Figure 1
Device operation and instrumentation (a) the complete user-operation steps are illustrated here from left to right including injection of serum with magnetic particles into the cartridge, cartridge mounting in a holder with insertion into the instrument, assembly of the faceplate onto the cartridge for thermal cycling, and USB readout of PCR results. (b) A profile view of the instrument with ghosted housing reveals internal components including (i) rotational servo and (ii) linear servo for magnetic particle transferal between cartridge wells and in/out of reagent droplets respectively, (iii) confocal epifluorescence detector for PCR fluorescence acquisition, (iv) microcontroller electronics for integrated control of magnetic manipulation, algorithmic heating, triggering fluorescence detection, and serial communication for data storage and analysis, (v) PCR thermal control faceplate with a fan-cooled heatsinked thermoelectric heating element attached to an aluminum heat block that fits over the cartridge PCR well with an embedded thermistor probe for monitoring temperature.
