Microfluidic Plasma Extraction via Recirculation Vortices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current microfluidic techniques for blood plasma extraction face challenges such as clogging due to deformable red blood cells, secondary flows mixing particles, and variability in flow conditions due to patient-specific rheological characteristics, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic device utilizing recirculation vortices formed by geometric singularities, such as sudden widenings or obstacles, to separate particles based on density, allowing for robust and efficient extraction of the liquid phase regardless of particle type or flow disturbances, with sampling mechanisms to collect enriched liquid fractions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If filtration is used to separate particles from liquid phase, then separation efficiency is improved, but the pores clog quickly due to deformable cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the separation function from the filtration mechanism. Instead of using physical filters that clog, the invention uses flow disturbance to create recirculation vortices that naturally separate particles from the liquid phase through hydrodynamic forces, eliminating the need for porous structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical filtration system with a hydrodynamic separation system. By using flow disturbance and recirculation vortices, the system achieves particle separation through fluid mechanics rather than mechanical filtering, avoiding pore clogging issues.
2Measurement precision
If centrifugation is used to separate particles, then separation is achieved, but secondary flows mix the particles
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using centrifugal forces that create mixing secondary flows, the patent inverts the approach by using flow disturbance to create recirculation vortices. These vortices generate lateral migration forces that concentrate particles in specific zones without the mixing effects of traditional centrifugation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow parameters by introducing controlled disturbances that create recirculation patterns. This modifies the flow regime from simple linear flow to complex recirculating flow, enabling particle concentration without mixing.
3Productivity
If impoverished zone mining is used to separate particles, then extraction is possible, but flow disturbances affect the depleted zone phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary flow disturbance to create recirculation vortices before the particles can be extracted. This pre-conditioning of the flow ensures that particles are continuously concentrated in the depleted zones, making the extraction process more robust against flow condition variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The recirculation vortices create a continuous concentration mechanism that operates throughout the flow. Unlike intermittent depleted zone phenomena, the vortex-driven lateral migration continuously concentrates particles, ensuring consistent extraction yield regardless of flow condition changes.
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 technique achieves high extraction yields and robust separation regardless of particle type, with controlled mechanics and flow resistance, enabling efficient plasma extraction by creating large depleted zones and amplifying the depleted layer through recirculation vortices.
Implementation Method 1
The separation effect occurs regardless of the particle contained in the suspension (rigid or deformable, spherical or ellipsoidal, etc.), provided that the density of the particle is greater than that of the medium
Implementation Method 2
These singularities are placed so as to be connected to the flow via the depleted layer. Their role is in a way to amplify this layer from time to time
Implementation Method 3
The technique of the invention exploits the power of separation of the recirculation vortices which appear when the flow of a fluid in a pipe is disturbed by a geometrical singularity
Data Source
AI summary
The device (1) has a rectilinear pipe (100) for circulating particles suspension (200), where the pipe includes sufficient length for development of a suspension layer in solid phase. Abrupt enlargement (111) of the pipe disturbs flow of suspension in the pipe and causes formation of recirculation vortex locally increasing thickness of a recirculation zone (210). A secondary pipe (121) is placed at the level of a region of a device formed with center (211), a periphery (213) and an outer zone (220) where the suspension is rich in liquid phase due to the recirculation vortex. An independent claim is also included for a method for extracting a suspension from a liquid.