Microfluidic Patch Graphene Membrane Species Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrochemical sensing devices face interference from multiple species in biological fluids, leading to imprecise detection of specific species of interest.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic patch with a multilayer membrane comprising graphene-based sheets, functionalized to selectively filter out undesired species, allowing only the species of interest to pass through, combined with an electrochemical sensing device for precise analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a patch allows flow of biological fluid through it for species detection, then the detection can be performed, but many different species interfere with the detection of specific species of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous substrate as the patch structure, which allows selective passage of species based on their size and properties. The porous structure enables the patch to permit flow of biological fluid while filtering out larger or interfering species, thereby improving detection precision by reducing interference from other species present in the fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes interfering species from the biological fluid before detection by utilizing the selective permeability of the porous patch structure. This extraction process separates the species of interest from the interfering species, allowing the detection device to analyze only the relevant species without interference.
2Productivity
If the patch allows flow of biological fluid through it, then species can be detected, but the outgoing flow contains many different species that may interfere with detection
Solution Approach 1:
The porous substrate provides a structure that maintains fluid flow capability while enabling selective filtration. The porosity allows the patch to process biological fluid efficiently (maintaining productivity) while simultaneously filtering out interfering species (improving analysis reliability).
Solution Approach 2:
The porous patch acts as an intermediary element between the biological fluid and the detection device. It mediates the interaction by selectively allowing certain species to pass through while blocking others, thereby preparing a cleaned-up outgoing flow that ensures both productivity and measurement precision.
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 solution enables a more reliable and sensitive detection of specific species in biological fluids by effectively separating and filtering out interfering species, enhancing the accuracy of the analysis.
Implementation Method 1
a multilayer membrane comprising graphene-based sheets, functionalized to selectively filter out undesired species, allowing only the species of interest to pass through
Data Source
AI summary
A microfluidic patch for separating specific species in biological fluids, comprising a flow layer comprising: a first porous portion to receive and carry a starting biological fluid containing related species; a multilayer membrane downstream the first porous portion and comprising a plurality of graphene-based sheets spaced among each other to define a plurality of parallel channels transversally interconnected and chemically functionalized to provide from the starting biological fluid an outgoing flow of specific species to be detected; and a second porous portion placed downstream the multilayer membrane to receive and carry the outgoing flow to be detected; the patch comprises a first upstream electrode and a first downstream electrode placed respectively upstream and downstream the multilayer membrane to foster the flow through the multilayer membrane from the first to the second porous portion.