Microfluidic device for analyzing a membrane

A system comprising:

• a microfluidic device comprising:
• a housing;
• a first flow channel for passing a first fluid flow, through the housing, between a first input connector and a first output connector;
• a second flow channel for passing a second fluid flow, through the housing, between a second input connector and a second output connector;
• an access cavity extending, from outside the housing, into the housing through the first flow channel and into the second flow channel for accessing an inside of the housing to place a membrane over a cavity opening forming an exclusive fluid interconnection between overlapping areas of the first flow channel and second flow channel;
• and
• a clamping ring comprising a connection structure configured to engage a corresponding connection structure of the housing inside the access cavity for holding the membrane in place over the cavity opening while the membrane is, in use, exposed to the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow through the first flow channel and the second flow channel, respectively, on either side of the membrane,
• wherein the cavity opening on one side of the membrane and a ring opening through the clamping ring on another side of the membrane are configured to expose the membrane to the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow in the first flow channel and the second flow channel, respectively, and
• wherein the clamping ring is configured to form a portion of the first flow channel, such that the portion of the first flow channel is configured to be exposed to the first fluid flow;
• a pump;
• a first reservoir and a second reservoir;
• and
• channels interconnecting the microfluidic device, pump, and reservoirs;
• wherein the first flow through the first reservoir is separate from the second flow through the second reservoir except through the membrane held inside the microfluidic device.

A method for analyzing permeability of substances through a membrane, the method comprising:

• providing a microfluidic device comprising:
• a housing;
• a first flow channel for passing a first fluid flow, through the housing, between a first input connector and a first output connector;
• a second flow channel for passing a second fluid flow, through the housing, between a second input connector and a second output connector;
• an access cavity extending, from outside the housing, into the housing through the first flow channel and into the second flow channel for accessing an inside of the housing to place a membrane over a cavity opening forming an exclusive fluid interconnection between overlapping areas of the first flow channel and second flow channel;
• and
• a clamping ring comprising a connection structure configured to engage a corresponding connection structure of the housing inside the access cavity for holding the membrane in place over the cavity opening while the membrane is, in use, exposed to the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow through the first flow channel and the second flow channel, respectively, on either side of the membrane,
• wherein the cavity opening on one side of the membrane and a ring opening through the clamping ring on another side of the membrane are configured to expose the membrane to the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow in the first flow channel and the second flow channel, respectively, and
• wherein the clamping ring is configured to form a portion of the first flow channel, such that the portion of the first flow channel is configured to be exposed to the first fluid flow;
• placing the membrane in the cavity opening between the first flow channel and the second flow channel;
• passing the first flow with the substances via a first reservoir through the first flow channel;
• passing the second flow via a second reservoir through the second flow channel;
• and
• monitoring a respective content of the substances in the first reservoir and/or the second reservoir to determine an exchange of the substances through the membrane.