Christopher Brown (Presenter)
908 Devices
Bio: Dr. Brown is the CTO of 908 Devices Inc. Prior to founding 908 Devices, Chris was a platform architect at Apple in California and headed Product Development and Engineering at Ahura Scientific and later Thermo Fisher Scientific, which acquired Ahura Scientific in 2010. He received his PhD in Analytical Chemistry from Dalhousie University in Canada, specializing in the application of chemometrics, statistical learning and pattern recognition methods for knowledge discovery and prediction with analytical and bioanalytical instrumentation.
Authorship: Christopher D. Brown, Michael P. Goodwin, J. Scott Mellors
908 Devices
| Short Abstract We have developed a prototype instrument that combines microfluidic capillary electrophoresis (CE) with high pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS) into a single benchtop instrument. This instrument is roughly the size of a conventional HPLC pump, and it contains all of the components necessary for running microchip CE-ESI-HPMS, including a small, custom-built scroll pump, and an on-board computer. We have used this platform to generate some preliminary data for applications relevant to clinical diagnostics including simulations of newborn screening via dried blood spot analysis and monitoring of pain management drugs in urine. This presentation will provide an overview of the instrumentation and examples of the data generated by this system. |
Long Abstract
While the current paradigm of LC-MS analysis has proven its value for a wide range of applications, its widespread deployment for clinical diagnostics is limited by the size, complexity, and level of skill required to operate and maintain the instrumentation. We have been developing an alternative platform that combines electrokinetically-driven microfluidic separations with high pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS). HPMS uses miniaturized cylindrical ion traps and high frequency RF to enable MS to be performed at pressures (~1 Torr) that are orders of magnitude greater than conventional MS. High pressure operation eliminates the need for turbo pumps or differential pressure chambers within the instrument. The whole instrument, including a small rough pump, can be miniaturized to handheld size, and indeed has already been commercialized in the form of a handheld instrument targeted to the safety and security market. For life sciences applications, including clinical diagnostics, microfluidic capillary electrophoresis (CE) can be paired with HPMS to provide the separation power of LC with much simpler instrumentation. The integration of sample injection, separation, and electrospray ionization (ESI) in a single glass microchip yields extremely fast and efficient separations.
Over the past year, we have developed a prototype that combines these two analytical methods into a single benchtop instrument. This instrument is roughly the size of a conventional HPLC pump, and it contains all of the components necessary for running microchip CE-ESI-HPMS, including a small, custom-built scroll pump, and an on-board computer. We have used this platform to generate some preliminary data for applications relevant to clinical diagnostics including simulations of newborn screening via dried blood spot analysis and monitoring of pain management drugs in urine. This presentation will provide an overview of the instrumentation and examples of the data generated by this system.
References & Acknowledgements:
| Description | Y/N | Source |
| Grants | no | |
| Salary | yes | 908 Devices |
| Board Member | no | |
| Stock | yes | 908 Devices |
| Expenses | no |
IP Royalty: no
| Planning to mention or discuss specific products or technology of the company(ies) listed above: | yes |