Microfluidic Device Pre-Filter for Target Cell Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microfluidic devices struggle to effectively capture target cells from biological samples containing high concentrations of contaminating particles, such as blood samples with white and red blood cells, which can clog the device and prevent efficient analysis of target cells like bacteria.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic device equipped with a pre-filter that captures and excludes contaminating particles, allowing target cells to pass through and be trapped in cell channels, and features a mechanism to clean the pre-filter if it becomes clogged, ensuring continuous operation and target cell capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pre-filter is added to capture contaminating particles, then the ability to handle samples with high contaminating particle concentrations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a pre-filter module for capturing contaminating particles, a cell capture module for trapping target cells, and flow control components. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function independently, improving the device's ability to handle contaminated samples while keeping the overall design manageable through modular architecture.
2Reliability
If a pre-filter is used to remove contaminating particles, then the capture efficiency of target cells is improved, but the loss of time for sample processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-filter performs preliminary action by capturing contaminating particles before the sample reaches the cell capture channels. This preliminary filtration prevents clogging of the cell capture module and ensures that target cells can be efficiently trapped without time loss during or after the capture process, as the filtering action occurs in advance.
3Reliability
If the pre-filter captures all contaminating particles, then the purity of the sample reaching cell channels is improved, but the fluid flow resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-filter is designed with local quality variations, featuring regions of different pore sizes and densities optimized for capturing particles of specific sizes. This localized optimization allows the filter to effectively capture contaminating particles while maintaining adequate fluid flow, as not all regions of the filter require the same level of filtration intensity.
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 effectively reduces the risk of contaminating particles entering the cell channels, allowing for efficient capture and analysis of target cells, even in samples with high contaminating particle concentrations, by using a pre-filter that can be cleaned during operation, thereby maintaining the flow and capturing target cells.
Implementation Method 1
a pre-filter comprising a filter channel having a first end in fluid connection with a first filter port and pre-filter channels adapted to accommodate the target cells
Implementation Method 2
The cell channels comprise a respective obstruction designed to prevent the target cells from passing the respective obstruction and into the flow output channel
Data Source
AI summary
A microfluidic device (1) comprises a substrate (10) having a flow input channel (30) in fluid connection with a first fluid port (31) and a flow output channel (40) in fluid connection with a third fluid port (41) and cell channels (20) disposed between the flow input channel (30) and the flow output channel (40). The cell channels (20) comprise a respective obstruction (25) designed to prevent the target cells from passing the respective obstruction (25) and into the flow output channel (40). The microfluidic device (1) also comprises a pre-filter (50) with a filter channel (60) in fluid connection with a first filter port (61) and pre-filter channels (70) adapted to accommodate the target cells. A respective first end (72) of the pre-filter channels (70) is in fluid connection with the filter channel (60) and a respective second end (74) of the pre-filter channels (70) is in fluid connection with the flow input channel (30).