Microfluidic device for size and deformability measurements and applications thereof

A microfluidic device system (2) comprising:

• a data collection and readout device (4) connected to a visual sensor (8), the visual sensor (8) operatively connected to a microfluidic device (10) for detection within the microfluidic device (10);
• an inlet (132) by which a solution enters the microfluidic device (10), wherein the inlet (132) is connected to a supply line (14) that is connected to a container (12);
• wherein the microfluidic device (10) further comprises a channel (126) having an entrance (128) and an exit (130), a height (H1) at the entrance (128) being greater than a height (H2) at the exit (130), and a height of the channel between the entrance and the exit has multiple decreases in height along a length of the channel between the entrance and the exit,
• wherein:
• the channel comprises at least a first length region having a continuously decreasing height, a second length region having a continuously decreasing height, and a step-wise decrease in height as a transition between the first length region and the second length region,
• the height of the channel continuously decreases from a first height to a second height along an entire length of the first length region,
• the height of the channel continuously decreases from a third height to a fourth height along an entire length of the second length region, and
• the step-wise decrease comprises a decrease in the height of the channel from the second height to the third height, wherein the step-wise decrease in height occurs over a length of the channel that is less than one or both of the lengths of the first and second length regions.