The development of a PoC device is an interdisciplinary effort, but the mechanical and fluidic design is the backbone. My specific expertise is essential in three critical areas of PoC device design:

A. Microfluidics and Fluid Transport (CFD/Biofluids)

PoC devices rely on manipulating small amounts of blood, saliva, or urine through tiny channels (microchannels) on a disposable cartridge. My experience with Computational Fluid Dynamics ($\text{CFD}$) and experimental validation is directly transferable to:

• Precise Sample Handling: Designing channels to ensure the patient’s sample is consistently mixed with reagents, separated from blood cells (e.g., plasma separation), and transported to the detection zone without air bubbles or blockages.

• Flow Control: Using passive fluidic principles (capillary action, surface tension, and pressure) to move the fluid without the need for external pumps – a key design goal for low-cost devices.

• Modeling and Optimization: Simulating flow patterns within microchannels to quickly optimize geometry and material selection, ensuring the Rapid results required by PoC.

B. Mechanical and Industrial Design (User-Centric)

A PoC device must be reliable, durable, and easy for anyone to use. My mechanical design skills are key to the physical architecture:

• Enclosure and Housings: Designing the external plastic shell (the cassette or cartridge) to be ergonomically safe, easy to handle, and precisely mate with the reading instrument.

• Tolerance and Manufacturing: Applying Design for Manufacturing ($\text{DFM}$) principles. PoC cartridges are mass-produced (often by injection molding), requiring tight dimensional tolerances to maintain microfluidic consistency.

• Sample-to-Chip Interface: Engineering the critical interface where the sample is introduced (e.g., the nozzle for a swab or the port for a finger-prick of blood) to be reliable and prevent leakage or contamination.

C. Prototyping and Validation (Bridging Simulation to Reality)

As demonstrated in my work on the patient-specific airway (CFD and 3D printing), I can bridge the gap between computer simulation and functional hardware:

• Rapid Prototyping: Utilizing 3D Printing (SLA/DLP) and specialized tooling to quickly create and test fluidic prototypes before committing to expensive molds.

• Performance Verification: Designing and executing rigorous test protocols to verify that the manufactured device’s performance (e.g., flow time, reagent mixing) matches the initial CFD model, ensuring device Reliability and FDA compliance.

• Interdisciplinary Communication: Translating complex engineering data (like flow profiles and pressure drops) into clear requirements for electrical, software, and assay development teams.