Additive Channels for Microfluidic Clotting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microfluidic devices face challenges in controlling blood clotting, as existing anticoagulants either fail to prevent clotting effectively or require bulk treatment that leads to coagulation before the blood reaches the device, causing contamination and blockages, and existing methods lack precise control over clotting in the experimental region.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating one or more additive channels with reagents that reactivate the coagulation cascade in the microfluidic device, positioned near the input and output ports, to control clotting specifically in the active region, allowing for on-chip mixing and treatment of blood samples, thereby preventing unwanted clotting and enabling precise analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If soluble anticoagulants are added to blood before introducing into the microfluidic device, then clotting is prevented to some extent, but the control over clotting in the experimental region is lost and bulk treatment leads to coagulation before the blood reaches the device
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the blood flow path into distinct regions: a loading region where anticoagulated blood is introduced, and an experimental region where clotting can be controlled. Additive channels are positioned to deliver reagents specifically to the experimental region, creating spatial segmentation that enables independent control of clotting in different zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing reagents through additive channels that are positioned near specific regions of the device. This allows the experimental region to have different chemical properties (presence of pro-coagulant reagents) compared to the loading region, enabling localized control over clotting where it is needed for the experiment while keeping other regions anticoagulated.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bulk treatment with anticoagulants is applied, then clotting is prevented throughout the blood sample, but coagulation occurs before the blood reaches the device causing contamination and blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating surfaces within the device with anticoagulant substances before introducing the blood sample. This creates a protective layer on channel walls and surfaces that prevents premature clotting and blockages as blood flows through the device, while still allowing controlled clotting in the experimental region when reagents are added.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses surface coatings as an intermediary between the blood and the device walls. This intermediate layer prevents direct interaction between blood components and surface that would trigger unwanted clotting, while allowing the controlled addition of reagents through additive channels to initiate clotting only where needed in the experimental region.
3Stability of the object's composition
If no anticoagulant is used, then the blood remains in its native state, but unwanted clotting occurs making many desired blood tests impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the clotting state adjustable and time-dependent. Blood is introduced in an anticoagulated state for loading, then reagents are added dynamically during the experiment to induce clotting at the desired moment. This dynamic control allows the system to transition between clot-free and clotted states as needed for different experimental phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses self-service by incorporating additive channels that allow the blood sample itself to receive reagents and trigger its own clotting process in the experimental region. This eliminates the need for external bulk treatment, as the blood clots only where and when reagents are locally applied, maintaining native properties elsewhere.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for controlled clotting in the experimental region, reducing contamination and blockages, and enables efficient analysis by ensuring only the portion of blood in contact with the reagents clots, while the rest remains uncoagulated, thus maintaining the device's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it
Data Source
AI summary
Compositions, devices and methods are described for preventing, reducing, controlling or delaying adhesion, adsorption, surface-mediated clot formation, or coagulation in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, blood (or other fluid with blood components) that contains anticoagulant is introduced into a microfluidic device comprising one or more additive channels containing one or more reagents that will re-activate the native coagulation cascade in the blood that makes contact with it “on-chip” before moving into the experimental region of the chip.