Sino Canada Health Engineering Research Institute (Hefei) Ltd.

University of Manitoba

Biomed Canada Corporation

Sino Canada Health Engineering Research Institute Ltd.

Gong Zhang

John Saunders

Gordon A Klimenko

Darrell Van Mol

Francis Lin

Haoqin Zhu

James J Schellenberg

Jiandong Wu

Marshall Ring

Navdeep Tangri

Ryan Sparkes

Edward Stewart Richmond

Andrew Goertzen

Claudio Rigatto

Paul Komenda

Philippe Magown

Described herein is a method for mixing unequal amounts of two reagents to produce a detectable reaction in a microfluidic chip. In one example, there is a fluorescent microfluidic urinary albumin chip (UAL-Chip) that exploits the nonimmunological fluorescent assay. In this chip, we constructed a passive and continuous mixing module, in which the loading process requires only an inexpensive dropper, and the signal is stable over time, as discussed below. We applied a pressure-balancing strategy based on the immiscible oil coverage which highly improves the precision in controlling the mixing ratio of sample and dye. The UAL-Chip has achieved an estimated limit of detection (LOD) of 8.4 μg/ml using albumin standards, which is below the 30 μg albumin per ml urine level considered to be indicative of kidney damage.

Passive mixing microfluidic urinary albumin chip (UAL-chip) for chronic kidney disease

In order to improve both spatial resolution and sensitivity for brain research and clinical activity, we have designed a combined PET/MRI insert for brain scanning, referred to herein as a 'BrainPET insert' that can be fit onto and into a suitable MRI system. The BrainPET Insert comprises, in order, a receive (Rx) coil positioned within and adjacent to a transmit (Tx) coil and a PET ring, wherein both the Rx coil and the Tx coil are within the PET ring.

BrainPET system for simultaneous MRI and PET imaging

Apparatus for imaging during surgical procedures includes an operating room for the surgical procedure and an MRI for obtaining images periodically through the surgical procedure by moving the magnet up to the table. The magnet wire is formed of a superconducting material such as magnesium di-boride or Niobium-Titanium which is cooled by a vacuum cryocooling system to superconductivity without use of liquid helium. The magnet weighs less than 1 to 2 tonne and has a floor area in the range 15 to 35 sq feet so that it can be carried on the floor by a support system having an air cushion covering the base area of the magnet having side skirts so as to spread the weight over the entire base area. The magnet remains in the room during surgery and is powered off to turn off the magnetic field when in the second position remote from the table.

Moveable MRI system RF coil arrangement

Moveable MRI system

Moveable MRI moving apparatus

A portable microfluidic system capable of rapid diagnosis is described, which is able to analyze genetic, protein and cell composition of a sample in parallel for specific diseases from a relatively small sample. The method uses a single microfluidic chip integrated into a unique portable microfluidic platform and provides improved diagnostic accuracy, allows for frequent monitoring and is suitable for easy use in clinical settings.

Microfluidic based integrated sample analysis system

Growing community of inventors

Winnipeg, Canada

Gong Zhang