FluoroGazer | TIRF Technologies, Inc.

General Description
FluoroGazer is a multipurpose chem-bio sensor instrument designed for use in analytical laboratory. FluoroGazer uses advanced fluorescence optics, electrochemical system, microfluidics, electronics, software, and nanoengineered bioassays integrated into one bench top instrument. FluoroGazer performs analysis in the format of real-time microarrays that are capable of parallel detecting up to thousands of nucleic acids, proteins, toxins, metabolites, and chemical agents. FluoroGazer detects unlabeled molecular markers using reagentless bioassays based on DNA molecular beacons and aptamer- or antibody-based beacons. The bioassays are equipped with embedded luminescence reporters that change their luminescence upon binding to target molecules. FluoroGazer requires no or minimal sample preparation and is capable of analyzing complex biological fluids. In contrast to traditional microarrays that detect only end-point results, FluoroGazer monitors the entire course of association and dissociation kinetics for each spot of the microarray.

Technical Description
FluoroGazer employs synergistic combination of Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) with Electric field Control (TIRF-EC). TIRF-EC sensor chip represents a glass or plastic slide coated with a thin electroconducting transparent layer of indium tin oxide (ITO). TIRF-EC chips are incorporated into cartridges that are available in disposable or reusable formats. TIRF-EC chip carries a microarray of reagentless bioassays printed on the ITO surface. TIRF provides real-time monitoring of the interactions between target molecules and bioassays, while the electric field enables several advantageous functions in TIRF system: accelerated transport of target molecules to their detection sites, discrimination between close homologs of target molecules, and moving fluids in microchannels. TIRF-EC microarray may contain from a few spots of bioassays in a single flow channel to thousands of chem-bio assays in four separate flow channels. FluoroGazer supports fluorescence assays, Electro-Chemi-Luminescence (ECL), other luminescence assays, as well as luminescence assays immobilized in a hydrogel layer printed at the TIRF-EC surface. TIRF-EC microarray is a rapid real-time detection system.

Evaluation Criteria

THROUGHPUT:

Detection is instantaneous
Continuous operation with no defined runs
System is continuous and provides real time analysis with no defined tests/samples
The system or device is currently semi-automated
Device or system is intended for multiple detection assays
0-1 solutions, buffer, eluents, and/or reagents
1 component
Less than 5 minutes is required for set-up
Automatic detection

LOGISTICS:

An afternoon of training and some technical skills required
Approximately the size of a carry-on luggage suitcase
Between 5 and 25 kg
Wireless and wired connections are available
System or device has 110V electrical requirement

OPERATIONS:

Can be used from 4°C to 41°C
Components must be stored at room temperature (27°C)
Device or system has peak performance at normal relative humidity conditions
Between 1 to 3 years shelf life
5-10 years expected life
Results can be viewed in real-time
The system could easily be adapted into a fully autonomous system
The system software is open and available for modification
The system hardware is open and available for modification

DETECTION:

Possible the system could receive 510K clearance, no current efforts at this time
Possible the system could receive FDA approval, no current efforts at this time
Less than 10 µL
Superior specificity. System has a false alarm rate approaching zero (~0%)

Tier Selection