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Micro-elastometry on whole blood clots using actuated surface-attached posts (ASAPs)
Robert M Judith1, Jay K Fisher, Richard Chasen Spero
1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Physics & Astronomy, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. rsuper@physics.unc.edu.
Lab on a Chip
|January 17, 2015
Summary
This study introduces a new microfluidic elastometry technology to measure blood clot stiffness in real-time. The actuated surface-attached post (ASAP) system offers a point-of-care solution for small-volume hemostatic assays.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Hematology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Assessing blood clot formation and stiffness is crucial for diagnosing hemostatic disorders.
- Existing methods often require large sample volumes and lack point-of-care capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel microfluidic elastometry system for measuring the stiffness of forming blood clots.
- To demonstrate the system's utility for point-of-care and small-volume hemostatic assays.
Main Methods:
- A microfluidic chip with a micropost array is used to apply shear stress to small blood samples (20 μL).
- Magnetic actuation of surface-attached posts allows for real-time measurement of clot-induced torque via optical transmission.
- A quasi-static model is employed to predict applied torque, and results are validated against a commercial thromboelastograph.
Main Results:
- The system accurately measures the stiffness of blood clots as they form.
- Experimental validation confirms strong correlation with a commercial thromboelastograph.
- The technology demonstrates feasibility for real-time, small-volume clot stiffness assessment.
Conclusions:
- Actuated surface-attached post (ASAP) technology provides a novel method for microfluidic elastometry of blood clots.
- This technology addresses a clinical need for point-of-care and small-volume elastic hemostatic assays.
- ASAP technology shows promise for improving the diagnosis and management of hemostatic disorders.
