This document discusses the development of portable, affordable diagnostic devices that can be used in the field to rapidly diagnose diseases in developing countries. The goal is to build devices that use light signals and fiber optics to detect samples and indicate whether they are positive or negative through optical detection of light scattering, helping to alert authorities of disease outbreaks. The document provides background on rapid diagnostic tests and describes key features of the proposed device such as its battery-powered, low-cost design.

1. Portable Rapid
Diagnostics
Disease control in developing countries

2. Project Goal
To build portable affordable diagnostic devices
that can be used successfully in the field
Our project focused on the mechanical side of the device.
The molecular technology used for disease detection will
be covered, but was not part of our research.

3. Device Function
A liquid drop of the sample is placed on a slide,
and the drop is physically aligned between the
emitting LED and the detecting photodiode and
fiber optic receiver.

4. Historical Background
● Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) are the
prefered method of testing samples in the
field where microscopy or a laboratory may
not be practical
● RDTs provide a user with a quick reliable
way to classify positive and negative
samples

5. Key Device Features
● Battery powered - runs off 9V batteries,
easily available power source in any country
● Low powered signal emission and
detection - Light Emitting Diode (LED)
signal and fiber optic cable and photodiode
to receive the signal after passing through
the liquid sample
● Indicator LED - the indicator LED turns off
once sample is properly aligned
● Operational Amplifiers - detect amount of
light scattering (positive or negative sample)

6. Device purpose and benefit
● Rapidly diagnose blood and tissue sample in
the field
● Inexpensive user-friendly disease control
device
● Alert government of problematic areas
before outbreaks

7. Technical Background
Sample Alignment
Molecular detection
Comparing the sample scattering
What an Optical Caustic is and how it is critical
to our device
The fiber and caustic detection allow for an
easy to use device

8. Sample Alignment

9. Molecular Detection

10. Measuring Sample Scattering

11. Application of Technology
The fiber and caustic detection allow for an
easy to use device that is very simple

12. Instrument Requirements
Low power device - battery powered
Simplistic user interface - fiber optic alignment

13. Instrument Design
Portable, durable, reliable,
- op amp based circuit, can be used with a very
common slide to compare samples
-

14. Calibration
Once the device is working properly, it must be
calibrated to the specific liquid the operator will
be working with.
Gold nanoparticles

15. Gold Nanoparticles
● A gold nanoparticle solution is the liquid
medium for our device design
● Particularly
Detection of diseased sample is based on
comparing the transmittance of nanoparticles
uniformly, randomly scattered versus
nonuniform distribution of nanoparticles that
selectively bind to infectious areas.

16. Further Work to Do
Possibly add the magnetic stabilizer
Rechargeable Power source

17. Application and Impact
developing country disease control

18. Acknowledgements