Re:Launch HN: Volta Labs (YC W19) – Easier sample prep for g...
by perceptron on Friday April 19, 2024 @06:01PM
(#40092394)
Hi Dash!
The system uses a disposable plastic consumable that gets replaced after each run.
In terms of design trade offs, its not just a electrowetting system. It employs complex magnetic manipulation, thermal controls and other forms of sample manipulation. We had to work under these constraints.
It’s really neat to see the open-face nature of this product as compared to others doing EWOD with a second immiscible phase / a glass top plate that the droplet is squished under — makes it much easier to do IO to the chip.
Are the chips disposable, to accomodate contamination constraints, or is there some on-site surface reconditioning that we can do to refurb the chips?
Interesting to note that this is down-scaled from some of your older prototypes. What design tradeoffs made you go fron large open faced arrays to a set of smaller arrays?