A Microfluidic Cross-Slot Device for Measurement of Erythrocyte Deformability

摘要

Red blood cell (RBC) deformation is a dominant factor in therheological properties of blood in vessels smaller than 300micrometers. A reduction in cell deformability is associated withhealth conditions such as malaria and diabetes. The extensionalflow within a microfluidic cross-slot microchannel has beenproposed as a mechanism for measuring the deformation of cells.Three-dimensional simulations of red blood cell deformation in amicrofluidic cross-slot channel are presented, suggesting thedevice has the capability of measuring both cell stiffness andviscosity.