Microfluidic Device with Porous Nanofiber Web
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microfluidic chips with spoiler pillars have a limited capturing area, resulting in low particle-capturing and particle-separating efficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic device featuring a substrate with a microchannel and spaced-apart pillars, where a porous nanofiber web structure is formed using ultrafast laser ablation and electrospinning, increasing the contact area between particles and the web structure for enhanced separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional spoiler pillars are used in microchannel, then device structure is simple, but capturing area is limited and separation efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a porous nanofiber web structure formed by electrospinning within the microchannel. This porous structure dramatically increases the capturing area compared to solid spoiler pillars, enabling efficient particle separation while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure. The porous nanofiber mat provides extensive surface area for particle interaction without requiring complex multi-component architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional spoiler pillars to a three-dimensional porous nanofiber web structure. By forming nanofibers that extend in multiple directions and create a mat-like structure, the capturing surface is expanded from flat 2D surfaces to volumetric 3D structures, significantly increasing the effective capturing area within the same channel space.
2Area of stationary object
If electrospinning process is added to form porous nanofiber web, then capturing area increases, but manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical methods of creating porous structures (such as sintering screens or assembling porous ceramics) with electrospinning, an electrical field-based process. This substitution enables direct formation of porous nanofiber webs from polymer solutions, simplifying the manufacturing approach while achieving large capturing areas. The electrospinning process can be performed in a single step to create the entire porous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the electrospinning process (such as voltage, flow rate, distance, and polymer concentration) to control the morphology, porosity, and dimensions of the nanofiber web. By adjusting these parameters, the capturing area and pore structure can be optimized without fundamentally changing the manufacturing process, making it adaptable to different requirements while maintaining ease of manufacture.
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 device efficiently captures and separates particles by disturbing the flow of the microfluidic sample, allowing particles with different properties to be captured effectively, improving separation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
ablating a substrate to form a micro-channel and a plurality of spaced-apart pillars disposed in the micro-channel by using an ultrafast laser
Implementation Method 2
electrospinning a polymer solution to form in the microchannel a porous nanofiber web structure
Data Source
AI summary
A microfluidic device includes a substrate, a microchannel, a plurality of spaced-apart pillars, and a porous nanofiber structure. The substrate has a substrate top surface. The microchannel is indented downwardly from the substrate top surface. The pillars are disposed in the microchannel. Each of the pillars has a pillar top surface that is lower in level than the substrate top surface. The porous nanofiber web structure is formed in the microchannel, and includes a first web portion residing in a space formed among the pillars.