R&D and Engineering

Sam Burd provides engineering individually or managing others to develop state-of-the-art multidisciplinary systems for a variety of industries.. Sam has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, developed numerous medical & biotech products, was a registered Professional Engineer in California for over 20 years, and earned 19 patents.  Sam has developed and supported production of systems all the way from million parts per year disposables to microprocessor controlled capital equipment.

Basic Mechanical Engineering
Fundamentals of mechanical engineering including hydraulics, fluids, pneumatics, pumping, thermodynamics, heat transfer, dynamics, mechanisms, motion studies, as well as their application into mechanical components, hand-held devices, pumps, valves, electromechanical systems, robotic interfaces, and automation.

Materials extensively utilized
Common plastics (e.g. PVC, ABS, PE, PP, EVA, Nylon, Acrylic, Styrene, Polyester, Polycarbonate, Urethane), engineering plastics (e.g. Noryl, Teflon, Hytrel, Polysulfone, Delrin, Ryton), Elastomers (e.g. Kraton, C-Flex), Silicones, Latex, Nitrile, BunaN, EPR, filled plastics (e.g. glass, beads, fibers, oils, UV stabilizers), Tyvek, Epoxy, composites, laminates, blends, implantables, coatings, corrosion resistant metals (SS, Al, Monel, Ti, Pt, Hastaloy), steel, carbon, graphite, glass, quartz, and woods.

Lab-on-a-chip for hi-volume disposables & integrated chemical assays
Chemistry to run assays have been integrated onto disposable wafers. These types of products are sometimes called "lab-on-a-chip" or "systems-on-a-chip". The products usually use manufacturing techniques called MEMS (see below write-up on this page). These assays can come in the form of arrays, wells, micro-channels, or surface coatings. Various projects have involved disposables with quantities up to 1 million per month. These projects usually included designing the products as well as the equipment needed to produce the parts.

Miniaturizations and MEMS
Researched, designed, and analyzed for components, modules, and systems including the following: MEMS, nanotechnologies, microfluidics, nanoliter injection, automatic optical positioning within microns, repeatable optical alignments for disposables, micro pumps, miniature valves, multiple capillary arrays/channels, diverse miniaturized fluid connections, and capillary electrophoresis. Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) refers to a variety of technologies. One MEMS reference is to its use as an integration of mechanical elements, sensors, actuators, and electronics on a common substrate. While the electronics are fabricated using integrated circuit (IC) methodologies from the semiconductor industry, the mechanical components are fabricated using compatible micro machining (removing or adding materials in small quantities at a time). Another MEMS reference is to its use as a replacement for chemistry based tests previously done on capital equipment or as wet lab processes done by Ph D's. By miniaturizing these processes onto a chip, significant reductions can be made to test cost, test time, materials used, and hazardous waste disposal.

Optical and laser alignments
Developed method to focus a wide spectrum of light into capillary tubes down to 25 micron internal diameters. Other developments have included fiber optic interfaces both molded fix positioned and with extended flexible cabling. Troubleshot problems with molding plastic lens including elimination of sink, uneven light projection, polishing, and coating. Researched substitution of a plated molded plastic component for an assembly of mirrors onto a casting in a spinning bar code reader. Molded parts for trial were delivered within 2 months.

Manufacturing - Set-up and Troubleshot
Set-up manufacturing for many of the products developed including dialysate delivery systems, hemodialyzers, catheters, electrophoresis apparatus, hand-held controllers, microprocessor based instrumentation, and a DNA sequencer. Ex-CEO of Silicon Valley Instruments which specialized in automation equipment, and low quantity runs. Set-up production lines for Injection molding, tube extrusion, dip forming, thermoplastic medical tubing coextrusion, coating, adhesive bonding, NC machining, spring coiling, wire bending, cold forming, stamping, die cutting, coining, coiling, vacuum packing, bottle filling, powder forming, HPLC column filling, high pressure sealing, ETO/steam/radiation sterilization, encapsulation, clean room assembly, and welding. Setup a flow cytometer assembly facility during 1/2 year overseas assignment. During 5 month crisis period, was Acting Production Manager over department manufacturing line of biotech instrumentation.