Microfluidic Device For Real-Time Clinical Monitoring And Quantitative Assessment Of Whole Blood Coagulation

Abstract

A microfluidic coagulation assessment device includes a plurality of microchannels, with a blood sample driven through the microchannels at a substantially constant flow rate. A controller is configured to, in combination with a timer and a pressure sensing device, determine a first pressure value (or flow value) at an initiation of flow, a first time (T pg ) at which a second pressure value is about twice the determined first pressure value, and a second time (T pf ) at which a third pressure value is about (1+e) times the determined first pressure value and establish a subject coagulation model predictive of channel occlusion therefrom.

1 . A microfluidic coagulation device, comprising:
 at least one substrate defining a plurality of microchannels;   a first port at a first end portion of the substrate, the first port connecting to first ends of the plurality of microchannels;   a second port at a second end portion of the substrate, the second port connecting to second ends of the plurality of microchannels;   a first sensing device configured to determine a pressure value in, or relating to, a pressure across the plurality of microchannels;   a timer; and   a controller configured to determine, in combination with the first sensing device and the timer, a first pressure value at an initiation of flow, a first time at which a second pressure value is determined to be about twice the determined first pressure value, and a second time at which a third pressure value is about (1+e) times the determined first pressure value, and further configured to establish a subject coagulation model predictive of channel occlusion in accord with the relation   
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   Δ 
                    
                   
                       
                   
                    
                   
                     P 
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       t 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                 
                 
                   Δ 
                    
                   
                       
                   
                    
                   
                     P 
                      
                     
                       ( 
                       0 
                       ) 
                     
                   
                 
               
               = 
               
                 1 
                 + 
                 
                    
                   
                     
                       t 
                       - 
                       
                         T 
                         pg 
                       
                     
                     
                       
                         T 
                         pf 
                       
                       - 
                       
                         T 
                         pg 
                       
                     
                   
                 
               
             
           
         
         wherein T pf  is the second time and T pg  is the first time, and 
         wherein a differential pressure or flow rate/shear applied across the first port drives a blood sample across the plurality of microchannels at a substantially constant flow rate. 
       
     
     
         2 - 86 . (canceled)