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Analytics has developed into an important growth market in various fields, whereby microfluidics has once again prompted a special burst of innovation. Rohrer AG is at the forefront of this development. With our decades of experience in blister technology, we support research projects and develop the technologies and equipment needed for new diagnostic methods and methods of analysis.
Reduced demand for reagents as a result of lab-on-a-chip systems
With lab-on-a-chip systems, fully integrated technology is available for a wide variety of applications. This technology fully utilises the strengths of the handling of fluids on a micro-scale:
- reduced demand for reagents
- complete control of the processes
- minimal energy required
- highest degree of standardisation potential.
The lab-on-a-chip is able to function using minimal amounts of active ingredients: fluids that are applied in advance to the disc are guided via microfluid outlets, chambers and channels by means of centrifugal forces and different temperature controls. The channel size is reduced down to 50µm so that very small amounts of reagents are sufficient. All biochemical components are already prepared on the LabDisk in advance so that no laboratory procedures are needed for the analysis itself, with the exception of adding the sample.
Due to the low material use during the unique thermoforming process, by means of which discs with a thickness of less than 0.2mm are produced, the system is also suitable for carrying out tests in large numbers.
Standardized analytics
The lab-on-a-chip provides an automated analytic and diagnostic system, the parameters of which are precisely defined by the architecture of the disc. All biochemical products are already integrated, and therefore analyses can be carried out with little time expenditure and without special laboratory infrastructure. Since the reagents that are introduced only need to be supplemented by the sample, the system is characterised by its ease of handling. No specialised personnel are needed to operate the system, and therefore even precise medical diagnoses, for example, can be made under makeshift circumstances. The analytic results are read out optically evaluated in the "disk player".
Typical fields of application and users of the system are analytical laboratories and doctor's offices, for example, when carrying out
- blood analyses for various indications
- water analyses
- the detection of pathogens on the basis of extracted DNA / RNA
- the detection of parasites, bacteria or viruses.
A development partner for demanding applications
Rohrer AG develops and manufactures tools and equipment for the implementation of complex analysis designs. Thus, practically no limits are imposed on the use of microfluidic solutions. Different samples can be processed in parallel, thereby increasing the output for a given period of time. The autonomous configuration of the LabDisk allows it to be used in areas that lack medical infrastructure.
Rohrer AG is involved as a partner in important innovation projects in the EU, in order to further develop the lab-on-a-chip system:
- EU project, "ASC MicroPlat" for identifying markers for neonatal sepsis (blood poisoning in newborns)
- EU project, "Parcival" for identifying highly infectious pathogens in the respiratory tract
- EU project, "DiscoGnosis" for identifying malaria pathogens and other febrile illnesses such as typhus, paratyphoid, dengue fever and pneumonia.
Your contact partner at Rohrer:
Albert Birkicht, MSE
GM Processing & Packaging Technology
albert.birkicht@rohrerag.com
+41 61 855 21 94
Blisters have proven to be a successful application and process approach in numerous industries and their use for cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, high-volume production is far from being exhausted. This is also demonstrated by the new medical, pharmacological and environmental applications with frangible seals that Rohrer AG, Möhlin, is developing with customers.
Packaging and process control in one system
In recent years, there is a growing need for cost-effective diagnostic methods and testing procedures that perform well in so-called point-of-care situations, which means without requiring a complex laboratory environment. Blisters ideally support this trend by combining different materials and material strengths, thus keeping liquids separate or mixed and directed for diagnosis.
To this end, special 'predetermined breaking points' are used in the blisters in such a way as to expand functionality for process control beyond packaging. Since a channel to the blister is opened by means of pressure, no separate opening tools (e.g. scissors) are needed. Thus the application is both simplified, and made more reliable since there can be no entry of foreign material.
Thanks to a corresponding architecture, blisters can control the defined media flow. When used in connection with a device, the forces needed to release the medium can be generated either by pressure or by centrifugal force.
To get there, a specific thermal seal is produced on a thermoformed blister under precisely controlled conditions and process parameters. Since the sealing properties can thereby be controlled in a manner specific to the application, the seal tears or ruptures under defined conditions at an predetermined breaking point.
Separation of substances for later mixing / reaction:
Powders or liquids are thus safely stored and separated so that they can subsequently be mixed or, respectively, allowed to react with one another at the desired point in time and in a specified sequence in an equally specific manner, for example:
- for specific biological / chemical reaction prior to use
- in order to extend the "shelf life"
- for dosing at temporal or localised intervals
The material and its shape allow for perfect control both of the dosing and the flow of media within the blister. The seal strength is influenced by the interaction of specially selected combinations of films and process parameters including pressure, time and temperature.
