Team:Penn/Human Practices
About Chip Diagnostics
Chip diagnostics is a diagnostic device company founded out of Penn Professor David Issadore’s research combining principles of microelectronics, nanomaterials, and most importantly microfluidics.
We reached out to founder and scientific and technological advisor Dr. David Issasore to learn more about microfluidic technology and how wax printing can be used to fabricate microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (uPADs). Chip Diagnostics is focusing on developing low-cost diagnostic devices that are mobile compatible. Dr. Issadore was able to share useful insights into how uPADs have emerged as a promising platform for developing point-of-care diagnostic devices for resource limited settings.
Design Considerations for MIYAGI
John Bruser, an engineer at Chip Diagnostics, sat down with our team and gave us useful feedback on our design considerations for MIYAGI.
Josh provided useful suggestions for heating our metal syringe such as using heating pads instead of nichrome wire. Having worked on developing uPADS during his PhD, Josh also educated us on other methods of uPAD fabrication that were used in his lab such as photolithography, laser cutting, and the use of other hydrophobic materials such as PDMS and even sharpie markers.
About Volumetric
Volumetric, Inc. is a houston-based startup focused on empowering the next generation of biofabrication for 3D bioprinting with high quality materials. Volumetric’s light-based bioprinting platform was featured on the cover of Science just this past year.
Jordan Miller and Bagrat Grigoryon founded Volumetric in 2018. Volumetric’s light-based bioprinting platform was featured on the cover of Science just this past year. The project exhibits engineered vasculature with microfabricated paths for blood and oxygen flow. Volumetric’s bioprinters and bioinks are used for research applications in the life sciences, drug discovery, and medical devices.
Open Source Hardware
We met with Jordan Miller to discuss the main components of building an open source hardware project.
Jordan’s lab at Rice University, developed the BariCUDA, an air-pressure driven universal extruder, that was adapted from a MakerBot, an open source 3D printer. While used for precise sugar extrusion, this open source project could be adapted to extrude any molten material. Our idea to build an open source wax printing conversion kit for the Prusa 3D printer had a lot of overlap with Miller’s past project. He was able to give insights into the design process and the importance of organization and documentation when developing open source hardware. Miller also explained the concept of “munging” G-code. Miller’s lab used a munging script to edit G-code commands meant for traditional 3D printing into G-code commands that were compatible with pressure extrusion. Our team was able to base our own munging script off of the same concept.
About Cocoa Press
Cocoa Press is a local Philly startup, founded by Penn graduate Evan Weinstein, focused on designing chocolate 3D printers.
Cocoa Press spun out of Evan’s senior design project and is now based out of the Pennovation Center, a startup hub for budding Philadelphia companies. His mission is to bring customizable artisanal chocolates to anyone on demand.
