U-Shaped Elevated Microfluidic Channel for Particle Trapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing particle trapping channels in microfluidic systems face challenges in achieving high filling speed and efficient particle trapping while maintaining low flow resistance, which affects the sensitivity and speed of molecular recognition and analysis.
Innovation Solution
A channel design featuring a U-shaped elevated structure that divides the channel into two parts, allowing fluid to flow past while trapping particles in the first part, with a flow gap that is smaller than the particle size, enabling fast and efficient particle trapping and maintaining low flow resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a particle trapping channel uses a conventional trapping structure, then particles can be trapped, but the filling speed is slow and flow resistance is high
Solution Approach 1:
The channel is segmented into a first channel part and a second channel part by the elevated structure, allowing particles to be trapped in the first part while fluid continues to flow through the second part. This segmentation enables simultaneous particle trapping and fluid flow, dramatically increasing filling speed while maintaining low flow resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevated structure extends in the vertical dimension (z-direction) from the bottom wall, creating a three-dimensional trapping region. This vertical extension allows particles to be trapped above the bottom wall while fluid flows beneath and around the structure, enabling high filling speed without clogging the flow path.
2Manufacturing precision
If the flow gap is made smaller than particle size for effective trapping, then particle trapping efficiency increases, but fluid flow is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The elevated structure creates different local flow conditions: in the first channel part, the flow gap is smaller than particle size for efficient trapping, while in the second channel part, the flow path is open and unrestricted for high fluid flow rate. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between trapping efficiency and flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevated structure acts as an intermediary element that selectively interacts with particles (trapping them) while allowing fluid to pass through. Its porous or gap-containing structure mediates between the need for particle retention and fluid flow, achieving both objectives simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a channel for trapping particles to be fed to the channel with a fluid. The invention further relates to a flow cell comprising such a channel. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a flow cell and a detection means. The invention also relates to a method for trapping particles in such a channel. And finally, the invention relates to a method for analyzing a sample using such an assembly.