Salvus Diagnostic
The world’s first handheld chemical and biological interferometric detector.
CJB Diagnostic
The Client
In 2020 Heather Davies founded Back Porch Pots to create a responsible alternative to single use garden pots. Back Porch Pots was born out of frustration over the staggering amount of waste in the gardening/nursery industries. Hundreds of millions of single-use, black plastic pots are sold by nurseries and garden centers annually, the vast majority of which end up in landfills.
The Challenge
We were tasked with transforming a suitcase-sized lab prototype into a reliable handheld device while enhancing sensitivity and accuracy. Key challenges included miniaturizing the system without sacrificing performance, ensuring precise optical alignment between the waveguide and internal laser source to avoid measurement errors, and selecting materials that were both lightweight and durable, with the necessary compatibility for optical and fluidic components. Our work focused on refining these aspects for a practical, high-performance final product.
The Process
We partnered with the client and the original lab to address challenges in a promising prototype, including accuracy, repeatability, and inconsistent sensor data. By immersing ourselves in the technology, we refined it for real-world application. Our design team conducted detailed simulations to identify opportunities for miniaturization while preserving optical integrity. We evaluated and selected materials based on mechanical strength, optical properties, and manufacturability. Precision manufacturing techniques such as micromachining and 3D printing enabled us to build highly accurate components. A novel optical alignment system was developed to ensure precise placement of optical elements within the compact device. Finally, we conducted rigorous testing and validation to confirm the device met performance expectations and client specifications.
The Results
Through close collaboration, we miniaturized the biosensor into a portable, user-friendly handheld device. Despite its reduced size, it retains the high accuracy and sensitivity of the original prototype. Built with durable materials, the device is reliable in demanding field conditions, ensuring consistent performance and long-term usability across various real-world applications.
The miniaturized biosensor has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, and food safety. By providing a portable and accurate tool for measuring biological analytes, this technology can enable rapid and efficient testing in a wide range of applications.
Let’s bring your project to life!
You bring the vision, we’ll bring the resources to help you build it!
We are always happy to walk you through all your options and help you make informed decisions throughout your product development journey. We know timelines, goals and needs can even change during a project, and pride ourselves on our deep understanding and real-time flexibility to pivot with you when necessary.
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