Founded in 2001, MicroFluidic Systems specializes in the production of automated instruments for a wide range of applications in the detection and processing of biological samples. The companies core technology is being used in the development of air monitoring systems for the next generation of the Department of Homeland Security's Biowatch program. In addition to developing ruggedized outdoor air detection systems, the company is also developing an indoor air monitor and detection system for DHS.

Our microfluidic technology alleviates all existing problems by replacing robotics with integrated microfluidics, reducing cost and increasing reliability. Our microfluidic technology also automates and increases the effectiveness of key sample processing steps used today on the laboratory bench-top, into a closed automated system. The embedded devices perform cell lysis (including difficult spores) in less than 1 minute at low power, nucleic acid purification along with inhibitor removal and pre-concentration of the nucleic acids up to factors of 1000X within minutes. These processes all occur autonomously within a fully contained disposable microfluidic cartridge.

Management Team:

Lyle L. Probst, Vice President, Operations & Product Development
Lyle L. Probst has over 10 years of program management experience at MicroFluidic Systems and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), including a series of biodetection programs such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology (S&T) BAND program, development and deployment of BioWatch Generation 1 at LLNL, and principal investigator/developer of the high-throughput BioWatch mobile laboratory at SAIC. Mr. Probst was previously the Director of Capillary Electrophoresis and Director of Chemistries at the Joint Genome Institute. He holds a B.S. in Biology and an M.B.A in Executive Management.

M. Allen Northrup, Ph.D., Chief Technology Advisor
MicroFluidic Systems was founded and is led by Dr. M. Allen Northrup. Most recently, Dr. Northrup was a Founder, Chief Technical Officer, and Vice President of Research at Cepheid, in Sunnyvale, CA. Cepheid (CPHD) was taken Public in April 2000. He has over 20 years of instrumentation development experience. Dr. Northrup's technical interests center on the application of microfabrication and related technologies to the development of environmental, medical, and biotechnological devices and instruments - specifically to take advantage of the increases of efficacy and decreases in costs these technologies can offer. Dr. Northrup was the first to demonstrate the micro-PCR process in a silicon micromachined chip and has worked closely with many companies in the biomedical industry over the past several years to prove its advantages and to move it toward commercialization.