Microfluidic Particle Sorting with Obstacle Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating circulating tumor cells from peripheral blood are inefficient, causing pain during tissue biopsies and requiring effective sorting techniques to alleviate this issue.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic particle sorting apparatus with a capturing structure featuring an array of obstacles and fluid guiding structures to separate target cells from other cells in peripheral blood, utilizing specific gap sizes and outlet configurations to enrich circulating tumor cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a sorting chip is used to separate circulating tumor cells from peripheral blood, then the efficiency of cell separation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting chip is divided into multiple functional regions including a flow guidance structure with multiple outlets and a capturing structure with obstacles arranged in arrays. This segmentation allows different cell populations to be separated through different pathways, improving separation efficiency while maintaining a manageable device structure through modular functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The capturing structure utilizes a three-dimensional arrangement of obstacles extending through the sorting chamber, creating multiple capture zones at different depths. This dimensional approach enables simultaneous capture of target cells from different flow paths, enhancing separation efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Productivity
If the gap between obstacles is made smaller to capture more target cells, then the enrichment efficiency is improved, but the congestion of fluid flow increases
Solution Approach 1:
The obstacles are arranged in multiple arrays with multiple outlets positioned between them, creating segmented flow paths. This segmentation distributes the fluid flow across multiple channels, preventing congestion even when obstacle gaps are small, while maintaining high enrichment efficiency through multiple capture opportunities.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow guidance structure acts as an intermediary between the inlet and the capturing structure, distributing fluid flow evenly across multiple outlets before cells reach the obstacles. This intermediary structure prevents flow congestion by ensuring uniform distribution, allowing small obstacle gaps to be used effectively for high enrichment efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A microfluidic particle sorting apparatus for capturing targets from fluid containing the targets is disclosed. The apparatus includes an inlet for receiving the fluid; a sorting chamber allowing the fluid to flow through; a first outlet for discharging the fluid after flowing through the sorting chamber; a capturing structure for capturing the cells, wherein the capturing structure is upstream of the first outlet, and includes obstacles in an array, each extending through the sorting chamber in a lateral direction with respect to a fluid flow of the fluid; and a second outlet upstream of the capturing structure comprising a plurality of openings; wherein a gap between two adjacent obstacles is equal to or greater than each opening of the second outlet.