Client story
Speed of diagnosis is critical element to positive patient outcomes. The need for faster diagnostic devices must be met with-cost effective solutions that can be brought to market quickly.
Brief
Our client wanted to build on its leading position in the molecular diagnostics market by creating a faster polymerase chain reaction (PCR) device.
Our mission was to design new optical and thermal modules to provide much faster cycling, without compromising the quality of the system – and all within tight timescales.
Approach
The optical and thermal modules live at the heart of the PCR device. So, we created novel thermal algorithms which allow tightly controlled ramping up and down of the temperature on the reaction vessels.
The improvement in thermal control results in stronger signals from the sample and dyes, and increased sensitivity.
Benefit
An analytical approach using simulation data helped us deliver prototypes ready for validation within 12 months. And our new design has led to a six-fold increase in the speed of reverse transcription PCR.
This breakthrough has sped up the diagnosis of patients in hospitals around the world – as well as helping the client maintain its leading position in the molecular diagnostics market.
