Capillary Microfluidic Channel Using Permeable and Impermeable Fibers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing micro-fluid chips face challenges in accurately diagnosing diseases with small sample amounts due to potential sample mixing and interruption in three-dimensional channels, leading to reduced diagnostic accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A functional material with a channel part composed of water-permeable and water-impermeable fibers, allowing liquid samples to move through capillarity while separating undesired components, formed on a base material using a fiber-containing ink, which enhances the water-absorbing and filtering functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If three-dimensional channels are used in micro-fluid chips, then sample mixing can be prevented, but sample interruption may occur and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel is divided into multiple layers (first channel formation layer and second channel formation layer) with selective permeability. The first layer contains water-permeable fibers that allow sample flow, while the second layer contains water-impermeable fibers that prevent mixing with reference liquid, achieving sample separation without complex three-dimensional structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The channel structure uses composite materials consisting of water-permeable fibers and water-impermeable fibers arranged in specific layers. This composite structure enables the channel to simultaneously achieve sample flow, reference liquid isolation, and mixing prevention through material properties rather than complex geometry.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional channel formation methods are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but sample mixing occurs and measurement precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the channel structure have different permeability properties. The first channel formation layer is designed with water-permeable fibers to allow sample flow, while the second channel formation layer is designed with water-impermeable fibers to prevent reference liquid penetration, achieving precise component separation through localized material properties.
3Ease of operation
If pump-driven micro-fluid chips are used, then sample flow control is precise, but device size increases and sample consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel structure utilizes the inherent permeability differences between water-permeable and water-impermeable fibers to automatically control sample flow and reference liquid isolation without requiring external pumps. The capillary action and permeability barriers enable self-regulated fluid movement, eliminating the need for pumping devices and reducing overall system size.
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 solution enables high-accuracy disease detection from small sample amounts by effectively separating desired components and reducing contamination, improving the diagnostic process with a simpler and more efficient method compared to conventional techniques.
Implementation Method 1
A functional material for testing a liquid sample, comprising: a channel part (10) that allows a liquid to pass therethrough
Implementation Method 2
the channel part is made of a water-permeable material containing a water-impermeable material
Data Source
AI summary
A functional material for testing a liquid sample includes a based material in a sheet shape and a channel part provided on a mounting surface of the base material wherein the channel part is composed with water-permeable fibers having permeability, and water-impermeable fibers having impermeability. The water-permeable fibers and the water-impermeable fibers are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the channel part, forming voids wherein the voids are in a mesh structure in which one of the voids connects to another of the voids such that the empty spaces are linked from a base end to a tip end of the channel part. A thickness of the channel part is ranged from 20 μm mm to 5 mm, and a width of the voids is ranged from 10 μm to 200 μm, allowing the liquid sample to move from the base end to the tip end due to capillarity.