Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM are taking part in work that aims to develop a portable blood laboratory integrated into smart plastics.
Fraunhofer and other members of the DVT-Imp project, which is part-funded by the EC, are working on a device that can rapidly analyse a single drop of blood to diagnose thrombosis.
According to Fraunhofer, the unique aspect of this device lies in its inexpensive fabrication from polymer electronics – or polytronics – that combine functional materials and electronics.
The core of the device, which was developed at IZM, is a small single-use cartridge that acts as a tool for the biochemical analysis of blood.
It consists of a 3 x 22 x 70mm polycarbonate plate and combines a 150-micrometre-thick foil, on which a filigree network with conductor lines and gold sensors for analysis is attached, plus a 120-micrometre-deep fluid channel for conducting blood to the analysis elements.
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