Florida Researchers Developing Diagnostic ‘Lab on a Chip’

Along with colleagues, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Florida State University has designed a “lab on a chip” — a small device that, when exposed to very low magnetic fields, may be used as a portable tool for quickly diagnosing a variety of human illnesses.

With the “lab on a chip,” it might be possible to take a single drop of a patient’s blood, place it on a small chip, and then provide a very quick, inexpensive and accurate diagnosis, the university said.

The device would expose the blood sample to very low magnetic field oscillations. Certain microscopic particles within the sample would be manipulated into “commuting” through an array of magnetic bubbles on the surface of the chip. Observing where various particles align themselves then would enable medical professionals to determine the nature of the patient’s illness.

A company, Siemens Medical Solutions, has expressed interest in the technique, according to the university, which added that plans to further develop the magnetic chip in a joint effort are under way.