For The Development and Prototyping of a Custom Built Potentio-Stat Incorporating a Graphic User Interface and Internal Fluid Actuator.

Tender description

MiCRA was established in 2005 in the Institute of Technology Tallaght, Dublin Ireland. The centre is a Technology gateway supported by Enterprise Ireland to develop rapid diagnostic Technologies and near to market analytical solutions for Irish Industries. The centre has a very active portfolio of applied projects and an industrial base in the areas of analytical process control, medical diagnostics, food chain surveillance and environmental protection. The centre is supported by state of the art facilities and equipments. Further information can be obtained at www.micra.ie Section 2 – Scope of Requirements 2.1 Background The MICRA centre was awarded an Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund in 2011 to develop a pen-side diagnostics device for the detection and quantitation of anti-liver fluke antibodies in sheep milk using an enzyme linked immunoassay approach. The technology consists of an electrochemical biochip incorporated into a fluidics device which is covered by a deformable membrane. Upon depression of the membrane at specific loci, sample together with on-chip reagents are transported to a screen printed carbon electrode. A specific reaction then occurs producing an electrochemical signal (current) which is proportional to the concentration of analyte in the sample. A key work package within this project is the development of a novel next generation electrochemical immunoassay analyser development capable of enabling reagent actuation and detecting, amplifying and displaying the resultant signal as a unit of analyte concentration. The hand held “reader” component of this technology is envisioned to operate as a standalone unit capable of receiving and interfacing with the credit card size biochip. In the first instance this technology will be used for on-farm application but will be extended to other fields of use such as food production and medical diagnostics. The estimated expenditure for prototyping and development is 4