METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING PARTICLES IN A FLUID

• US 20110084033A1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oncnosis Pharma AIE
• Original Assignee: Oncnosis Pharma AIE
• Inventors: Arundell, Martin, Rodriguez Villarreal, Angeles Ivón
• Application Number:
  US12/933,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20110084033A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/774
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0051 Plurality of tube like channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/0087 Settling tanks provided with means for ensuring a special flow pattern, e.g. even inflow or outflow B01D21/2411 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2221/10 Separation devices for use in medical, pharmaceutical or laboratory applications, e.g. separating amalgam from dental treatment residues apparatus for dental treatment A61C17/065
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0652 Sorting or classification of particles or molecules
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/086 using baffles or other fixed flow obstructions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502753 characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation separation in general B01D; microapparatus for analysis using electrophoresis G01N27/44791; sample preparation G01N1/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/491 by separating the blood components G01N15/05 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for separating particles dispersed in a fluid. The apparatus includes, in succession, an inlet channel, a constriction channel and an outlet channel, the channels configured to receive a fluid dispersion and to create at the junction of the constriction and outlet channels a fluid dispersion flow having a first flow region and a second flow region, wherein the second flow region has a lower concentration of particles than the first flow region. A collection channel is located at the junction of the constriction and outlet channel to collect fluid from the second flow region.

Claims

1. A device for separating particles in a fluid dispersion comprising:

an inlet channel and an outlet channel adjoined to one another by a constriction channel, the inlet, outlet and constriction channels configured to create at a junction of the outlet and constriction channels a fluid dispersion flow having a first flow region and a second flow region, the second flow region having a lower concentration of particles than the first flow region; and

a collection channel located at the junction of the constriction channel and the outlet channel and having an inlet located within the second flow region of the fluid flow.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the inlet, outlet, constriction and collection channels have first, second, third and fourth cross-sectional areas, respectively, the third cross-sectional area being substantially smaller than the first and second cross-sectional areas.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the outlet channel comprises an inlet at the junction, the inlet having first and second circumferentially-spaced wall portions, the outlet channel fluid dispersion flow entry point being at or near the first wall portion, the inlet to the collection channel residing in the second wall portion.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the inlet to the collection channel resides at the outlet channel inlet at a maximum circumferentially-spaced position from the fluid dispersion flow entry point.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the outlet channel has a longitudinal axis, the collection channel having an inlet segment coextensive to the collection channel inlet and being non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outlet channel.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the inlet segment has a slope of between about 45 degrees to about 135 degrees.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the outlet channel comprises an inlet at the junction having a transverse face, the outlet channel fluid dispersion flow entry point and collection channel inlet located in the transverse face.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the outlet channel comprises first and second circumferentially-spaced wall portions adjoining the transverse face of the inlet, the outlet channel fluid dispersion flow entry point being at or near the first wall portion, the inlet to the collection channel residing at or near the second wall portion.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the inlet to the collection channel is at a maximum distance from the fluid dispersion flow entry point in the transverse face.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the outlet channel has a longitudinal axis, the collection channel having an inlet segment coextensive to the collection channel inlet and being non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the outlet channel.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the inlet channel comprises a converging segment at the inlet to the constriction.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the inlet, outlet, constriction and collection channels are formed within a substrate, the device comprising a device for controlling the temperature of the substrate.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the outlet channel to the constriction channel is between about 10.0 and about 30.0.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inlet channel to the constriction channel is between about 5.0 and about 20.0.

15. The device of any of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the outlet channel to the collection channel is between about 2.0 and about 20.0.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the outlet channel to the constriction channel is between about 10.0 and about 30.0, the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the inlet channel to the constriction channel is between about 5.0 and about 20.0, and the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the outlet channel to the collection channel is between about 2.0 and about 20.0.

17. The device of claim 1 further comprising a collection channel located in the second flow region.

18. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid dispersion is blood and the particles comprise plasma and blood cells.

19. The device of claim 1 wherein the inlet channel, constriction channel, outlet channel and collection channel comprise a separating unit, the device having a plurality of separating units.

20. The device of claim 1 wherein the constriction channel, outlet channel and collection channel comprise a unit, the device comprising a plurality of units each coupled to the inlet channel.

21. A method of separating particles from a fluid dispersion comprising:

directing the fluid dispersion successively through an inlet channel, a constriction channel and an outlet channel to create at a junction of the outlet and constriction channels a fluid dispersion flow having a first flow region and a second flow region, the second flow region having a lower concentration of particles than the first flow region; and

collecting at least a part of the fluid in the second flow region in a collection channel located at the junction of the constriction channel and the outlet channel.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the fluid dispersion is blood and the particles comprise plasma and blood cells, the second flow region being substantially free of red blood cells.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the fluid dispersion temperature is maintained at between about 30°

C. and about 50°

C.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the fluid dispersion temperature is maintained at between about 35°

C. and about 45°

C.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the flow rate of the fluid dispersion is between about 30 μ

L/min and about 190 μ

L/min.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the flow rate of the fluid dispersion is between about 30 μ

L/min and about 100 μ

L/min.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the hematocrit of the blood is reduced prior to entering the constriction channel.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the hematocrit is reduced to about 30% to about 20%.

29. A device for separating particles in a first fluid dispersion comprising:

an inlet channel and a flow separation channel adjoined to one another by a first constriction channel, the inlet, flow separation and first constriction channels configured to create at a junction of the flow separation and constriction channels a second fluid dispersion flow having a first dilute flow region and a first concentrate flow region, the first dilute flow region having a lower concentration of particles than the first concentrate flow region, the flow separation channel having a first dilute channel for receiving at least a portion of the first dilute flow and a concentrate channel for receiving at least a portion of the first concentrate flow, the dilute channel having an outlet,

a second constriction adjoining the outlet of the first dilute channel with a first outlet channel, the first dilute channel, first outlet and second constriction channels configured to create at a junction of the first outlet and second constriction channels a third fluid dispersion flow having a second dilute flow region and a second concentrate flow region, the second dilute flow region having a lower concentration of particles than the second concentrate flow region; and

one or more collection channels having inlets located in the second dilute flow region.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein at least one of the first collection channel inlets is located at the second junction.

31. The device of claim 29 further comprising one or more collection channels having inlets located within the first dilute flow region.

32. The device of claim 29 wherein the flow separation channel comprises a second dilute channel for receiving at least a portion of the first dilute flow, the second dilute channel having an outlet, the device further comprising a third constriction adjoining the outlet of the second dilute channel with a second outlet channel, the second dilute channel, second outlet and third constriction channels configured to create at a junction of the second outlet and third constriction channels a fourth fluid dispersion flow having a third dilute flow region and a third concentrate flow region, the third dilute flow region having a lower concentration of particles than the third concentrate flow region;

and

one or more collection channels having inlets located within the third dilute flow region.

33. The device of claim 32 further comprising one or more collection channels having inlets located within the first dilute flow region.

34. A method of separating particles from a first fluid dispersion comprising:

directing the fluid dispersion successively through an inlet channel, a first constriction channel and a separation channel to create at a junction of the separation and first constriction channels a second fluid dispersion flow having a first dilute flow region and a first concentrate flow region, the first dilute flow region having a lower concentration of particles than the first concentrate flow region, the flow separation channel having a first dilute channel for receiving at least a portion of the first dilute flow and a concentrate channel for receiving at least a portion of the first concentrate flow, the dilute channel having an outlet;

directing at least a portion of the first dilute flow successively through the dilute channel, a second constriction channel and an outlet channel to create at a junction of the outlet and second constriction channels a third fluid dispersion flow having a second dilute flow region and a second concentrate flow region, the second dilute flow region having a lower concentration of particles than the second concentrate flow region; and

collecting at least a portion of the second dilute flow in one or more collection channels located within the second dilute flow region.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising collecting at least a portion of the first dilute flow in one or more collection channels located within the first dilute flow region.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the fluid dispersion is blood and the particles comprise plasma and blood cells.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the blood is unprocessed blood taken from a patient.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the hematocrit of the blood in the first dilute channel is lower than the hematocrit of the first fluid dispersion.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the hematocrit in the first dilute channel is between about 0% and about 30%.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein the hematocrit in the first dilute channel is between about 0% and about 20%.

41. A method of separating particles in a fluid dispersion comprising:

receiving a fluid dispersion flow and creating a first diluted fluid dispersion flow using both the Fahraeus effect and Zweifach-Fung effect,

removing any remaining unwanted particles within the first diluted fluid dispersion flow to create a second fluid dispersion flow using both the Fahraeus and Zweifach-Fung effect; and

collecting at least a portion of the second fluid dispersion flow.