US 11,673,094 B2
Biomimetic microfluidic device for high efficiency carbon dioxide removal from patients at low blood flow rates
Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Newton, MA (US); Alla A. Gimbel, Medford, MA (US); Jose A. Santos, Westwood, MA (US); and James G. Truslow, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., Cambridge, MA (US)
Appl. No. 16/320,897
Filed by The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc., Cambridge, MA (US)
PCT Filed May 26, 2017, PCT No. PCT/US2017/034813
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 25, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/205818, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 30, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/342,456, filed on May 27, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0184342 A1, Jun. 20, 2019
Int. Cl. B01D 63/08 (2006.01); A61M 1/16 (2006.01); B01D 69/10 (2006.01)
CPC B01D 63/088 (2013.01) [A61M 1/1698 (2013.01); B01D 69/10 (2013.01); A61M 2202/0225 (2013.01); A61M 2205/0244 (2013.01); B01D 2313/146 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic flow device comprising:
a plurality of first layers comprising a plurality of gas channels to permit gas to flow through the microfluidic flow device;
a plurality of distensible membranes wherein each membrane of the plurality of distensible membranes is coupled to a respective gas channel of the plurality of gas channels and is distensible in response to pressurization;
a plurality of supports at least partially embedded within a membrane of the plurality of distensible membranes, the plurality of supports distributed such that the membrane is supported at intervals along a length of the membrane, wherein the plurality of supports are disposed to reduce flexure at a portion of the membrane; and
a plurality of second layers comprising a plurality of blood channels and coupled respectively with the plurality of distensible membranes,
the plurality of supports comprising supports each having (i) a first end exposed to the respective gas channel of the plurality of gas channels and (ii) a second end exposed to a respective blood channel of the plurality of blood channels, the supports extending from the first end to the second end in a direction perpendicular to a flow direction in which gas flows in the respective gas channel and perpendicular to a direction in which blood flows in the respective blood channel,
the plurality of blood channels separated from the plurality of gas channels by the plurality of distensible membranes, and configured to permit blood to flow through the microfluidic flow device, the plurality of blood channels comprising:
a cross-sectional area defined in each of the plurality of second layers, a shape of the cross-sectional area configured to oscillate by application of gas pressure such that each respective blood channel varies between a first width and a second width, wherein gas is supplied to the plurality of gas channels such that a gas flow is at a rate between about ten cycles per minute to about thirty cycles per minute,
wherein the plurality of first layers, the plurality of distensible membranes and the plurality of second layers are stacked in an alternating arrangement such that a respective membrane is provided between a respective first layer and a respective second layer.