Capillary Electrophoresis System (CZE)
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no cure and over million cases in the US alone. It is commonly treated with an invasive surgery and can only be diagnosed by a brain biopsy or visible tremors. At this point, treatments are relatively ineffective and current technology cannot accurately track PD. To resolve this issue, we implemented engineering principles to improve the capabilities of a Capillary Electrophoresis System (CZE). This device can track PD biological markers while remaining cost effective and user friendly, allowing for more efficient treatments to be utilized. In order to accurately identify PD biomarkers, prepared blood samples must be contained within a capillary tube less than 0.00059 inches in diameter and energized with both high voltage and pressure. While this process can be performed manually, our research focused on prototyping potential automated solutions. Through our iterative testing, we have determined the requirements for CZE automation.
