Microvascular network device

1. A microvascular network device for a biological sample comprising:

a substrate;

at least one network unit disposed in said substrate; said at least one network unit consisting of a single entry and a single exit for the sample, said at least one network unit also comprising a plurality of microchannels; wherein each of said microchannels being either i) a microchannel that branches into two daughter microchannels, or ii) a convergence of two microchannels; wherein said plurality of microchannels receives the sample from said single entry and drains the sample into said single exit;

and

an aspiration pressure means for providing movement of liquid sample through said at least one network unit.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said substrate and said at least one network unit are both formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of: glass, plastic, polymers, metal, ceramic, organic materials, inorganic materials, and any combinations thereof.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is glass.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of microchannels has a diameter or width in the range between about 6 μm to about 63 μm.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sample is selected from the group consisting of: cells, microorganisms, and any combinations thereof.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sample is whole blood.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sample red blood cells.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of microchannels are a plurality of dimensionally homogenous microchannels.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of microchannels are a plurality of dimensionally hetrogenous microchannels.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one network unit is formed of a silicone elastomer material.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one network unit is coated to facilitate sample movement.

12. A method for separating a liquid sample medium or evaluating the flow of a liquid sample medium in vitro comprising:

flowing a liquid sample medium selected from the group consisting of whole blood, red blood cells, white blood cells, and any combinations thereof, through a microvascular network device wherein said microvascular network device comprises:

a substrate;

at least one network unit disposed in said substrate; said at least one network unit consisting of a single entry and a single exit for the sample, said at least one network unit also comprising a plurality of microchannels; wherein each of said microchannels being either i) a microchannel that branches into two daughter microchannels, or ii) a convergence of two microchannels; wherein said plurality of microchannels receives the sample from said single entry and drains the sample into said single exit;

and

an aspiration pressure means for providing movement of sample through said at least one network.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said plurality of microchannels are selected from the group consisting of: homogeneous microchannels and heterogeneous microchannels.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said each of said plurality of microchannels has a diameter and a width in the range between about 6 μm to about 63.

15. A microvascular network device for a biological liquid sample medium comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of network units;

each of said plurality of network units consisting of a single entry and a single exit for the sample, said network unit also comprising a plurality of microchannels; wherein each of said plurality of microchannels being either i) a microchannel that branches into two daughter microchannels , or ii) a convergence of two microchannels; wherein said plurality of microchannels receives the sample from said single entry and drains the sample into said single exit;

an aspiration pressure means which causes said liquid sample medium to traverse each of said plurality of network units.

16. The device of claims 1 or 15 , wherein said each of said plurality of microchannels has a depth of 5.4 μm.