A Disposable Sub-Microliter Pumping Mechanism

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Engineering, 2000-01

Liaison(s): John McNeil ’89, Dave Podue
Advisor(s): Mary Cardenas
Students(s): Michael Helfen (TL), Russell Calkins, Malinee Krailas, Casey May

As a leader in the drug development industry, Isis Pharmaceuticals is able to design safer, more effective drugs with its expertise in antisense technology. Isis requires a more efficient method of liquid transfer than the current implementation of handheld pipettes and automated pipetting arrays. For this project, a disposable sub-microliter pumping mechanism was designed, prototyped and tested to demonstrate reproducibility of drop volume. Isis will further develop the final design for integration with their new automation system for the biotechnology industry.