Optimization of Blood Microfluidic Co-Flow Devices for Dual Measurement

Microfluidics is a prominent field used to analyze small amounts of biological fluids. Co-Flow microfluidic devices can be used to study red blood cell aggregation in blood samples under a controlled shear rate. The purpose of this paper is to optimize the parameters of a co-flow device in order to produce a linear velocity profile in blood samples which would provide a constant shear rate. This is desired as the eventual goal is to use an ultrasonic measurement sensor with the co-flow microfluidic device to analyze red blood cell aggregates. Computational fluid dynamic simulations were performed to model a microfluidic device. The simulation results were verified by mu PIV of the experimental microfluidic device. Modifications were made to the geometry and flow rate ratio of the microfluidic device to produce a more linear velocity profile. By using a flow rate ratio of 50:1 of shearing fluid to sheared fluid, we were able to achieve a velocity profile in the blood layer that is approximately linear.