Non-Uniform Electric Field Blood Plasma Separation Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional blood plasma separation methods, such as centrifugation, are cumbersome, time-consuming, and require external forces like high voltage or pumps, which increase complexity and cost, and are not suitable for immediate and simple plasma extraction from whole blood.
Innovation Solution
A method and device using a non-uniform electric field formed by electrodes with different surface areas to separate charged particles from a liquid sample without external force, utilizing capillary attraction to drive the sample through a channel, allowing blood cells to aggregate and separate from plasma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centrifugation method is used to separate blood plasma from whole blood, then separation effectiveness is improved, but device bulkiness and operation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with an electric field-based separation system. Instead of using mechanical rotation to separate blood components by density, the invention applies an electric field to separate charged particles (blood cells) from the liquid sample (plasma), thereby eliminating the need for bulky centrifuge equipment while maintaining separation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the separation parameter from mechanical force (centrifugal force) to electrical parameter (electric field strength). By controlling the electric field parameters and charge characteristics of blood cells, the system achieves separation without requiring the mechanical infrastructure of a centrifuge, thus reducing device bulkiness.
2Reliability
If centrifugation method is used for blood plasma separation, then separation effectiveness is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming mechanical centrifugation with a more rapid electric field-based separation process. The electric field method eliminates the need for extended pre-treatment and standby procedures required by centrifugation, enabling faster blood plasma separation while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic or pulsed electric field application to achieve rapid separation. By applying the electric field in controlled periods rather than requiring continuous mechanical operation, the system reduces overall processing time while maintaining separation quality.
3Reliability
If conventional centrifuge is used to process blood samples, then separation capability is improved, but sample quantity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the bulk-processing capability of centrifuges with an electric field method that is more suitable for small sample volumes. The electric field-based separation can effectively process smaller blood sample quantities without requiring the large sample volumes needed for conventional centrifugation, making it ideal for point-of-care applications.
4Ease of operation
If electrophoresis or dielectrophoresis techniques are used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex microchannel fabrication and filter manufacturing steps from the device design. By using a simpler electrode configuration and liquid sample delivery system, the invention eliminates the need for complex microchannel structures and filters, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the device into simpler functional components: electrodes for electric field generation and a basic sample delivery system. This segmentation avoids the need for integrated complex microchannel structures and filters, reducing manufacturing difficulty while preserving operational simplicity.
5Ease of operation
If external force (pump or syringe) is used to drive sample flow, then flow control is improved, but device miniaturization is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical flow control systems (pumps and syringes) with an electric field-based driving mechanism. The electric field exerts forces on charged particles to drive sample flow through the channel, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical pumps and syringes, thereby enabling device miniaturization while maintaining flow control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow driving parameter from mechanical force (pump pressure) to electrical parameter (electric field strength). This parameter change enables compact device design by replacing bulky mechanical flow control components with compact electric field generation elements, achieving both miniaturization and effective flow control.
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, instant, and simple blood plasma separation without external forces, reducing bulkiness, manufacturing costs, and the need for specialized equipment or preprocessing, while minimizing sample alteration and pollution.
Implementation Method 1
forming a non-uniform electric field in a direction relative to the flow direction of the liquid sample by two electrodes; and aggregating the charged particles under the non-uniform electric field so as to separating the charged particles from the liquid sample
Implementation Method 2
driving the liquid sample containing a plurality of the charged particles to flow
Data Source
AI summary
A method for separating charged particles in a liquid sample is disclosed. The method includes the steps of driving the liquid sample containing a plurality of charged particles to flow, forming a non-uniform electric field in the direction relative to the flow direction of the liquid sample by two electrodes, and aggregating the charged particles under the non-uniform electric field so as to separating the charged particles from the liquid sample. When the liquid sample flows through the non-uniform electric field, it doesn't contact to the electrodes. A device and its manufacturing method for separating charged particles in a liquid sample are also disclosed. Accordingly, the charged particles can be separated from the liquid sample easily and more effectively.