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In this paper, we describe a miniature analytical thermal cycling instrument (MATCI) to amplify and detect DNA via the polymerase chain reaction in real-time. The MATCI is an integrated, miniaturized analytical system that uses silicon-based, high-efficiency reaction chambers with integrated heaters and simple, inexpensive electronics to precisely control the reaction temperatures. Optical windows in the silicon and solid-state, diode-based detection components are employed to perform real-time fluorescence monitoring of product DNA production. The entire system fits into a briefcase and runs on rechargeable batteries. The applications of this miniaturized nucleic acid analysis system include clinical, research, environmental, and agricultural analyses as well as others which require rapid, portable, and accurate analysis of biological samples for nucleic acids. This paper describes the MATCI and presents results from ultrafast thermal cycling and real-time PCR detection. Examples include human genes and pathogenic viruses and bacteria.

We have fabricated a low-cost disposable polymerase chain reaction thermal chamber that uses buoyancy forces to move the sample solution between the different temperatures necessary for amplification. Three-dimensional, unsteady finite element modeling and a simpler 1-D steady-state model are used together with digital particle image velocimetry data to characterize the flow within the device. Biological samples have been amplified using this novel thermal chamber. Time for amplification is less than 30 min. More importantly, an analysis of the energy consumption shows significant improvements over current technology.

An array of PCR microchips for rapid, parallel testing of samples for pathogenic microbes is described. The instrument, called the Advanced Nucleic Acid Analyzer (ANAA), utilizes 10 silicon reaction chambers with thin-film resistive heaters and solid-state optics. Features of the system include efficient heating and real-time monitoring, low power requirements for battery operation, and no moving parts for reliability and ruggedness. We analyzed cultures of Erwinia herbicola vegetative cells, Bacillus subtilis spores, and MS2 virions, which simulated pathogenic microbes such as Yersinia pestis, Bacillus anthracis spores, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis, respectively. Detection of microbes was achieved in as little as 16 min with detection limits of 105–107 organisms/L (102–104 organisms/mL).

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The Microtechnology Center of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has developed a high performance hand-held, real time detection gas chromatograph (HHGC) by Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System (MEMS) technology. The total weight of this hand-held gas chromatograph is about 5 lbs., with a physical size of 8″ × 5″ × 3″ including carrier gas and battery. It consumes about 12 watts of electrical power with a response time on the order of one to two minutes. This HHGC has an average effective theoretical plate of about 40k. Presently, its thermal sensitive detector at PPM limits its sensitivity. Like a conventional G.C., this HHGC consists mainly of three major components: 1) the sample injector, 2) the column, and 3) the detector with related electronics. The present HHGC injector is a modified version of the conventional injector. Its separation column is fabricated completely on silicon wafers by means of MEMS technology. This separation column has a circular cross section with a diameter of 100 μm. The detector developed for this hand-held G.C. is a thermal conductivity detector fabricated on a silicon nitride window by MEMS technology. A normal Wheatstone bridge is used. The signal is fed into a PC and displayed through LabView software.

We present a new x-ray detection technique based on optical measurement of the effects of x-ray absorption and electron hole pair creation in a direct band-gap semiconductor. The electron-hole pairs create a frequency dependent shift in optical refractive index and absorption. This is sensed by simultaneously directing an optical carrier beam through the same volume of semiconducting medium that has experienced an xray induced modulation in the electron-hole population. If the operating wavelength of the optical carrier beam is chosen to be close to the semiconductor band-edge, the optical carrier will be modulated significantly in phase and amplitude.This approach should be simultaneously capable of very high sensitivity and excellent temporal response, even in the difficult high-energy xray regime. At xray photon energies near 10 keV and higher, we believe that sub-picosecond temporal responses are possible with near single xray photon sensitivity. The approach also allows for the convenient and EMI robust transport of high-bandwidth information via fiber optics. Furthermore, the technology can be scaled to imaging applications. The basic physics of the detector, implementation considerations, and preliminary experimental data are presented and discussed.

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