Microfluidic Blood Plasma Separation Chip with Alternating Ridges
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for blood plasma separation are inefficient and inaccurate, requiring large spaces, slow blood flow, and often result in plasma containing excessive blood cells.
Innovation Solution
A microfluidic chip with alternately formed continuous and discrete ridges, allowing blood to flow through a sealed space, with specific angles and structures to separate blood cells and plasma efficiently, and a device comprising multiple chip arrays for enhanced separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional centrifugation or capillary methods are used for blood plasma separation, then separation can be achieved, but the spatial utility is low due to large space required
Solution Approach 1:
The separation chamber is divided into multiple segments including an inlet channel, separation channel with alternating ridges and channels, and outlet channels. This segmentation allows blood to flow through a compact path while maintaining efficient separation, reducing the overall device volume while improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses three-dimensional ridge structures that alternate between ridges and channels in the vertical dimension, creating a compact separation path. This dimensional approach allows multiple separation stages to be stacked vertically, reducing the horizontal footprint while increasing separation efficiency
2Speed
If conventional methods are used for blood plasma separation, then separation can be performed, but the flow speed is slow resulting in low efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The ridges are designed with optimized curvature and alternating patterns that guide blood flow smoothly through the separation channel. This curved geometry reduces flow resistance and maintains higher flow speeds while ensuring effective plasma separation, thereby improving both speed and productivity simultaneously
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional separation methods are used, then plasma can be separated, but the separation accuracy is low resulting in plasma containing excessive blood cells
Solution Approach 1:
The separation channel features locally optimized ridge structures with specific geometries and alternating patterns in different regions. The ridge height, width, and spacing are precisely controlled to create optimal separation conditions at each location, achieving high separation accuracy without requiring complex overall device architecture
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 enables rapid and accurate separation of blood plasma from whole blood or diluted samples with high efficiency, achieving purity rates of up to 99.88% and high throughput.
Implementation Method 1
a channel part and a ridge are alternately and continuously formed... an outlet for discharging blood cells located at one side surface of the body part... an outlet for discharging blood plasma located at the other side surface of the body part
Data Source
AI summary
A chip for blood plasma separation includes: (i) a body part, in which a sealed space through which blood can flow is integrally formed and the channel part and a ridge are alternately and continuously formed; (ii) an inflow part, which is disposed at an upper region of the body part into which the blood inflows; (iii) an outlet for discharging blood cells located at one side surface of the body part; and (iv) an outlet for discharging blood plasma located at the other side surface of the body part, in which the ridge is formed discretely, a chip array for blood plasma separation including the chip for blood plasma separation, a device for blood plasma separation including the chip for blood plasma separation and/or the chip array for blood plasma separation, and a method for blood plasma separation using the device.