Instrument Development

TTP LabTech works in partnership with organisations to create both business and scientific instrument success stories through technology, engineering, design and manufacture. TTP LabTech serves customers in all parts of the globe, bringing a truly international perspective to instrumentation development.

In the early stages of development, we define the user requirements, investigate appropriate technologies, select preferred schemes, plan the development and marry it to the commercial objectives.

In the prototype stage, we design, build and test one or more proof-of-principle prototypes. Depending on the business plan we can, if required, take the prototype to a point where it can be used to obtain feedback and gain buy-in from future users, other investors, or perhaps purchasers of the instrument.

During commercialisation, TTP LabTech production engineer the instrument to maximise its robustness and focus on its capability for generating an income stream. This includes optimising the design for production, selecting a manufacturing resource, transferring the production, hand-holding during the initial production period, and dealing with the many documentation and standards issues.

As a supplier of products, we understand how important it is that the development programme ties in with the commercial goals when planning the introduction of new instrumentation to the market.

Case Study 1

TTP LabTech developed and still manufactures the ChemScan RDI for Chemunex SA. The product is capable of finding single living bacteria in a cup full of liquid within minutes. Before ChemScan, detection times ranged from 2-14 days. By developing a totally new approach to the detection and counting of viable micro-organisms, TTP LabTech allowed Chemunex to meet their industry’s need for real-time, ultra-sensitive microbiology results. The ChemScan RDI won a Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement.

Case Study 2

TTP LabTech developed a pocket-sized blood glucose measurement system for a major force in the glucose detection market. The revolutionary glucose meter made it simple for patients to check their own blood sugar levels. TTP LabTech developed the concept design, product design, manufacturing automation and quality control, including:

• Strip dispensing concept for the device mechanics
• Concept development for automated strip loading into the novel blister format
• Developing an automated vision system to carry out 100% inspection of the manufactured test strips (to meet FDA requirements)

Case Study 3

An assay technology concept required the development of a flow cell for the sampling of blood. TTP LabTech combined the use of both laser and CCD-based technologies, non-robotic bioinstrumentation and micro-fluidics to solve the problem. The technique developed for this client’s blood assays was also applied to a novel automated system. The instrument was developed for a UK-based company who went on to win the Enterprise Company of the Year, 2000.