Point-of-Care Medical Tests Devices and their Value as Educational Projects for Engineering Students

Point of Care Medical Diagnostics devices are portable microfluidics-based systems that test for infectious diseases in clinical specimens such as blood. They provide fast, easily-interpreted test results in a low-cost format and do not require highly skilled operators. This technology is expected to play a prominent role in future healthcare, especially in resource-limited regions of the developing world. We believe point of care diagnostics devices are excellent topics for student projects. The projects involve microfluidics, cell phone applications, image processing, optics, CAD/CAM and rapid prototyping, microcontrollers, sensors, C programming, instrumentation and process control, product development; and give engineering students exposure to important medical and biotechnology applications. For example, students have designed, constructed, and validated portable devices to test for viruses in blood samples, using a device that integrates a cellphone as a detector, controller, and communications port. This work provides ample opportunities for students to integrate their foundational knowledge and skills in an increasingly important enabling technology for sustainable healthcare.