Microfluidic Thrombocyte Sensitivity Measurement via Electrical Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thrombocyte function tests are not reliable or cost-effective for predicting disorders or monitoring anticoagulant therapies, as they measure population responses under static conditions that do not reflect in vivo conditions and do not account for individual thrombocyte sensitivity differences.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a microfluidic chamber with an applied electrical field, where thrombocytes are exposed to stimulants to observe and classify their movement paths, distinguishing activated and non-activated thrombocytes based on their directional movement within the field, allowing for high-throughput sensitivity measurement with minimal apparatus effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light transmission aggregometry is used as the gold standard for thrombocyte function tests, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical measurement systems with a simple electrical field-based method. Instead of using light transmission aggregometry which requires sophisticated optical equipment, the invention applies an electrical field to thrombocyte solutions and measures thrombocyte movement toward electrodes, substituting mechanical/optical complexity with electrical measurement simplicity while maintaining diagnostic reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential functional response of thrombocytes (their movement in electrical fields) from the complex population-level aggregation measurement. By focusing on individual thrombocyte movement behavior in electrical fields rather than bulk population aggregation, the method simplifies the measurement system while capturing critical functional information
2Ease of operation
If population-level thrombocyte responses are measured under static conditions, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates because individual thrombocyte sensitivity differences are not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the thrombocyte population measurement into individual thrombocyte responses. Instead of measuring bulk population aggregation under static conditions, the method observes and records the movement of individual thrombocytes in electrical fields, allowing differentiation of hypersensitive versus less sensitive thrombocytes while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic electrical field stimulation to replace static measurement conditions. By applying electrical fields that induce thrombocyte movement and observing their dynamic response behavior, the method captures individual thrombocyte sensitivity differences that would be masked under static conditions, improving measurement precision without significantly complicating operation
3Productivity
If high-throughput measurement of individual thrombocytes is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal measurement platform using electrical fields that can handle individual thrombocyte measurements in high-throughput mode. The electrical field system serves multiple functions: it stimulates thrombocytes, tracks their movement, and provides classification capability, enabling high-throughput operation without requiring multiple specialized complex devices
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
Enables the sensitive measurement of individual thrombocytes with high throughput and minimal apparatus effort, providing a more reliable and cost-effective assessment of thrombocyte function and the efficacy of stimulants or inhibitors.
Implementation Method 1
a free-flow electrophoresis system having a microfluidic chamber is known from WO 2007/008064 A2, which system, as is sufficiently known for free-flow electrophoresis systems, serves to separate particles from one another on the basis of their electrical charges
Implementation Method 2
to which an electrical field directed transverse to the entry direction of the thrombocyte solution is applied
Data Source
AI summary
With a method for measurement of thrombocyte function, a solution is created, by which the sensitivity of individual thrombocytes can be measured with the least possible apparatus effort, with high throughput, by passing a liquid thrombocyte solution, in which the thrombocytes are present in isolated form, into a microfluidic chamber and brought into contact with at least one stimulant, wherein an electrical field directed transverse to the entry direction of the thrombocyte solution is applied to the chamber, and the movement path of the thrombocytes in the electrical field is observed and evaluated, in such a manner that thrombocytes having a movement path directed in the direction toward the minus pole of the electrical field are classified as non-activated thrombocytes, and thrombocytes having a movement path directed in the direction toward the plus pole of the electrical field are classified as activated thrombocytes.