MATEO
Project FlashPoM
Optimisation of a laser-write process
for low-cost low lead-time production of prototype microdevices
for SMEs in the analytical chemistry and biomedical markets
Partner No. |
Partner Name
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Country
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Region
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1 |
Universitat Politècnica de
Catalunya, Barcelona - coordinator |
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Spain |
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Catalonia |
2 |
Technische Universiteit
Eindhoven, Eindhoven |
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The Netherlands |
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Noord-Brabant |
3 |
University of Milan, Milano |
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Italy |
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Lombardy |
4 |
University of West Bohemia,
Plzen |
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Czech Republic |
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South-West Bohemia |
The project FlashPoM
seeks to optimise techniques for low-cost low lead-time
production of customised modular lab-on-a-chip prototypes
devices by optimisation of the PoM (Polymer-on-Multielectrode
array) technology. The four specific tasks to carry out are:
- Development of software for process-constrained
low-complexity design of customised PoM devices by
the target user.
The consortium will develop a low-complexity software
tool to be used by SMEs to configure their lab-on-a-chip
prototypes by combination of a set of predefined
elements and modules. These will include polymeric
layers with embedded microchannels, vias, microchambers
and solid layers with electrode arrays of customisable
geometries. The production cost for a predefined batch
size given the selected modules, their arrangement and
customised geometrical properties will be automatically
estimated by the software. The final design with optimal
cost and functionality will be stored in a compact format
suitable for over-the-internet submission to the
fabrication service.
- Assembly of a prototype direct-write
lithography system for semi-automated mask-free
production of electrode arrays and soft-lithography
masters.
The fabrication of microfluidics, microsensors and
microactuators as typically required to assemble lab-on-a-chip
systems, makes intensive use of photolithographic
techniques. Conventional photolithography processes
require the use of costly (approx. 2000 euros/mask) glass
masks, produced with e-beam lithography, to realise
features in the order of 2 µm. While this has become the
standard procedure, an alternative approach based on laser
direct-write of features on photopatternable materials
has been shown to produce high quality patterns
with feature sizes down to 10 µm and at a far lower
cost (approx. 20 euros/substrate). Despite the lower
resolution achievable with laser writing, it is
sufficient for the production of a wide range of lab-on-a-chip
prototypes in a semi-automated way. The consortium will
produce a direct-write subsystem by integration of
computer a controlled microscope stage, UV laser and
automatic beam focusing mechanism.
- Optimisation of photopatternable
biocompatible polymer.
To enable laser-based production of FlashPoMs, photocurable
and thermo/photolabile polymers will be optimised.
Biocompatible amorphous elastomeric (block) copolymers
will be synthesised, with UV-curable copolyester blocks
and thermally labile (co)polycarbonate blocks, forming
the continuous phase of the phase-separating system.
These can be spin-cast on a variety of substrates and
patterned by an automated laser-write system directly
from the device designed by the customer SME, reducing
the cost and time involved in traditional lithography.
- Evaluation of FlashPoM devices for
culture, differentiation and electrical characterisation
of neuronal progenitor cells
Given the market potential of in vitro techniques in
combination with lab-on-a-chip technologies, the
consortium will seek to confirm the viability of the
PoM devices in a demanding case such as the culture
and differentiation of stem cells. In particular,
biocompatibility will be confirmed by seeking to monitor
differentiation of stem cells into neurons by monitoring
of extracellular potentials.
Local Project Team
Project leader: |
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prof.Vaclav Skala |
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Project team
members: |
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Jan Kaiser, MSc.
Vojtech Hladik, MSc.
Frantisek Novak, MSc. |
Results of the local team
Specialized graphical editor FlashPoM
Designer for a chip design was developed.
Licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Download and install: Install.zip
FlashPoM Designer System
Specification: FlashPOM_Designer-System_Specification.pdf
The purpose of this document is to
specify requirements on the software editor for chip design.
Software enables the user to design the chip layer by layer. Each
layer has a thickness associated with it and a set of geometrical
shapes. If the layer belongs to class 'electrodes' it can be a
glass layer or a conductor layer. (Electrodes are actually
fabricated by stacking a patterned conductor on a glass substrate).
If the layer is a micro fluidics layer, the shapes in it will be
trenches, holes, etc. One device could have multiple layers of
each type stacked one on top of the other. Software output is
file in SVG like format that is ready for chip fabricating
process. Software should do some rule checks and cost estimations
and include them in the descriptor files. The rule checks will
ensure that the device can actually be fabricated with technology
developed within the FlashPOM project and the cost estimation
will provide price estimate based on the structures put in the
design. Finally, the GUI should enable the user to get the best
possible idea of the 3D appearance of the device he or she has
fabricated. Top view and cross-section are a must but the
possibility of doing 3D rendering with rotation in space, etc. is
welcome. The software should be easy to use and downloadable a
website.
Other detailed documentation:
FlashPoM Designer Users
Manual - FlashPOM_Designer-Users_Manual.pdf
FlashPoM Designer Technical
Report - FlashPOM_Designer-Technical_Report.pdf
Hladik,V: 2D Editor for a Chip Design - project
FlashPoM - 1, MSc. thesis
in Czech , supervisor: prof.Vaclav Skala, Univ.of West
Bohemia, 2007
Novak,F.: 2D Editor for a Chip Design - project
FlashPoM - 2, MSc. thesis
in Czech, supervisor: prof.Vaclav Skala, Univ.of West
Bohemia, 2007
Contact
prof.Ing.Vaclav Skala, CSc.
University of West Bohemia http://www.zcu.cz
Computer Science Dept. http://www.kiv.zcu.cz
Secretary:
cse== at ...===kiv.zcu.cz
Centre for Computer Graphics and Visualization
http://herakles.zcu.cz
Univerzitni 8, Box 314
CZ 306 14 Plzen-Bory
Czech Republic
e-mail: skala == at ...===kiv.zcu.cz
URL: http://herakles.zcu.cz
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Direct Fax. +420-37-763-2457
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