Microfluidic System with Focused Energy for Targeted Object Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microfluidic systems for separating particles or cellular materials, such as sperm, are time-consuming and inefficient, with severe volume restrictions, and existing methods like photo-damaging laser systems struggle to effectively discriminate and separate objects in a timely and cost-effective manner without causing significant damage.

Innovation Solution

A microfluidic system with an interrogation apparatus that identifies objects using hydrodynamic focusing and a focused energy apparatus to target and act on specific objects, maintaining laminar flow and minimizing damage, allowing for continuous, high-throughput separation of cellular materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If photo-damaging laser systems are used to separate and photodamage objects, then separation capability is achieved, but the process is time-consuming and causes significant damage to objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation capabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the object population into targeted and non-targeted objects through interrogation, then applies focused energy only to the targeted subset, enabling continuous processing without time loss from processing all objects uniformly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different treatments to different objects based on their identity - focused energy is applied locally only to targeted objects while non-targeted objects pass through unaffected, reducing overall processing time and minimizing damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If flow cytometers with nozzles are used to interrogate and arrange objects, then object identification is achieved, but the system complexity increases and volume restrictions are severe

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobject identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical nozzle-based flow cytometry with a microfluidic channel system that uses hydrodynamic forces and laminar flow principles to achieve object arrangement and interrogation, simplifying the overall system architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses hydraulic principles through controlled fluid flow in microfluidic channels to arrange and position objects for interrogation, eliminating the need for complex mechanical nozzles and reducing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Productivity

If continuous high-throughput processing is implemented, then productivity increases, but object damage may increase without proper focusing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing throughputVSAvoidobject damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses dynamic focused energy delivery that can be precisely controlled in time and space, allowing continuous processing while minimizing damage through selective application only to targeted objects at the moment of interaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The microfluidic channel acts as an intermediary that positions and focuses objects for energy delivery, enabling continuous high-throughput processing while the controlled environment prevents excessive damage by limiting energy application to specific moments and locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 system enables efficient, continuous separation of targeted objects with minimal damage, improving processing speed and yield, and has applicability beyond sperm discrimination to other biological and medical applications like blood, viral, and cellular material separation.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of sheath fluid channels into which sheath fluids are introduced, the sheath fluids which orient the objects in the main fluid channel in a predetermined direction while still maintaining laminar flow in the main fluid channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrodynamic focusing:

Implementation Method 2

an interrogation apparatus which detects and interrogates the oriented objects in the main fluid channel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 3

the focused energy apparatus is used to damage, kill, alter, disable, or destroy the targeted objects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentUS10928298B2Microfluidic system and method with focused energy apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 ABS GLOBAL INC

AI summary

An apparatus and method of identifying objects includes: a microfluidic chip in which are disposed a plurality of channels, the microfluidic chip including: a main fluid channel into which a sample fluid mixture of objects to be identified is introduced; a plurality of sheath fluid channels into which sheath fluids are introduced, the sheath fluids which orient the objects in the main fluid channel in a predetermined direction while still maintaining laminar flow in the main fluid channel; an interrogation apparatus which detects and interrogates the oriented objects in the main fluid channel; and a focused energy apparatus which performs an action on the objects.