Microfluidic Settling Velocity Based Separation of Synthetic and Biological Particles

Invention novelty: Separation of components of blood by microfluidic device without damaging its morphology.

Value Proposition

• The proposed invention possesses several advantages over the current technologies employed for blood fractionation as follows:Reduction in infrastructure costs and tediousness of blood fractionation procedures.
• Unique design of the device which enables fractionation of blood into different components like RBCs, plasma etc. without the aid of external forces.
• Minimally invasive technique thereby reducing the damage caused to the morphology and lifespan of the blood cells during the fractionation process.

 Technical Details

Johns Hopkins University researchers have developed a device which consists of a microfluidic platform patterned with slanted rectangular grooves of 400 micron dimensions. The patterns are made of medically safe Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using standard photolithography procedures. When blood is passed along the channels, it is continuously fractionated into different components like red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets based on their individual settling velocities. The settling velocity of a particle depends on its mass and flow rate, hence heavier particles are deflected by the grooves on the device while the lighter particles flow across the channels unimpeded. This principle forms the basis of the functioning of this device which also has applications in several fields like detection of floating tumor cells, bacterial cells and in physical separation processes.

Looking for Partners: To develop & commercialize the technology as blood fractionation equipment or other uses such as:

• Point of care (POC) diagnostics for tumor cell detection and bacterial contamination of food items.
• Physical separation of particle suspensions in chemical processes.
• Inkjet printing, electro-wetting and optoelectronics based devices.

Stage of Development: Prototype

Data Availability: Under NDA/CDA

Patent Status: Provisional

Publication(s)/Associated Cases: ‘Not at this time’