Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 24

Test & Measurement

Programmed magnetic nanobeads paired with an off-the-shelf cellphone and plug-in diagnostic
tool can diagnose COVID-19 in 55 minutes or less. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)

using whole serum. The researchers
found that 55 minutes was an optimum
amount of time for the microchip to
sense SARS-CoV-2 N protein at concentrations as low as 50 picograms (bil-

lionths of a gram) per milliliter in whole
serum. The microchip could detect N
protein in even lower concentrations, at
10 picograms per milliliter, in only 25
minutes by diluting the serum fivefold.

Paired with a Google Pixel 2 phone
and a plug-in potentiostat, it was able to
deliver a positive diagnosis with a concentration as low as 230 picograms for
whole serum. There are standard procedures to modify the beads with an antibody that targets a particular biomarker.
When combined with a sample containing the biomarker (in this case, SARSCoV-2 N protein), they bond together.
A capillary tube is used to deliver the
sample to the chip, which is then placed
on a magnet that pulls the beads toward
an electrochemical sensor coated with
capture antibodies. The beads bind to
the capture antibodies and generate a
current proportional to the concentration of biomarker in the sample. The
potentiostat reads that current and
sends a signal to its phone app. If there
are no COVID-19 biomarkers, the beads
do not bind to the sensor and get
washed away inside the chip.
For more information, contact Mike
Williams at mikewilliams@rice.edu; 713348-6728.

Cord Tension Measurement Device
Potential applications include parachutes, hot air balloons, weather balloons, blimps, sails,
and parasails.
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas

I

nnovators have developed the C-Gauge,
a non-invasive tension measurement
device for axial loaded cords. Cordagebased flexible structure systems are used
by NASA as parachutes and inflatable
structures. For engineers to fully design,
develop, and test these types of systems,
they must understand the tension and
loading of the structural components
including the load-carrying cords.
Traditional in-line load cells require
cords to be severed and attached to a
metallic interface. The C-Gauge attaches
to the cord without any severing of the
cord and can measure the structural
response without affecting the dynamics
of the system, providing engineers a
non-invasive way to test cordage-based
structures with a small, low-profile, and
lightweight device.
The C-Gauge is made of a 3D-printed
aluminum body with strain gauges attached to the inner and outer walls of
the connecting beam. The legs of the
gauge attach firmly to the cord. When
the cord is stretched, the tension in the
cord goes through the legs and into the

A drawing of the C-Gauge load cell designed for measuring parachute reefing line tension.

beam, causing it to bend. This bending
creates a tension and compression stress
in the bottom and top surface of the
beam, respectively. The strain gauges
capture the tension and compression,
which are then used to determine the
tension in the cord. The use of multiple
strain gauges mitigates any torsion load-

24

www.techbriefs.com

Cov

ToC

ing of the gauge and provides a direct
measurement of the axial tension load
of the cord.
The C-Gauge can be installed onto an
existing cord in a system (e.g., the suspension, reefing, or riser lines in a parachute) without the need to remove or reinstall the cord. It is small and lightweight
Tech Briefs, May 2021


http://www.techbriefs.com http://www.abpi.net/ntbpdfclicks/l.php?202105TBNAV

Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021

Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - Intro
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - Sponsor
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 1
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 2
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 3
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 4
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 5
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 6
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 7
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 8
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 9
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 10
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 11
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 12
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 13
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 14
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 15
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 16
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 17
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 18
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 19
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 20
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 21
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 22
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 23
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 24
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 25
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 26
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 27
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 28
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 29
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 30
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 31
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 32
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 33
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 34
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 35
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 36
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 37
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 38
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 39
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 40
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 41
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 42
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 43
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 44
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 45
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 46
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 47
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 48
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 49
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 50
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 51
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 52
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 53
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 54
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 55
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - 56
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - Cov3
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - Cov4
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-Cov1
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-Cov2
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-1
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-2
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-3
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-4
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-5
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-6
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-7
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-8
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-9
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-10
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-11
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-12
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-13
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-14
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-15
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-16
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-17
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-18
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-19
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-20
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-21
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-22
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-23
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-24
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-25
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-26
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-27
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-28
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-Cov3
Tech Briefs Magazine - May 2021 - PIT-Cov4
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/25TB02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/25TB01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB09B
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB05B
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/24TB01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/23TB01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/Testing/22TB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB05-P
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB05-D
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB02
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/22TB01
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB12
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB11
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB10
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB09
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB08
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB07
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB06
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB05
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB04
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21BT03
https://www.nxtbook.com/smg/techbriefs/21TB02
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com