Capillary Driven Microfluidic Plasma Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for plasma separation from blood samples require centrifugation, which is time-consuming and costly, and existing capillary-driven devices have not been demonstrated to be operable and autonomous for point-of-care or distributed uses.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous microfluidic device that separates a specific volume of plasma from a blood sample using a blood separation membrane combined with a capillary pump, where the membrane is made from ceramics, polymers, or cellulose-based materials, and the capillary pump provides capillary suction for effective plasma separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If centrifugation is used to separate plasma from blood, then plasma separation is achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with a capillary-driven microfluidic system that uses surface tension and wettability differences to achieve plasma separation. The microfluidic device employs a hydrophilic membrane and capillary channels to passively drive blood plasma through the membrane without external mechanical force, eliminating the need for centrifuges and reducing separation time from minutes to seconds.
Solution Approach 2:
The microfluidic device is designed to be autonomous, using the blood sample itself to drive the separation process. The capillary forces are generated by the interaction between the blood plasma and the hydrophilic membrane surfaces, creating a self-powered system that requires no external power sources, pumps, or mechanical actuation.
2Ease of manufacture
If centrifugation equipment is used for plasma separation, then plasma can be obtained, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential plasma separation function from the complex centrifugation system, isolating only the critical separation mechanism. The microfluidic device uses a simple hydrophilic membrane and capillary channels to achieve separation based on wettability differences, eliminating the need for rotating mechanisms, power supplies, and complex control systems required by centrifuges.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental operating parameters from mechanical force (centrifugal acceleration) to surface properties (wettability and capillary pressure). By modifying the surface energy characteristics of the membrane and channel walls, the system achieves plasma separation through capillary action rather than mechanical rotation, dramatically simplifying the device architecture.
3Quantity of substance
If large blood samples are taken for centrifugation, then sufficient plasma is obtained, but patient discomfort and sampling difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from macro-scale centrifugation requiring large blood volumes to micro-scale capillary-driven separation that efficiently processes small blood samples. The microfluidic channels and membrane structure create high surface-area-to-volume ratios, enabling complete plasma separation from as little as microliter-scale blood samples, making fingerprick sampling sufficient for obtaining analyzable plasma volumes.
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
The device enables efficient separation of plasma from a small blood sample volume without external power sources, reducing the need for centrifugation and making plasma extraction faster, cheaper, and more accessible for point-of-care applications.
Implementation Method 1
The capillary pump is a structure or material that provides capillary suction in order to facilitate effective plasma separation
Implementation Method 2
Said blood separation membrane being a structure that separates blood cells and plasma
Data Source
AI summary
A capillary driven microfluidic device with blood plasma separation means that can be used to separate, meter and transfer a blood sample. The blood separation means can be arranged as a capillary pump by the configuration of a porous membrane and the microfluidic device.