Cell Capturing Filter With Barrier Gap Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell capturing filters face challenges in efficiently capturing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood samples due to clogging and stress applied to the captured cells, which affects analysis efficiency and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A filter design with a high aspect ratio filter unit featuring a barrier and gap structure that prevents clogging and reduces stress on captured cells, including a fluid resistance unit to control sample flow and distribution, and a substrate configuration that allows for efficient capture and observation of target cells or particles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple column-shaped patterns are formed in minute flow passages to capture CTCs, then CTC capture capability is improved, but flow passages become clogged by captured cells
Solution Approach 1:
The filter unit is divided into multiple independent capture patterns arranged in parallel within the flow passage. Each pattern acts as an independent capture zone, allowing simultaneous capture of multiple CTCs without causing complete blockage of the entire flow passage. This segmentation enables continuous flow while maintaining capture efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional planar filter structures to a three-dimensional configuration where column-shaped patterns extend vertically within the flow passage. This vertical dimensionality allows CTCs to be captured between the patterns while maintaining adequate flow channels, preventing clogging by distributing captured cells across multiple spatial dimensions.
2Productivity
If captured cells accumulate in flow passages, then capture efficiency is improved, but stress is applied to captured cells causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The filter unit creates localized capture zones between column-shaped patterns, where cells are captured in specific regions rather than being forced through a single constrained passage. This local capture mechanism reduces mechanical stress on individual cells while maintaining overall capture efficiency through multiple distributed patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The column-shaped patterns serve as intermediary structures that facilitate cell capture without directly contacting and compressing the cells. The gaps between patterns provide a缓冲 zone that allows cells to be captured while minimizing direct mechanical stress, preventing cell damage during the capture process.
3Measurement precision
If captured cells block flow passages, then capture sensitivity is improved, but analysis time increases due to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the flow passage into multiple parallel capture patterns, the system maintains continuous sample flow while capturing cells distributed across different zones. This prevents single-point clogging that would halt flow and extend analysis time, allowing simultaneous high sensitivity capture and continuous processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel arrangement of capture patterns ensures that while some regions capture cells, other regions continue to allow sample flow. This continuous operation maintains capture sensitivity without the complete flow interruption that would result from traditional single-passage clogging, thereby reducing analysis time.
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 filter effectively captures target cells or particles without clogging, minimizing stress and enhancing analysis efficiency by maintaining uniform sample flow and distribution, thereby improving the detection of rare CTCs.
Implementation Method 1
a barrier that protrudes from the second surface toward the first surface to block the flow passage
Implementation Method 2
a gap that is formed between the barrier and the first surface of the flow passage. A size of the gap is smaller than the height of the flow path, and may be smaller than a size of a target cell or a target particle in a sample
Data Source
AI summary
A cell capturing filter, in which cells or particles having a predetermined size or greater in a sample may be easily captured, and clogging of a flow passage due to the captured cells or particles may be prevented, and stresses acting on the captured cells or particles may be reduced, having a first surface and a second substrate having a second surface that is bonded to the first surface, wherein the first substrate may include a flow passage formed in the first surface of the first substrate so that a sample flows in the flow passage, and a barrier that protrudes across the flow passage, and the second substrate may include a fine groove formed in an area on the second surface corresponding to the barrier, and a gap may exist between a surface of the barrier and the fine groove.