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Biomedical subjects

David J Beebe

Publications and source records attributed to David J Beebe.

39 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Ultra rapid prototyping of microfluidic systems using liquid phase photopolymerization.

We present a method for the ultra rapid prototyping of microfluidic systems using liquid phase photopolymerization, requiring less than 5 min from design to prototype. Microfluidic device fabrication is demonstrated in a universal plastic or glass cartridge. The method consists of the following steps: introduction of liquid prepolymer into the cartridge, UV exposure through a mask to define the channel geometry, removal of unpolymerized prepolymer, and a final rinse. Rapidly fabricated masters for polydimethylsiloxane micromolding are also demonstrated. The master making process is compared to SU-8 50 photoresist processes. Press-on connectors are developed and demonstrated. All materials used are commercially available and low cost. An extension of these methods (mix and match) is presented that allows for maximal design flexibility and integration with a variety of existing fluidic geometries, components, and processes.

Journal Article↗

Characterization of a silicon-based shear-force sensor on human subjects.

A silicon sensor is developed and its ability to measure both compressive and shear forces at the skin-object interface is characterized. The sensor is designed based on the piezoresistive effect and fabricated using integrated circuit and microelectromechanical systems technologies. The sensor utilizes a mesa structure that leads to asymmetric diaphragm deformations in response to nonnormal loading. Four independent ion-implanted piezoresistors are used to detect the stresses induced in diaphragm and resolve both the compressive- and shear-force components. The sensor is calibrated on human subjects over a range of applied force (5- to 40-N shear force at increments of 1.25 N; 0- to 30-N compressive force). Force measurement via a tracking experiment is evaluated at four shear (9, 18, 25, and 35 N) and three compressive (7, 15, and 26 N) force levels. The sensor has good repeatability (SD approximately 1.7 N) with an average error of 12.1%.

Equipment Design↗

Comparison of static and dynamic medium environments for culturing of pre-implantation mouse embryos.

The ability to manipulate mouse pre-implantation embryos in vitro has become a valuable tool in many scientific disciplines. However, fewer embryos maintain viability following in vitro manipulation compared with embryos in vivo. It has been suggested that use of dynamic medium environments may improve viability by simulating in utero environment. The objective of the study reported here was to compare a microdrop in vitro culture system with a microdevice in vitro culture system containing a static and two dynamic medium environments (0.1 and 0.5 microl/h) for culturing of mouse pre-implantation embryos. Results indicated that the static medium environment, in silicon-glass microdevices, was not significantly different from the microdrop control environment in proportion of embryos developing from the two-cell to the blastocyst stage. However, the static microdevice environment produced significantly (P < 0.05) more morulas than did that of the control group. Both of these treatment groups, under the presented conditions, consistently had significantly higher proportions of blastocysts (P < 0.05) and morulas (P < 0.05) and lower proportions of abnormal (P < 0.05) and eight-cell embryos (P < 0.05), compared with those of the high flow rate dynamic environment microdevice treatment groups. Studies exploring slower or pulsatile rates of medium delivery in a dynamic medium environment are indicated.

Animals↗