Systems and methods for designing energy efficient microfluidic channel devices

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a method for diagnosing vascular disease is provided, the method comprising the steps of obtaining a vessel image showing a vasculature of a vessel identifying at least two measurements from the vasculature of the vessel, the measurements relating to at least two parameters, calculating a relationship between the at least two parameters from the at least two measurements to generate one or more vasculature data points, and comparing the one or more vasculature data points to data relative to a model vasculature to determine the extent of vascular disease. In an another embodiment, a method for diagnosing vascular disease in a patient's vascular tree is provided, the method comprising the steps of generating a model vascular tree from a minimum energy hypothesis calculation, and comparing the patient's vascular tree with the model vascular tree to determine the extent of vascular disease.

1 . A method to design an energy efficient microfluidic channel device, comprising the steps of:
 identifying at least two parameters relating to a desired microfluidic channel device;   calculating a relationship between the at least two parameters to generate at least two measurements; and   utilizing the at least two measurements to design the microfluidic channel device.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to volume and length of a desired microfluidic channel device. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of calculating a relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a volume-length relation. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the step of calculating a relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a resistance-length and volume relation. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to diameter and length. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of calculating a relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a diameter-length relation. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to flow rate and diameter. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of calculating a relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a flow rate-diameter relation. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to resistance, length, and volume. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of calculating a relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a resistance-length and volume relation. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to flow rate and length. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of calculating a relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a flow rate-length relation. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of utilizing the at least two measurements to fabricate the microfluidic channel device. 
   
   
       14 . A method to design an energy efficient microfluidic channel device, comprising the steps of:
 identifying at least two parameters relating to a desired microfluidic channel device;   calculating a relationship between the at least two parameters to generate at least two measurements, wherein at least two of the at least two parameters are chosen from parameters relating to volume, length, resistance, diameter, and flow rate;   utilizing the at least two measurements to design the microfluidic channel device; and   utilizing the at least two measurements to fabricate the microfluidic channel device.   
   
   
       15 . An energy efficient microfluidic channel device, the device designed and fabricated based upon the identification of at least two parameters relating to a desired microfluidic channel device, the calculation of a relationship between the at least two parameters to generate at least two measurements, and the utilization of the at least two measurements to design and fabricate the energy efficient microfluidic channel device. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to volume and length of a desired microfluidic channel device, and wherein the calculation of the relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a volume-length relation. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to relating to diameter and length of a desired microfluidic channel device, and wherein the calculation of the relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a diameter-length relation. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to relating to flow rate and diameter of a desired microfluidic channel device, and wherein the calculation of the relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a flow rate-diameter relation. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to relating to resistance, length, and volume of a desired microfluidic channel device, and wherein the calculation of the relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a resistance-length and volume relations 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two parameters comprise parameters relating to relating to flow rate and length of a desired microfluidic channel device, and wherein the calculation of the relationship between the at least two parameters is performed using a flow rate-length relations.