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Imec and MiDiagnostics to Commercialize COVID-19 Breath Sampler

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LEUVEN, Belgium, Oct. 25, 2021 — Imec, a research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technology, has signed a nonexclusive licensing agreement with miDiagnostics, a spinoff of imec in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, to commercialize technology that captures aerosols and droplets from exhaled breath. The patented technology from imec screens for viral RNA through miDiagnostics’ ultrafast PCR capabilities.

The proof of concept breath sampler, developed by imec and miDiagnostics. Courtesy of imec.


The proof-of-concept breath sampler developed by imec and miDiagnostics. Imec has additionally launched efforts to explore how the technology might be applied to diagnoses for other diseases. Courtesy of imec.

Clinical trials demonstrated that the sampler can detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in exhaled air quickly and reliably; in the past year, imec developed a breath sampler based on its silicon chip technology and performed clinical studies with the university hospital and university in Leuven. Additionally, imec developed a sampling instrument integrating the breath sampling technology and imec’s ultrafast PCR test and optimized the robustness and ease of use to achieve a functioning proof of concept.

“With this proof of concept, we can demonstrate — much closer to the market — the added value of our technology, while significantly reducing the time-to-market for our partners,” said imec CEO Luc Van den hove. “The license agreement with miDiagnostics is an important milestone for imec: Our breakthrough technology will help curb the COVID-19 pandemic in the foreseeable future.”

Imec has now launched efforts to explore how the technology might be applied to diagnoses for other infectious airborne diseases, as well as diseases such as cancer.

“Despite the vaccination campaigns, there’s still a great need for accessible and reliable rapid tests to curb new virus outbreaks or to avoid unnecessary quarantine,” said Katleen Verleysen, CEO of miDiagnostics. “With our license to imec’s groundbreaking technology, we aim to make our ultrafast PCR technology, which we now use for nasal swabs, also compatible with exhaled air — the perfect sample for silicon-based PCR. This first prototype will be tested at the airport in November in collaboration with Brussels Airport, Ecolog, and Eurofins.”



Published: October 2021
Glossary
chip
1. A localized fracture at the end of a cleaved optical fiber or on a glass surface. 2. An integrated circuit.
integrated photonics
Integrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers, modulators, detectors, and waveguides, on a single chip or substrate. The goal of integrated photonics is to miniaturize and consolidate optical elements in a manner similar to the integration of electronic components on a microchip in traditional integrated circuits. Key aspects of integrated photonics include: Miniaturization: Integrated photonics aims to...
aerosol
A two-phase system consisting of dispersed liquid or solid particles in a gas; examples include dust, smoke and clouds.
microfluidics
Microfluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically in the microliter (10-6 liters) to picoliter (10-12 liters) range, within channels or devices with dimensions on the microscale. It integrates principles from physics, chemistry, engineering, and biotechnology to design and fabricate systems that handle and analyze fluids at the micro level. Key features and aspects of microfluidics include: Miniaturization:...
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