Journal: Lab on a chip

Article Title: Programmable Magnetic Robot (ProMagBot) for Automated Nucleic Acid Extraction at the Point of Need

doi: 10.1039/d3lc00545c

Figure Lengend Snippet: Design components and considerations of the Electromagnet PCB. (a) Schematic representation of the numerous electromagnet coils that are built into the PCB. These coils are defined by 21 different blocks, with each block holding three Groups. Coils are activated by Group designation and are interconnected across Blocks. Therefore, all coils of the same Group in all Blocks are turned on/off together. (b) Magnet motion is achieved by turning on the next EM coil in the desired direction of motion. Motion can be achieved in any of the four cardinal directions. (c) The image of the EM PCB highlights where the actual EM coils are located. Over 50% of the PCB area is dedicated to the EM coil array. (d) 2D planar representation of the magnetic field generated by current inside one EM coil. 3D coil simulation was demonstrated through four 2D slices along the length of the coil. (e) Accuracy of the magnetic robot’s motion vs. the length of time of activation for the EM coils in both X and Y directions. (f) The temperature of the microfluidic cartridge over time when constant EM pulses are held at various frequencies. (g) thermal images of the PCB during an extraction protocol.

Article Snippet: COMSOL Simulation Magnetic field simulations were run within COMSOL 2020 (COMSOL Inc.).

Techniques: Blocking Assay, Generated, Activation Assay, Extraction