Tag Archives: lab-on-a-chip

Recent clinical trials of microfluidic devices

After I heard about a clinical trial for a microfluidic device that detects circulating cancer cells, I started wondering how many other microfluidic devices are in clinical trials.  A quick search turned up only seven studies (and two of those were withdrawn). Interestingly, five of the seven trials have some connection to the University of [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Leave a comment

Microfluidics for studying cancer metastasis

What causes cancer cells to become metastatic, moving beyond their local environment to infiltrate other parts of the body? Some researchers have called metastasis “the most dangerous event in cancer,” and many believe that a better understanding of metastasis could lead to new cancer treatments. Microfluidics researchers have long been investigating metastasis, because metastasis is all [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Technology Review investigates the slow process of microfluidics commercialization

Today Technology Review came out with a great article speculating why the commercialization of microfluidics has been so slow. In “Shoveling Water: Why does it take so long to commercialize new technologies?” David Rotman uses Fluidigm as a case study and adds a twist by applying ideas from W. Brian Arthur’s The Nature of Technology, [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Microfluidics tackles HIV

In recognition of World AIDS Day today, here’s a highlight of some of the microfluidics work addressing HIV. In particular, Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology professor Utkan Demirci has published several recent papers on using microfluidics for HIV, in addition to work from the Toner lab, Rodriguez lab, Whitesides lab and others. Using microfluidics for point-of-care [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Leave a comment

Global microfluidics map

I’ve continued adding to the list of microfluidics/lab-on-a-chip companies and wanted to get a sense of where these efforts are located (similar to the Nanotechnology Map). To do this, I’ve created a Google Map to help visualize commercial microfluidics activity worldwide:
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , | 2 Comments

BioMEMS by any other name

In researching microfluidics companies to add to the list, I’ve realized that outside of academia almost no one uses the term BioMEMS when discussing microelectromechanical systems applied to biology. Instead it’s “microfluidics” or “lab on a chip.” The term BioMEMS is a spin-off of the acronym MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), itself a term that has not [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Leave a comment

Microfluidics standardization: when will devices talk to each other?

Prototype microfluidics are costly, time-consuming to build, and difficult to use It can take a lot of time to design, build, and test a custom microfluidic device from scratch. Not only does the chip itself need to be created, but packaging, controllers, pumps, and optical detection systems must often be incorporated to run the device. Unlike [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , | Leave a comment

3 great microfluidics talks on the web

If you can’t attend the microfluidics talks I’ve posted for the Boston area, there are some excellent talks on the web. Check out these three from leaders in the field: 1. George Whitesides talks about paper microfluidic diagnostics and much more at TEDBoston. 20 minutes. (2009) 2. Stephen Quake asks, “Is it beyond the reach of physics [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , | Leave a comment

Micro/Nano-technology Seminar Series @MIT

The organizers of the Micro/Nano-technology Seminar Series (MNSS) at MIT have put together a fantastic lineup this fall. Unless otherwise noted, the talks are held on Thursdays at 3pm in Building 36 on the fourth-floor (Room [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Leave a comment

Agresti talk on drop-based microfluidic screening

Now that fall is approaching along with the beginning of the academic year, Boston has exploded with activity. There are a ton of upcoming events related to microfluidics/BioMEMS/medicine that I will be highlighting in the next few days. While all of the talks are in the Boston area, links to audio/video recordings will be listed [...]
Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | Leave a comment