SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Portable Real-time PCR Instrument
- Notice Date
- 5/13/2008
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 238990
— All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
- Contracting Office
- Department of Energy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (DOE Contractor), Industrial Partnerships & Commercialization, 7000 East Avenue, L-795, Livermore, California, 94550
- ZIP Code
- 94550
- Solicitation Number
- FBO175-08
- Response Due
- 6/13/2008
- Point of Contact
- Connie L Pitcock, Phone: 925-422-1072
- E-Mail Address
-
pitcock1@llnl.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Portable Real-time PCR Instrument Opportunity : Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to commercialize its Portable Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) instrument. Background : RT - PCR is the "gold standard" for fast and efficient nucleic acid analysis and detection. Current bench top and robotic-based PCR systems are limited in their ability to become the next generation of handheld devices due to their size, speed, complexity and reliance on heating technologies with much less precision and accuracy. This system has the potential to compete on performance, speed, portability, cost, and simplicity. Description : The invention is a microfluidic PCR thermal cycling method capable of extremely fast cycles, and a resulting extremely fast detection time. The technology utilizes a robust, stable and precise temperature control system to cycle the DNA microchip at heating and cooling rates greater than 150deg/sec without overshoot or undershoot. This is achieved through the novel application of forced convective flow through a porous media heat exchanger utilizing a working fluid and simple dual reservoir and valve assembly. The architecture is both compact, and allows for optical interrogation, resulting in a field-portable, extremely fast real-time PCR system. The technology is described in the publication, " Rapid microfluidic thermal cycler for polymerase chain reaction nucleic acid amplification ", https://ipo.llnl.gov/technology/profile/announcement/rapidcycler_sdarticle.pdf which is in print in The International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 51, May, 2008, pp. 2109-2122. It is estimated that with this method, target nucleic acid templates approaching 1 Kb in length can be amplified and detected in approximately one minute of PCR operation. This technology is currently being prototyped at LLNL, after which it will be miniaturized for field applications. To view a graphical image of the instrument, go to: https://ipo.llnl.gov/technology/profile/announcement/PortablePCR.php Advantages : Reducing the time required for pathogen characterization and detection is important. There is an urgent need for fieldable, high speed, high throughput, pathogen-specific RT-PCR detection. Some advantages include: revolutionary processing speed, simplified control system architecture, low required power, light weight assembly, significant multiplexing capability across the pathogen spectrum, and miniaturization-ready. •· Complete integration on a microfluidic platform •· Fast thermocycling •· Chip can operate in continuous flow, for the highest throughput possible •· Portable system •· The system could be paired with other technologies such as rapid sample preparation, as well as post-PCR analyses such as: capillary gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, or sequencing. Potential Applications : This technology allows extremely rapid thermal cycling which will enable PCR analysis times to decrease from approximately 1 hour to 1 minute. The change will enable whole new assays and applications. The simplicity of the heat transfer arrangement provides precise and accurate thermal control superior to current technologies, and eliminates the non-uniform temperature distributions described in the literature for commercial thermal cyclers. Since the working fluid volume can be kept low, the technology is ideal for miniaturization for field use. Development Status: Patent Pending. Prototype and test data in development stages. LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPAC website at http://www.llnl.gov/IPandC/workwithus/partneringprocess.php for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Portable Real-time PCR instrument should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following: 1. Company Name and address. 2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. •3. A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Industrial Partnerships and Commercialization P.O. Box 808, L-795 Livermore, CA 94551-0808 Attention: FBO 175-08 Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Portable Real-time PCR instrument.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=350980c60e0711190315caedb29ed2b8&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Record
- SN01571538-W 20080515/080513215626-350980c60e0711190315caedb29ed2b8 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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