CMOS Single Photon Avalanche Photodiodes and Digital Control Interface for Lab-on-Chip DNA Analysis Systems

Andrew M Hakman
2015
BioMEMS focuses on microelectromechanical systems for biological, or biomedical applications. Combining BioMEMS and CMOS allows highly integrated, complex analysis devices to be realized. One application of particular interest, is medical diagnostic testing. The overall goal of the multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional project to which this research contributes, is a single-use, small, portable, low power, Lab-on-Chip genetic analysis device. Combining all of the electronic structures,
more » ... ng instrumentation, communication, high voltage generation, and optoelectronics onto one CMOS die, and vertically integrating the BioMEMS structures, including heaters, chambers, separation channels, electrostatic valves, and magnetic separation, allows for wafer manufacturing of both CMOS and BioMEMS structures at the same time. Such a device could revolutionize healthcare, by providing inexpensive, fast, point-of-care diagnostics, even in remote regions, without any of the infrastructure currently required to perform such testing. This work focuses on CMOS Single Photon Avalanche Photodiodes (SPAPDs) for optical detection of fluorescently labeled molecules, such as DNA, suitable for integration in a CMOS -BioMEMS Lab on Chip. The advantages of SPAPDs versus conventional photodiode detectors are higher speed, greater sensitivity, and direct digital output. The digital pulses produced by SPAPDs can eliminate the I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Duncan Elliott, for his support, guidance, and instruction throughout the project. I would also like to thank all of the other researchers I worked with on this project. It was a pleasure working with all of you:
doi:10.7939/r3v98008m fatcat:klkwsh65m5hujkatrnpopp4swi