Biosensor Pillar Reduces Surface Tension for Plasma Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plasma components face difficulty passing through blood cell separation membranes due to surface tension, and existing methods require external pressure or membrane bonding to facilitate passage.
Innovation Solution
A biosensor design featuring a hydrophilically treated pillar between the blood cell separation membrane and the lower substrate, with an electrode disposed in the pillar to lower surface tension and facilitate plasma passage, utilizing piezoelectric or ultrasonic vibrations and a porous structure to enhance plasma flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blood cell separation membrane with small holes is used to filter blood cells, then blood cell separation is achieved, but plasma passage is hindered due to surface tension
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameter of the membrane surface by applying hydrophilic treatment, which modifies the surface energy and wettability characteristics. This parameter change reduces surface tension effects at the membrane-plasma interface, enabling plasma to pass through the small holes more easily while maintaining blood cell filtration capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies ultrasonic vibration to the blood cell separation membrane to generate cavitation bubbles and enhance wetting effects. The mechanical vibration disrupts surface tension forces temporarily, creating pathways for plasma to pass through the membrane holes more efficiently without compromising blood cell separation
2Productivity
If external pressure is applied to move plasma through the membrane, then plasma passage is facilitated, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the system to reduce its own energy requirements by utilizing the natural capillary action and surface tension reduction through hydrophilic treatment. The membrane surface itself provides the driving force for plasma passage through its modified surface properties, eliminating the need for external pressure mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical pressure application system with a chemical/physical surface modification approach. Instead of using mechanical means (pumps, pressure vessels) to force plasma through the membrane, the solution uses surface chemistry (hydrophilic treatment) to create favorable conditions for spontaneous plasma passage
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
Enables efficient passage of plasma through the blood cell separation membrane, allowing immediate measurement through the electrode, significantly reducing plasma discharge time from 300 seconds to 100 seconds.
Implementation Method 1
plasma, which is difficult to pass through a blood cell separation membrane due to surface tension
Implementation Method 2
a portion of the pillar that is in contact with the blood cell separation membrane may be formed of an insulator... a surface of the pillar may be hydrophilic
Implementation Method 3
surface tension may be lowered by applying piezoelectric or ultrasonic vibration to the pillar
Implementation Method 4
surface tension may be lowered by applying piezoelectric or ultrasonic vibration to the pillar
Implementation Method 5
a surface of the pillar may be hydrophilic... the pillar may have a porous structure
Implementation Method 6
a method of moving the plasma components to another region by a capillary phenomenon
Implementation Method 7
an electrode disposed in the pillar... an apparatus for measuring blood sugar capable of directly measuring plasma that has passed through a blood cell separation membrane through an electrode disposed in a pillar
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
The present invention relates to a biosensor, including: a blood cell separation membrane which separates blood cells from blood and allows plasma components to pass through; a microfluid channel through which the plasma components that have passed through the blood cell separation membrane flow; a lower substrate which allows the plasma components that have passed through the blood cell separation membrane to flow along the microfluid channel; and a pillar which connects the blood cell separation membrane and the lower substrate, in which an electrode is disposed in the pillar, and the pillar pushes and lifts the blood cell separation membrane by a predetermined distance. The biosensor of the present invention allows plasma, which is difficult to pass through the blood cell separation membrane due to surface tension, to easily pass through.