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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - memetis (Modular fluidic platform with Shape Memory Alloy miniature valves to disrupt medical technology industry (memetis))

Teaser

Summary

Todayâ€™s microfluidics are heterogeneously present within the analytics and medical technology industries and in a relatively early stage of development. The strengths of microfluidic analysis lie in the fact that the amount of necessary reagents can be reduced for analysis, that it has the potential to be small, thus portable and by this, decentrally usable as well as faster in more sophisticated analyses due to automated microfluidic controls.

memetis introduces a modular fluidic platform using Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) miniature valves in combination with other features (e.g. sensors), fluidic ports as well as fabrication and bonding technologies for user specific needs. It enables the realization of unprecedented fluidic platforms with respect to the outer dimensions, functionality, integration density and power consumption, while being easily adjustable to customer specific needs. memetisâ€™ foil-based SMA miniature actuators meet the augmenting challenges of strengthening miniaturization and ever-expanding functionality in their product development. Processes which are normally carried out in a lab can be miniaturized on a single chip and performed at the Point of Care/ Point of Need to enhance analysis and diagnostic efficiency and speed by reducing sample and reagent volumes. memetisâ€™ innovation is a key to simplify or enable the technology developed by memetisâ€™ customers.

memetisâ€™ innovation addresses European business challenges, as it creates a new technology concept that will help businesses resolve difficulties relating to fluidic periphery and controls to perform a wide range of analyses while reducing reagent volumes as well as enabling automation and efficient operation. The feasibility study as part of the Phase 1 project helped to validate the technologyâ€™s viability, its market acceptance and future market potential. Phase 2 project promises a rapidly achieving production capacity and commercialization of the memetis solution in our target markets.

Work performed

During the Phase 1 project, in 2018-2019, we have spoken to and interviewed 16 experts and potential customers to gain a complete understanding of their wants and needs, the solutionâ€™s technical acceptance, customerâ€™s willingness to pay (pricing validation), and expected conversion rates. We also run an intense 6 months trial with our partner vasQlab, who tested the platform with biological cells. The testsâ€™ results provided a valuable source of information to enhance the platform and its components over the course of various iterations. Additionally, our partner 300MICRONS tested the platform in terms of autoclavation and ease of cleaning in order to prevent contamination.

Feedback to and reception on the technical feasibility of our core innovation has been sincerely positive throughout the project. As one of the most important factors in the development of fluidic platforms is the choice of materials, our innovation was being tested to evaluate how, in addition to purely biological aspects, other factors such as rinsability and optical transparency also play a role. For these reasons, a material research was carried out with regard to various properties relevant for the fluidic platform.

The collected pilot data and user experience feedbacks provided us with sufficient data to create a development plan towards TRL9. Willingness to pay, price validation, and expected conversion rates were demonstrated in each particular case. The Phase 1 project helped to validate the business concept by demonstrating the market need for our product as well as evaluate the prospects for European growth and international expansion, consistent with the companyâ€™s commercialisation plans. memetis has also undertaken several complementary actions to maximize its market success, by defining and implementing the communication needs (product positioning and marketing message) to be used during the commercialization phase, thereby creating the basis for successful product launch.

Final results

memetis introduces the novel modular fluidic platform concept in small dimensions so the processes, which are mostly carried out in a lab and are performed manually, can be miniaturized on a single chip to enhance analysis, diagnostic efficiency and speed while reducing sample and reagent volumes. The modular concept using SMA miniature valves enables the realization of unprecedented fluidic platforms with respect to the outer dimensions, functionality, integration density and power consumption. The dimensions are decreased by a factor of four compared to conventional miniature valves, the integration density and functionality increase in the same measure and the power consumptions comes into a region were batteries can be used. The modular fluidic platform concept using â€œstandardizedâ€ components allows: (1) fast and easy realization of specific customer needs, (2) high functionality due to a combination of the components/methods, (3) PC controlled electrical operation and (4) reduced costs.

memetisâ€™ solution offers Europe an opportunity to boost competitiveness and enter new, emerging microfluidics market segments. The high-tech manufacturing industry therefore represents a direct path to development and is crucial for economic growth in Europe. Our solution will bring a tangible impact on society since many of our customersâ€™ new applications and products would bring great advantages, among others in medical care. The existing market offer is limited, and, if such technology would be made available to the public, society in general would greatly benefit.