Microfluidic device
AssigneeCapitainer AB
InventorsAnna Ohlander, Hans Peter Starck-Johnson, Janosch Hauser, Göran Stemme, Niclas Roxhed
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a microfluidic device and a method for transporting and sampling a defined volume of plasma, providing a fluid passageway from an inlet to an outlet comprising a first region with the inlet with a first high flow resistance configured to receive and collect a whole blood sample and to separate plasma; and a second region with the outlet lower flow resistance. The second region is in fluid connection with the first region and configured to meter the separated plasma by comprising a metering channel.
Claims16
A microfluidic device for transporting and sampling a defined volume of plasma, providing a fluid passageway from an inlet to an outlet, comprising:
- a first region comprising a plasma extraction compartment in fluid communication with the inlet, the plasma extraction compartment comprising a whole blood reservoir, a plasma separation membrane, and a plasma filtrate chamber for collecting the separated plasma, and being configured to receive and collect a whole blood sample and to separate plasma, said first region having an effective first flow resistance at any given time when transporting plasma;
- a second region comprising a metering channel of a defined volume extending between a first end and a second end, the second end being in fluid communication with the outlet, wherein the metering channel is in fluid communication with said plasma extraction compartment by means of a fluid connector between the first region and the second region, said second region having an effective second flow resistance at any given time when transporting plasma and being configured to meter a portion of the separated plasma, the portion having the defined volume;
- and
- a capillary means in fluid communication with the outlet and configured to exert sufficiently strong capillary force to transport and absorb the metered portion of the defined volume of separated plasma from the second region;
- wherein the effective first flow resistance in the first region is at least double the value of the effective second flow resistance in the second region at any given time when transporting plasma;
- and
- wherein the microfluidic device comprises an air vent located at the first end of the metering channel downstream of the plasma filtrate chamber, said air vent being unobstructed and open to the environment, and wherein the air vent is arranged, in combination with the effective first flow resistance and the effective second flow resistance, to separate the metered portion of plasma in the second region from additional plasma in the first region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.