Microfluidic device
A microfluidic device ( 1 ) comprises a substrate ( 10 ) having a flow input channel ( 30 ) in fluid connection with a first fluid port ( 31 ) and a flow output channel ( 40 ) in fluid connection with a third fluid port ( 41 ) and cell channels ( 20 ) disposed between the flow input channel ( 30 ) and the flow output channel ( 40 ). The cell channels ( 20 ) comprise a respective obstruction ( 25 ) designed to prevent the target cells from passing the respective obstruction ( 25 ) and into the flow output channel ( 40 ). The microfluidic device ( 1 ) also comprises a pre-filter ( 50 ) with a filter channel ( 60 ) in fluid connection with a first filter port ( 61 ) and pre-filter channels ( 70 ) adapted to accommodate the target cells. A respective first end ( 72 ) of the pre-filter channels ( 70 ) is in fluid connection with the filter channel ( 60 ) and a respective second end ( 74 ) of the pre-filter channels ( 70 ) is in fluid connection with the flow input channel ( 30 ).
1. A microfluidic device comprising:
a first fluid port;
a third fluid port;
a substrate having cell channels adapted to accommodate target cells;
a flow input channel having a first end in fluid connection with said first fluid port, wherein a respective first end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow input channel; and
a flow output channel in fluid connection with said third fluid port, wherein a respective second end of said cell channels is in fluid connection with said flow output channel, wherein said cell channels comprise a respective obstruction designed to prevent said target cells from passing said respective obstruction and into said flow output channel and to capture said target cells in said cell channels;
a pre-filter comprising:
a first filter port;
a filter channel having a first end in fluid connection with said first filter port; and
pre-filter channels adapted to accommodate said target cells and capture contaminating particles, wherein a respective first end of said pre-filter channels is in fluid connection with said filter channel and a respective second end of said pre-filter channels is in fluid connection with said flow input channel; and
a flow controller in fluidic connection with the first and third fluid ports and/or the first filter port, wherein the flow controller is configured to induce a fluid flow from said flow input channel through said pre-filter channels and into said filter channel to clean contaminating particles clogging said pre-filter channels and/or blocking entrances of said pre-filter channels.
2. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein said pre-filter comprises a second filter port and said filter channel has a second end in fluid connection with said second filter port.
3. The microfluidic device according to claim 2 , wherein said flow controller is further configured to induce a flow of a fluid comprising said target cells back and forth between said first end and said second end of said filter channel.
4. The microfluidic device according to claim 2 , wherein said flow controller is further configured to induce a circular flow of a fluid comprising said target cells between said first filter port and said second filter port.
5. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein said flow controller is configured to induce said fluid flow from said flow input channel through said pre-filter channels and into said filter channel and from said flow input channel through said cell channels and into said flow output channel.
6. The microfluidic device according to claim 1 , wherein
said filter channel is a first filter channel;
said pre-filter channels are first pre-filter channels;
said pre-filter comprises:
a third filter port;
a second filter channel having a first end in fluid connection with said third filter port; and
second pre-filter channels adapted to accommodate said target cells and capture said contaminating particles, wherein a respective first end of said second pre-filter channels is in fluid connection with said second filter channel and a respective second end of said second pre-filter channels is in fluid connection with said flow input channel;
said respective second end of said first pre-filter channels is in fluid connection with said second filter channel.
7. The microfluidic device according to claim 6 , wherein said first pre-filter channels have a larger diameter or a larger height and/or width as compared to said second pre-filter channels.
8. A method of operating a microfluidic device according to claim 1 , said method comprising inducing a fluid flow from said flow input channel through said pre-filter channels and into said filter channel to clean contaminating particles clogging said pre-filter channels and/or blocking entrances of said pre-filter channels from said pre-filter.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein inducing said fluid flow comprises inducing a fluid flow from said flow input channel through said pre-filter channels and into said filter channel and from said flow input channel through said cell channels and into said flow output channel.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein inducing said fluid flow comprises inducing a fluid flow from said flow output channel through at least a portion of said cell channels into said flow input channel through said pre-filter channels and into said filter channel.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein
said pre-filter comprises a second filter port;
said filter channel has a second end in fluid connection with said second filter port; and
said method further comprises inducing a flow of a fluid comprising said target cells back and forth between said first end and said second end of said filter channel.
12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein
said pre-filter comprises a second filter port;
said filter channel has a second end in fluid connection with said second filter port; and
said method further comprises inducing a circular flow of a fluid comprising said target cells between said first filter port and said second filter port.