Capillary network devices and methods of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An artificial microvascular network device for a biological sample comprising:
- a substrate having a capillary network formed thereon;
wherein said capillary network comprises at least one unbranched microchannel of a variable cross-sectional width along its length;
at least one inlet port in communication with said capillary network microchannel for sample entry; and
at least one outlet port in communication with said capillary network microchannel for sample exit;
wherein the at least one unbranched microchannel ranges in a cross-sectional width from 3 μ
m to 70 μ
m; and
wherein said variable cross-sectional width is oriented along the longitudinal axis of said unbranched microchannel and comprises two or more expanded regions separated by a spacer, or two or more expanded regions separated by a spacer and a gradual taper having an initial width greater than a final width and a taper length ranging from 5 to 100 μ
m.
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Abstract
Artificial microvascular network (AMVN) devices are provided and related methods of making and methods of using such devices are provided. The present disclosure generally relates to an AMVN device comprising a substrate including a capillary network configured so as to simulate those actually encountered in the circulation of various humans and animal model systems. In certain aspects, the AMVN devices may be used, e.g., to investigate the effect of storing RBCs under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. However, the use of such AMVN devices is not so limited.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An artificial microvascular network device for a biological sample comprising:
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a substrate having a capillary network formed thereon; wherein said capillary network comprises at least one unbranched microchannel of a variable cross-sectional width along its length;
at least one inlet port in communication with said capillary network microchannel for sample entry; and
at least one outlet port in communication with said capillary network microchannel for sample exit;
wherein the at least one unbranched microchannel ranges in a cross-sectional width from 3 μ
m to 70 μ
m; andwherein said variable cross-sectional width is oriented along the longitudinal axis of said unbranched microchannel and comprises two or more expanded regions separated by a spacer, or two or more expanded regions separated by a spacer and a gradual taper having an initial width greater than a final width and a taper length ranging from 5 to 100 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (2, 26, 27, 28, 30)
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3. A capillary network device (CND) for a biological sample comprising:
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a substrate; one or more inlet ports for sample entry formed on said substrate; one or more inlet microchannels formed on said substrate in communication with said one or more inlet ports for sample entry; one or more outlet microchannels formed on said substrate in communication with said one or more inlet microchannels; and one or more outlet ports formed on said substrate in communication with said one or more outlet microchannels; wherein at least one of said one or more inlet microchannels or said one or more outlet microchannels is an unbranched microchannel having one or more cross-sectional widths ranging in size from 3 μ
m to 70 μ
m along its length; andwherein said one or more cross-sectional widths is oriented along the longitudinal axis of said unbranched microchannel and comprises two or more expanded regions separated by a spacer, or two or more expanded regions separated by a spacer and a gradual taper having an initial width greater than a final width and a taper length ranging from 5 to 100 μ
m. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of measuring red blood cell (RBC) deformability comprising:
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a. obtaining a blood sample from a unit of blood or a unit of stored blood; b. applying said blood sample to a capillary network device (CND), wherein said capillary network comprises at least one unbranched microchannel of a variable cross-sectional width ranging in size from 3 μ
m to 70 μ
m along its length;
at least one inlet port in communication with said capillary network microchannel for sample entry; and
at least one outlet port in communication with said capillary network microchannel for sample exit; and
wherein said variable cross-sectional width is oriented along the longitudinal axis of said unbranched microchannel and comprises two or more expanded regions separated by a spacer, or two or more expanded regions separated by a spacer and a gradual taper having an initial width greater than a final width;
wherein said gradual taper has a taper length ranging from 5 to 100 μ
m; andc. measuring RBC deformability in said blood sample and comparing said RBC deformability to a predetermined value; and d. selecting said unit of blood for extended storage or selecting said unit of stored blood for transfusion into a patient in need of a unit of blood. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 29)
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Specification