Microfluidics based phantoms of superficial vascular network

Area of Science:

• Biophotonics
• Medical Imaging
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Non-destructive bio-photonic techniques like laser speckle imaging and Doppler optical coherence tomography are advancing for human vasculature flow measurement.
• Clinical translation of these technologies necessitates robust calibration and validation methods.
• Current phantom fabrication methods may lack the speed and flexibility required for dynamic experimental scenarios.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, rapid prototyping technique for fabricating dynamic flow phantoms.
• To enable the creation of micro-vascular phantoms with precise dimensions for validating bio-photonic flow measurement tools.
• To offer a flexible method for modifying phantom geometries to suit specific experimental needs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized laser micromachining for fabricating micro-channels in various materials.
• Developed a fast prototyping approach for creating dynamic flow phantoms.
• Fabricated micro-channels with widths below 20 µm.
• Demonstrated fabrication in epoxies, plastics, and household tape.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated micro-channels with sub-20 µm widths using laser micromachining.
• Demonstrated the ability to create dynamic flow phantoms rapidly.
• Showcased the adaptability of the technique for creating diverse vasculature geometries.
• Established a versatile platform for phantom fabrication suitable for various materials.

Conclusions:

• Laser micromachining offers a fast and adaptable method for fabricating dynamic flow phantoms.
• This technique is crucial for the calibration and validation of emerging bio-photonic vascular imaging tools.
• The developed method facilitates the creation of realistic micro-vascular models for research and clinical applications.