Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Eon Soo Lee

Jae Hyuk Jang

Kyong Bok Min

Bharath Babu Nunna

Sung Han Kim

Jae Hyoung Gil

Jong Sik Yoon

Jong Ho Chung

Jae-hyuk Jang

Jae-Hyoung Gil

Kyoung-Soo Chae

K Stephen Suh

Hong Ryul Lee

Craig Miesse

Tae Kon Koo

Jai Hyung Gil

Jai Hyoung Gil

An apparatus and method to detect disease-specific antigens assists in disease diagnosis. Point-of-care (POC) micro biochip incorporates at least one hydrophilic microchannel for controlled and self-driven flow of body fluid. Metallic nano-interdigitated electrodes disposed within the channels give enhanced sensitivity detection. Microchannel controls flow and amplifies a capillary effect. Electrodes are fabricated on microchannel surface to detect biomolecular interactions. When a sample flows through microchannel, disease-specific antigens from the sample form antigen-antibody complex with antibodies immobilized on electrodes. Antigen-antibody interaction is detected via an electrical change in the biochip's nano circuit. Each electrode may include a different antibody to detect different antigens. Capacitance during antigen-antibody interaction without microfluidic flow is higher than with microfluidic flow due to immobilized antibodies instability on sensing surface caused by shear stress. POC biochip provides nano level detection of many disease-specific antigens of any type based on micro volume or single drop sized sample.

Enhanced sensitivity and specificity for point-of-care (POC) micro biochip

A microfluidic biochip for detecting disease antigens using gold nano interdigitated electrode circuit under a controlled self-driven flow condition is disclosed. The biochip incorporates hydrophilic microchannels for controlled self-driven flow and gold nano interdigitated electrodes for capacitive sensing with enhanced sensitivity. The biochip's microchannel has a surface treated with oxygen plasma to control microchannel surface hydrophilicity and flow rate of the biofluid sample. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are utilized as an intermediate layer to enhance the binding capability to nano electrodes to enhance sensitivity. Due to the carboxylic groups of the CNTs, covalent bond binding between the antibodies and the CNTs allows the antibodies to adhere more readily on the surface of the electrodes. The quantity of antibodies attaching to the surface is increased due to the high surface to area ratio in CNTs.

Microfluidic biochip with enhanced sensitivity

Improved diagnostic assemblies are provided. More particularly, the present disclosure provides improved and highly advantageous chip based diagnostic assemblies configured to detect human diseases (e.g., cancer) and/or pathogens, and related methods of use. In exemplary embodiments, the present disclosure provides for consumable micro- or nano-fluidic chip based diagnostic assemblies having visual biosensors, with the diagnostic assemblies using continuous flow-based micro- or nano-fluidic channels and antibody-based immuno-complex designs. In certain embodiments, the diagnostic assembly includes a self-sustainable and operable chip (e.g., thumb-sized chip) that is configured to be deployed as a single use consumable with a direct all-or-none readout as an output to satisfy a point of screening method to screen a population.

Microfluidic diagnostic assembly

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) are utilized to detect diseases and minimize false negative/positive scenarios. MIPs are implemented on a nano-electric circuit in a biochip where interactions of MIPs and an Antigen/Antibody (AG/AB) are detected, and disease specific biomarkers diagnosed. Biomarker detection is achieved with interdigitated gold electrodes in a biochip's microchannel. Capacitance changes due to biomarker interaction with AG/AB electrode coating diagnose diseases in a microfluidic environment. Biofluid passes through the microchannel and exposed to the nanocircuit to generate a capacitance difference and diagnose any specific disease in the biofluid sample. Blood capillary flow in a microchannel curved section experience centrifugal forces that separate liquid from solid. Various blood densities and segments experience different centrifugal effects while flowing through the curved section so serum is separated from various solid matter without using external devices.

Biomarker detection and self-separation of serum during capillary flow

Disclosed herein is a fuel cell module. The fuel cell module according to preferred embodiments of the present invention includes: a first support part including a first body part surrounding one side of an outer peripheral surface of a fuel cell and a first connection part formed on one side of the first body part in a longitudinal direction; a second support part including a second body part surrounding the other side of the outer peripheral surface of the fuel cell and the second connection part formed on one side of the second body part in a longitudinal direction; and a fixing part passing through the first connection part and the second connection part to connect and fix the first connection part and the second connection part to each other.

Fuel cell module

Disclosed herein is a solid oxide fuel cell, including: a unit cell; a current collector formed in a flat shape having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface including a groove formed in a thickness direction so as to receive the unit cell therein; and a circular support member formed between the first surface and the second surface of the current collector, wherein the support member is provided in plural, and the support members for respective regions have different diameters.

Solid oxide fuel cell

A fuel cell includes a cell unit and a manifold capable of collecting electric current. The cell unit includes a tube support composed of a conductive material, a unit cell laminated on an outer surface of the tube support, and a current collection layer laminated on an outer surface of the unit cell. The manifold includes an inner tube supplying gas into and electrically connected with the tube support, and an outer tube provided outside the inner tube and electrically connected with the current collection layer. By the provision of a current-collectable manifold, a separate metal form or metal wire for current collection is not required.

Fuel cell having current-collectable manifold

There is provided a fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell generating electricity and heat by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel and air, a thermoelectric element converting heat, emitted from the fuel cell, into electrical energy, and a heat storage tank storing heat emitted from the thermoelectric element. The fuel cell system includes therein a configuration allowing for the conversion of heat, emitted from a fuel cell, into electricity or the utilization of heat, thereby minimizing the amount of heat that is released at the final stage. Therefore, a reduction in the size of a heat storage tank can be achieved, and the electricity conversion efficiency of a fuel cell can be improved.

Fuel cell system

Disclosed is a structure of a solid oxide fuel cell, including a porous tubular anode support having a plurality of through holes, and an electrolyte layer and a cathode layer sequentially formed on the inner surface of the tubular anode support, so that fuel flows via the plurality of through holes and air flows through the inside of the cathode layer, thus increasing a diffusion rate of fuel and air to thereby increase the reaction rate, resulting in excellent cell performance. This structure eliminates the flow of fuel and air around the outside of the fuel cell, thus preventing the formation of an oxidizing atmosphere at the inside and outside of the tubular cell, thereby increasing lifespan of the cell and ensuring cell reliability.

Structure of solid oxide fuel cell

Disclosed is a solid oxide fuel cell bundle, including a plurality of fuel cells each having a polygonal tubular support an outer surface of which has a plurality of planes, an outer connector formed on one plane among the plurality of planes of the tubular support, a plurality of unit cells respectively formed on two or more remaining planes of the tubular support except for the one plane, and inner connectors for connecting the unit cells and the outer connector in series, wherein the fuel cells is connected in series in such a manner that the outer connector of a fuel cell is bonded to the unit cell of an additional fuel cell, and the unit cells are connected in series, thus exhibiting excellent cell performance and high power density per unit volume, and maintaining high voltage upon collection of current to thereby reduce power loss due to electrical resistance.

Solid oxide fuel cell and solid oxide fuel cell bundle

A hydrogen generating apparatus and a fuel cell power generation system having the hydrogen generating apparatus are disclosed. The hydrogen generating apparatus can include an electrolyte bath configured to contain an electrolyte solution, an anode placed inside the electrolyte bath and configured to generate electrons, a cathode placed inside the electrolyte bath and configured to receive the electrons from the anode to generate hydrogen, a condensation plate disposed on a transfer path of the hydrogen such that moisture carried in the hydrogen is condensed and the hydrogen is separated, and a heat exchanger configured to cool down the condensation plate heated by the moisture carried in the hydrogen. The hydrogen generating apparatus of the present invention can increase the efficiency of hydrogen generation by removing the moisture carried in the hydrogen while generating the hydrogen and reusing the moisture circulated through the electrolyte solution.

Growing community of inventors

Tenafly, NJ, United States of America

Eon Soo Lee