University of California researchers use an MEC system (Multifluidic Evolutionary Component) to create a custom lab instrument. (iamges via UCR.edu)
If you’re like me, you often find yourself wondering if there’s anything that can’t be made using LEGO bricks and more often than not, the answer is no. Simply Google LEGO projects and over 10-million entries will pop up with everything from the whole town of Hogwarts to intricate cell models were made using the interlocking bricks. A team of researchers from the University of California (Riverside) obviously must think the same about the popular building blocks as they have recently designed their own in an effort to build custom chemical and biological lab instruments.
The team, led by graduate student Douglas Hill designed the 3D printed blocks that can link together into many different combinations very quickly and easily at minimal costs. Known as Multifluidic Evolutionary Components (MECs), the blocks are engineered to perform a different task function in a lab instrument, such as pumping liquids, taking measurements or even interfacing with a user.
Because the blocks were engineered to work together, users can build different tools to handle any given task, such as building bioreactors for producing clean-burning fuels or simple titration tools found in most chemistry classes.
A sample of different types of MECs that can be combined to build a multitude of different lab tools.
The team created more than 200 different MECs that can be combined into an almost unlimited number of tools and consist of Fluidic macroMECs that can manipulate fluids on a tiny scale, Electronic macroMECs for controlling and measuring electricity (build a circuit) and Mechanical macroMECs for building the framework of lab equipment. For example, you could combine Electronic, Mechanical, Fluidic and Light macroMECs to control and measure both liquids and light or connect Mechanical and Optical MECs to build a user interface for reading data.
The team state that it’s easy to use their MEC platform and have had computer science students write code that run the blocks, bioengineering students run cultures using equipment made from the blocks and even art students, who built an interface for the software that controls them. All of which had little to no research experience prior to using the MECs.
The researchers are continuing to develop the MECs and are planning to start a pilot program in two California school districts as educational tools for the state’s Next Generation Science Standards initiative designed to get kids interested in science. Their long-term goal is to be able to get the MEC system into third-world hospitals and laboratories that don’t have immediate access to the tools they need.
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