Projects»
micro resist technology GmbH

Project number
Strep 16727
EU-founded, FR 6

Project duration
09/2005 – 12/2008

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Project objectives
The goal of OptoLabCard is the development of an innovative instrument that will automatically carry out a microbiological health hazard control by a Retro Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), from sample preparation to optical detection that integrates advances in optoelectronic, microfluidc and microbiology, capable to detect in-situ DNA pathogens quantitatively within 15 min. The device consists of a hand held base unit and a small disposable cartridge or labcard. The labcard, made of a negative tone photoresist called SU-8, on a plastic film, contains all the disposable components, e.g. reservoir for the reagents, mixing chamber, heatable reaction chamber, channels, valves and wave guides for the detection of the PCR products, whereas the base unit includes all the standard electronics and optics.

Fig.: Concept of the Labcard and the developed micro chip

The OptoLabCard device was validated and compared with a reference method for the diagnosis of Salmonella spp. in clinical human samples and Campylobacter spp. in samples from chicken farms and packed chicken supplied by farmers and supermarkets. These analyses have studied the relative sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the developed system and they have performed on the basis of EN ISO 16140.
More information » www.optolabcard.com «

Project benefit
During the work in OptoLabCard new knowledge and practical know-how about new material combinations and processes were generated:  

Generation of a database of available PAGs, suitable for several exposure wavelengths and compatible to epoxy resin based resist mixtures.

Generation of a database of available aliphatic and aromatic resins, available as solid or high viscous solution, miscible with SU-8 to tune the refractive index by good lithographic properties.

Several mixtures which can be used as cladding material for waveguide application in combination with SU-8 or EpoCore as core material.

Generation of a database of available transparent flexible substrates, which are compatible to the lithographic SU-8 process.

A technology for the coating and preparation of dry films on flexible carrier materials, a technology for the lamination of dry films followed by a patterning process.

A background for a real low temperature process to bond SU-8 layers together for bio applications

Several dye mixtures, which can be used to colour the permanent SU-8 material and can act as alignment marker in multi layer processes or as thin under layer as antireflection coating to absorb undesired light reflection.

Outlook
The within OptoLabCard developed epoxy resin based materials will create new seminal application of the microelectronic and micro system technology applications e.g for the manufacture of optical components with a defined or tuned refractive index and flexibilization. During OptoLabCard a large cooperation network were created and intensively used with a high future potential. The cooperation is continued by the new EU founded project “LabOnFoil”.

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