The global spread of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to human health.
A rapid diagnosis of AMR within 1-3 hours to infectious disease will not only reduce uncertainty in diagnosis,
saving millions of lives (e.g. those lost through sepsis), but also enable an effective help to clinical doctors
making the best use of antibiotics: preserving the usefulness of existing antibiotics for longer and reducing the
urgency of discovering new ones. This project will develop such a diagnostic tool by integration of advances in
single-cell Raman spectroscopy, microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip and world-leading clinical expertise. Our new
methodology is based on the detection of the general metabolic activity of cells at the single cell level. It
overcomes inherent limitations in the existing growth-based and DNA-based technologies, providing both
speed and phenotype information needed for data-informed prescription. We anticipate that the
implementation of this new diagnostic tool in healthcare will transform current approaches based on
“empirical” rules, bringing significant benefits to patients and public health.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership
To develop 'IMPEL'- Innovative microsystem for medical practioner, point-of- care, sub 20 minute diagnosis of infectious disease, using automated serological and PCR analysis, integrating state of the art design, surface acoustics, microfluidics, microelectronic, Internet of Things, process and data control.
Epigem Ltd is a polymer micro engineering company specialising in the development and manufacture of devices based on the company’s three technology platforms: microfluidics, electrodes, and optics.The company is currently looking to introduce an electrode based technology into the NHS for the treatment of heart arrhythmia.
Force sensing touch (FST) sensors provide extra functionality compared to existing touch
sensors based on capacitive sensing. They enable a new type of gesturing – the ability for
electronic devices to recognize the location and amount of force or pressure of a touch point.
This can be used in track-pads, keyboards, touch screens, game controllers and the like. They
enhance the user’s ability to interact with an electronic device or computer and for the
manufacturer they can really differentiate their product in the marketplace. The problem is
that existing FST sensors have poor uniformity of response, give false triggering, have poor
mechanical robustness and need too large a first touch activation force. Our concept is to
eliminate these problems by using a novel type of flexible circuit board in the construction of
the sensor. This board will enable us to make resistive FST sensors without any spacer
structures or air gaps and with much lower resistance of the individual sensor drive lines in
the matrix pattern. Our sensor will have the additional benefits of being free from electrical
interference and will draw less power, as no current flows until the sensor is touched.
The 'MilkED' project is aimed at developing a device to rapidly detect pathogens in milk, within the milk parlour or milk tank. It is focused on Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), a pathogen infecting cattle and other ruminants, causing chronic diarrhoea, emaciation, and often leading to death. In addition to detrimental effects on the health of herds, leading to significant decrease in milk production, it is present in milk and resists pasteurisation, and may survive to be present in milk at the point of sale. Currently the detection process is lengthy and expensive and performed in a central laboratory.To prevent MAP entering the food chain and reduce the transmission of the infection within the animal population, we will develop a new device to test milk directly in the farm.
The "MilkED" industrial research programme is business led by a manufacturing company (Epigem), working in partnership with a medical diagnostics company (MV Diagnostics), in collaboration with a world leading University (Glasgow) in the field of advanced diagnostics. The consortium will build upon two technical innovations to develop of an easy-to-use rapid diagnostic device: (i) we will use sound waves, similar to the ones used for ultrasound imaging, to actuate liquids and process a small volume of milk (
One third of the world’s population is infected with TB and there are nine million new cases of active TB every year. While delays in diagnosing the disease result in a potential infection spreading, the diagnosis of TB on clinical grounds alone is difficult as patients often have only non-specific symptoms. Current diagnostic tests are facing major limitations, as they require samples to be sent to medical testing facilities and may take a further two days to perform, extending the time during which a patient is unsure and potentially infectious. This project aims at developing a ‘point-of-care’ system to diagnose TB, based on a blood sample from a finger-prick in a matter of minutes. It assembles a business-led consortium with a wide range of expertise, from clinical TB experts, closely involved with patients in three different universities across the UK, to engineering and biology.
The system comprises a low-cost disposable cartridge containing the sample and all the reagents required, interfaced with a reader that provides power, actuation and sensing. The manipulation of the drop of blood on the disposable cartridge is based on a patented innovation from the University of Glasgow, using the mechanical energy carried by sound waves to actuate liquids. The test is centered on a diagnostic chip using biomarkers, designed by MV diagnostics and created by Epigem Ltd that specifically detects the response of the human body to the tuberculosis pathogen. The large number of different (and proprietary) biomarkers has the potential to provide unprecedented sensitivity and specificity, within minutes, where current tests require hours or even days.
Epigem has developed a new type of transparent conducting film which has higher optical
transmission (>85%) and lower electrical surface resistance (~1 Ohm/square) compared to
existing materials, whilst having no colour. Epigem hopes to make and sell a range of these
new films under the brand name "Epimesh". More details of the product are given in
Appendix A. Such films are needed to make one of the electrodes in the new generation of
organic solar cells and solid state lighting. Without a very highly conducting, yet transparent,
electrode solar cells lose efficiency and lighting panels become darker in the centre compared
to the edge when the panel size gets bigger than about 13x13 cm. Existing materials are
currently either too expensive to make or not robust or both. However both these applications
are a number of years away from commercialization and in order to support the ongoing
investment required to develop the product, more immediate markets must be found. Other
potential markets include touch screens, flexible displays, architectural specialist glazing and
RFI shielding. Such markets are potentially large but also technically demanding and diverse.
The aim of the project is to identify and quantify the size, value and needs of these potential
markets for Epimesh film. Especially those which could use Epimesh film at the 300 mm
wide size which we can make on existing equipment. We will also investigate the
specifications and price targets that the product has to meet in order to be successful. Should
good product opportunities be identified, we will produce a business plan to show how they
could be exploited.
The transistor is the basic building block for logic and has been key to the success of microelectronics from highly demanding aerospace applications to commoditised consumer electronics. Printed logic, analogous to the silicon integrated chip, is necessary for plastic electronics to realise its forecast huge potential. Today logic accounts for just £7M (0.5%) of the plastic electronics market and yet by 2028 is expected to achieve a similar share as today’s silicon logic (~33%, £65B, IDTechEx). Conventional transistor design and low-performance materials severely limit development of printed logic beyond simple arrays of identical transistors currently achievable. The objectives for this project are (i) to establish a manufacturing supply-chain for printed NMOS logic from fabrication of printed logic (nanoscale transistor and logi-gates) – Epigem/PragmatIC/Cambridge Integrated Knowledge Centre; materials (metal oxide semiconductor and complementary dielectrics) and deposition equipment – Cambridge University/PlasmaQuest; high-resolution multi-level printed circuitry – Epigem; singulation and packaging - Optek; functional test - Keithley; device modelling - Silvaco; (ii) proof-of-principle for printed PMOS logic for future integration in CMOS (low-power plastic electronics) - PPL/CIKC/CU/PQL. The project will employ a sheet-based process to provide printed logic component which itself will be commercially viable. However, each process developed will have a natural transition for future continuous processing to drive lower-cost production. Feasibility trials for continuous processing will be undertaken where possible within project constraints.
‘Morris’ is a 3 year program to develop large area (~1m diagonal and up), reflective colour display surfaces, made by printed/plastic electronic processes, for use in applications such as command/control rooms, electronic whiteboards, posters and signage, and architectural/ interior design (electronic wallpaper). The partners are Hewlett-Packard, Timsons Ltd, and PETEC (CPI Ltd). The final output will be the specification of a pilot line and material set, projected costs and yields, and demonstration devices, components, processes and equipment; to be sufficient to secure investment in pilot and then full manufacturing.
Morris is based on a novel, industry leading approach to reflective colour, particularly applicable to large area plastic displays; innovative highly transparent and highly conducting structured electrodes, and advances in organic semiconductors/TFT fabrication processes. These will be developed and integrated, focusing on performance, yield and cost. The partners and subcontractors cover key areas of the developing UK Plastic Electronics supply chain.
The colour reflective display is enabled by the use of novel optical reflectors sandwiched between coloured electro-optic modulation arrays. A significant part of the project is to develop new, cost effective means of fabricating these optical enhancement layers, and develop improved EO modes to form the displayed image. The optical performance approaches that of print, a SNAP print quality is obtainable. Work on new colourant synthesis in the UK has been contracted, and this work will have benefits for many display applications. Colour reflective displays are particularly suited for outdoor use, so the requirements and demonstration of lightfastness is important.
To enable a reflective display, the optical losses must be minimized. To enable active matrix addressing of the pixels to give complex imaging at high speed, the array must have a small optical footprint, and the semiconductor material be of sufficient performance to give a small device. Previously, optical apertures of ~90% have been demonstrated, but this is not high enough, under the Morris project arrays of >95% aperture are being fabricated using novel electrodeposited materials and techniques.
A range of organic semiconductor materials are being evaluated from suppliers within and external to the project, from the UK, Europe and the US. This gives the project the opportunity to select the most appropriate materials set for each application targeted. Under the project, class leading device performance has been demonstrated in useful devices.
The third strand of work under Morris is to develop a scalable approach to plastic substrate handling. Historically, plastic substrates have either been handled as sheet materials, laminated to rigid carriers and put through existing wafer and panel equipment, or have been processed in a full scale roll to roll fashion. The former does not scale easily to larger area, and has cost drawbacks, the later has yet to demonstrate high areal yield for complex functional devices. A clean spool cassette system, similar to the approach taken in wafer fab FOUPs, is being developed, where a 20-30m length of film at up to 650mm width can be handled without the front surface ever coming in contact with the equipment or the rest of the film material. As the cassettes are self contained, processing equipment can be designed in a modular fashion, without the need for materials feed rate matching. Sensitive coatings and lithography can be carried out without mechanical damage or contamination. Spool cassette equipment will be prototyped and the performance of the cassette handling verified during the Morris programme, this will then form the basis of a common means of handling, transporting and processing film in the plastic electronics industry, scalable from R&D to pilot and initial volume manufacturing.
The Morris programme will also investigate the development of new applications and exploitation routes for plastic, reflective colour displays and other plastic electronics systems, with the aim to put the UK at the forefront of development of underlying science, implementation technology and process equipment development. Plastic reflective colour displays are inherently low power, have low materials usage, and are processed at low temperatures, leading to reduced environmental footprints in manufacture, use and end of life.