Microfluidic Blood Viscosity Cartridge with Fine Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blood viscosity measurement devices are cumbersome, costly, and difficult to integrate into automated systems, requiring complex assembly, high blood sample volumes, and limited real-time monitoring capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A small, integrated blood viscosity measurement kit with a miniaturized structure, featuring blood pipes and a fine channel with adjustable flow resistance, allowing for real-time monitoring and reduced sample volume, and a cartridge system for automated supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a U-shaped double vertical tube/single capillary viscometer is used to measure blood viscosity, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring more than 10 kinds of components and manual assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple separate components (U-shaped tube, capillary tube, reservoirs) into a single integrated cartridge structure. The cartridge body incorporates internal channels that perform the functions of both the U-shaped tube and capillary tube, eliminating the need for manual assembly of 10+ separate components while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into a disposable cartridge (containing the measurement structure) and a reusable analyzer. This segmentation allows the complex measurement structure to be pre-fabricated as an integrated unit in the cartridge, simplifying the overall system assembly while preserving measurement precision.
2Temperature
If the U-shaped tube is sealed to maintain 36.5°C body temperature environment, then temperature control is improved, but real-time monitoring of blood sample movement becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge incorporates a transparent window or chamber wall that allows optical monitoring of blood movement while maintaining the sealed temperature-controlled environment. The transparent structure enables real-time visualization of blood flow through the capillary channel without compromising thermal isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent window acts as an intermediary between the sealed temperature-controlled interior and the external monitoring system. It allows optical signals to pass through for monitoring while maintaining the thermal barrier necessary for temperature control.
3Quantity of substance
If the U-shaped tube size is large to accommodate sufficient blood volume, then measurement completeness is improved, but preheating time increases and automation integration becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a large-volume U-shaped tube design to a microfluidic cartridge with optimized channel dimensions. By redesigning the geometry in multiple dimensions (narrower channels, optimized path length), the device reduces blood volume requirements while maintaining measurement completeness, thereby reducing preheating time and enabling automation integration.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the U-shaped tube structure is large and complicated, then measurement functionality is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements (reservoirs, channels, capillary sections) are merged into a single molded cartridge body. This integration transforms a complex multi-component assembly requiring 10+ manual steps into a single-step injection molding process, dramatically improving ease of manufacture while preserving measurement functionality.
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 solution simplifies manufacturing, reduces costs, enables quick preheating to body temperature, minimizes blood sample requirements, and facilitates integration with automated devices for efficient blood viscosity measurement.
Implementation Method 1
a fine channel connected to a lower side of the blood pipes... adjusted to adjust a flow resistance of the fine channel
Implementation Method 2
measuring a speed at which the blood heights are naturally equal to each other by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a small blood viscosity measurement kit and a cartridge therefor. The small blood viscosity measurement kit configured to measure a blood viscosity includes: a kit body; two blood pipes disposed symmetrically on two sides of the kit body, wherein an upper side of each of the two blood pipes is open and configured to receive blood injected thereinto; and a fine channel connected to a lower side of the each of the two blood pipes. When blood is injected into one of the two blood pipes, the blood is supplied to the other of the two blood pipes through the fine channel. In addition, there is provided a small blood viscosity measurement kit cartridge, in which a plurality of small blood viscosity measurement kits are stored and kept, and the small blood viscosity measurement kit cartridge automatically supplies the small blood viscosity measurement kits.