MICRODX — POINT-OF-CARE MICROPARTICLE DETECTION SYSTEM

Abstract

The MicroDx — Point-of-Care Microparticle Detection system detects and sizes polystyrene microparticles in the size range of 500-1000 nm. This is in compliance with phase I of the overall project. The system uses dynamic light scattering to create a speckle pattern from the particles in a cuvette. The avalanche photodiode captures the pattern and the changes in light intensity are recorded via oscilloscope. Using an autocorrelation function, the size of the particle is able to be determined in a range of +/- 50 nm, with 75% accuracy for particle sizes greater than 520nm. The system also contains a GUI user interface, allowing for users to view and export data from up to 5 runs and control the device. The design recognizes the limitations of being a point-of-care device, ensuring that it has a small blueprint and built in safety features as well as being a low cost alternative to the current standard, flow cytometry. Along with this design, the team proposed methodologies for phases II and III of the project involving determining concentration and size for multiple particle size samples.