logo
logo
Sign in

What Are the Challenges of Chip Design in the Era of Miniaturization?

avatar
Tessolve
What Are the Challenges of Chip Design in the Era of Miniaturization?



You may now do tasks on a gadget that fits in your palm that was formerly completed by devices that took up a whole laboratory. This article explains the benefits of downsizing laboratory equipment as well as the difficulties that must be faced and resolved. 


Because of the continuous drive towards downsizing, over 70 years later, we have access to much more computational capability in our mobile phones than that first computer.


This same desire to shrink technology, including vlsi design engineeringundoubtedly had an impact on the design of laboratory and clinical diagnostic instruments as well, as evidenced by the concurrent development of "lab-on-a-chip" methods, chromatography systems at the micro- and nanoscale, and a flurry of activity surrounding improved professional "point of care" (PPOC) devices. This makes sense, considering all the advantages that miniaturization brings. However, anybody moving toward the downsizing of laboratory equipment should be aware of a few limits along with the benefits that come with reduced-size technology. 


The Main Advantages of Miniaturization


Users of analytical equipment benefit greatly from miniaturization in many ways. Usually, they are divided into two primary categories: 


Mobility


Analytical gear is becoming more portable because of its miniaturization, which lowers the possibility of sample loss or contamination from improper handling. 


From a life science standpoint, having more portable equipment makes it possible to do studies in operating rooms and critical care units, which improves patient comfort and yields more "real-time" data, particularly in PPOC applications. To further enhance the advantages of improved mobility, miniaturization also makes it possible for these tests to be carried out on-site in the event of a catastrophe, in support of forensics testing, or in the event of bioterrorism and chemical warfare threats. 


  • Diminished fluid volumes


The fluid quantities utilized in the studies decrease along with the total size of the apparatus, which provides scientists with the following supplementary benefits: 


  • Quicker timeframes for analysis


There is less chance for dispersion since fluid channels are usually significantly shorter in length and width. This leads to quicker overall analysis times and an increase in each system's daily analysis capacity.


  • Reduced running expenses 


With smaller equipment, overall operating expenses such as power consumption, reagent use and disposal, and consumables disposal are often cheaper. This lowers per-sample costs and boosts the laboratory's profitability.



Principal Obstacles in Miniaturization-


Like every technical advancement, the newer technology from the vlsi company in usa comes with obstacles and limits in addition to its benefits. That's undoubtedly the case with lab equipment becoming smaller. 


  • Distinctions Compared to Standard-Scale Equipment 


The sometimes stark discrepancies between standard-scale and tiny equipment might be troublesome due to scale variations for the following reasons: 


  • Results may Vary Greatly From One Another 


It may be difficult to accurately link the findings acquired from miniature systems to more standard systems because the scale factors associated with studies of small equipment vary significantly from those of more conventional equipment. This may result in retesting and incorrect interpretation of the findings. This may lead to a missed diagnosis or incorrect diagnosis in PPOC applications, which would be painful for the patient. The chromatographer may be required to recharacterize the whole analysis in order to accurately represent the data collected in chromatographic applications due to significant alterations in peak forms, retention periods, etc., caused by scale factor discrepancies.


  • Absence of Standards and Regulations 


Compared to larger-scale equipment, there are currently fewer regulations and genuine commercial standards pertaining to tiny equipment. Adopting the smaller-scale equipment at several locations and across different industrial groups is thus difficult. Furthermore, smaller equipment usually requires less regular maintenance and care than bigger equipment since it is sometimes more difficult to maintain. The expenses incurred for disposal and the overhead of maintaining extra equipment may result in higher total expenditures.


Smaller samples result in undesirable variability because it is possible to receive interference from factors that are absent from larger-scale investigations when the sample size continuously shrinks in proportion to the smaller size of the equipment. For instance, naturally occurring isotope variations may provide statistically erroneous findings in nano-scale chromatography. When it comes to PPOC applications, smaller sample sizes might cause problems such interstitial fluid interference or changes in the sample source technique (capillary vs. venous sampling).3 Interfaces and Hardware: The process of connecting tiny devices to the outside world is more complicated than it seems at first. 


Both the whole system design and the fluidic approach have been reduced as a consequence of the push for commercial downsizing in the chromatography area. The shift from larger columns with a standard 4.6 mm i.d. × 250 mm length to shorter ones with 1-2 mm i.d., 100 mm length, and significantly less packing material has allowed for faster analysis times without sacrificing separation efficiency or theoretical plates. A instance of commercial miniaturization would be this. 


Tubing with an outer diameter of 1/16" × 0.010" i.d., which is the "typical" size for HPLC, is increasingly being replaced with 1/32" or 360-µm o.d. tubing with inner diameters of 100 µm or less in downsized chromatography systems. Fittings with smaller (and diverse) threaded designs are used with smaller columns and tubing. When attempting to establish correct connections with various systems, this might cause confusion and irritation. 


In summary 


Miniaturization of laboratory equipment from semiconductor company and the continuous development of ever-smaller technologies are the results of current trends in laboratory equipment design. More traditional, larger-scale equipment cannot match the special advantages that smaller-scale equipment can provide, particularly in the areas of portability and reduced fluid volumes, which offer many ancillary advantages and benefits in both traditional analytical chemistry and PPOC applications. 


However, a distinct set of difficulties that are difficult to overcome have been brought about by the shrinking of laboratory apparatus; they need to be resolved in order for the smaller-scale equipment to be approved by the industry. Portable chip-based chromatography systems (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry [LC-MS]), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry [GC-MS]), and equipment for comparable techniques are being developed at a rapid pace, so it is expected that these current challenges will be overcome and miniaturization will continue in the chromatography sector. Furthermore, there is ongoing innovation in clinical diagnostics aimed at creating more portable equipment in the form of standardized cartridges or card-based assays. 


collect
0
avatar
Tessolve
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more