in Biochip Subsystem Integration
- Fluid Handling: Precise metering down to 1µL, various passive and active mixing approaches, controlled valving using thin-film elastomer technology, and reliable venting using membrane technologies.
- Reagent Integration: On-board reagent storage through lyophilized beads, functionalized membranes, direct spotting, and blister packs, streamlining assay procedures.
- Thermal Management: Precise heating using thin-film heating technologies and effective cooling using thin-film heat sinking or transfer technologies to maintain optimal assay temperatures.
- Electrical Integration: Integration of thin-film laser-ablated or digitally printed electrodes for electrochemical or other sensor-based applications.
- Sample Handling: Versatile sample input approaches, accommodating swabs, pipetted liquids, and direct capillary intake, along with secure waste collection using thin-film wells or injection-molded reservoirs.
- Device Identification and Tracking: UDI (Unique Device Identification) through laser-marked codes, RFID tags, and digital printed codes for comprehensive device tracking and traceability.
- Advanced Fabrication: Precise 3D fluidic channel networks achieved through thin-film layer registration with high accuracy and channel sizes ≥100µm in thin films ranging from 10-500µm in thickness.
The Synergistic Collaboration: Accelerating Microfluidic Innovation
- Rapid Prototyping and Iteration: Flexdym’s compatibility with laser cutting, combined with MicroMed Solutions’ rapid prototyping capabilities, accelerates the design and testing process.
- Enhanced Device Performance: Flexdym’s superior properties and MicroMed Solutions’ precise fluid handling and integration technologies lead to more accurate, reliable, and efficient microfluidic devices.
- Streamlined Manufacturing and Scalability: MicroMed Solutions’ CDMO expertise ensures a seamless transition from prototype to high-volume commercial production, enabling cost-effective scaling.
- Integrated Solutions for Complex Applications: The combined expertise allows for the development of highly integrated microfluidic systems with complex functionalities, addressing demanding applications in diagnostics, drug discovery, and personalized medicine.
Microfluidic CDMO using Flexdym for diagnostics.