VLSI Design and System Integration for a USB Genetic Amplification Platform

• Author / Creator

  Ho, Sunny

• We demonstrate the feasibility of USB-powered portable genetic amplification. One of the central processes within medical or biological genetic methods is polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Through this amplification, more quantities of the specified genetic target can be obtained for analysis and testing. In this work we have designed a system that is able to perform PCR using a Universal Serial
  Bus (USB) link for power and communications. The significance of this is the portability and accessibility that comes with the USB based platform. The system
  is built around a custom VLSI CMOS chip which was designed to accommodate the functionalities required to perform PCR. The intended design and shortcomings of the VLSI chip, as well as characterization and optimization of the system will be discussed in this thesis. This work also includes the design and testing of system firmware, system integration, and demonstration of PCR through molecular diagnostic lab work.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Polymerase chain reaction
  • Microfluidic system
  • Biomedical
  • USB
  • Lab-on-a-chip
  • VLSI
  • Genetic amplification

• Graduation date

  Fall 2011

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3VQ2SK0R

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.