Microfluidic device for separating liquid from the same liquid containing deformable particles without external sources of energy

A self-driven microfluidic device for separating particles from a liquid in which the particles are suspended and particularly for blood plasma separation, comprising:

• a) at least one transport channel (1) divided in three sections:
• a first channel section (1a) and a second channel section (1e) having a same width w1 and interconnected by an intermediate channel section (1c) having a width w2, where w2<w1, the first and second channel sections (1a), (1e) being connected to said intermediate section (1c) through a corresponding constriction (1b) (1d) having inner walls curved or not, said transport channel transporting the liquid from an inlet port (11) to an outlet port (12) and avoid clogging in a separating area due to an increased flow in the constriction;
• b) at least one separating area (2), which lies completely or partially over the intermediate channel section (1c) having a smaller width, acting as a branch point to divert a desired partial flow of extracted liquid;
• and
• c) at least one collection channel (3) that can include an outlet opening (31) or a reaction chamber, and that is also covered by said separating area (2),
• wherein the microfluidic device (100) is machined in two parts, a first part (101) containing the separating area acting as filter with a depth (H2) less than the size of particles to be separated and a second part (102) that contains the transport channel (1) and the collection channel (3) and/or a test chamber said channels having a depth (H1) adapted according to a test/analysis to be performed, and
• wherein both said first part (101) and second part (102) are manufactured using a suitable hydrophilic material or are treated to achieve a hydrophilic behavior in the hydrophobic material.