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Microfluidic devices

A multilayer microfluidic device comprising: an inlet section comprising an inlet port and configured to transport and access the sample to a flat, laterally extending filtration membrane; a metering section, comprising an extraction chamber configured to receive an extracted body fluid from the filtration membrane and arranged in fluid communication with a metering channel; and an outlet section comprising a capillary means for collection of the metered volume of body fluid, wherein a roof of the extraction chamber is defined by a flat lower surface of the filtration membrane, and a floor of the extraction chamber is continuous with a floor of the metering channel and extends at an acute angle from the lower surface of the filtration membrane, and wherein the floor of the extraction chamber is inclined with respect to the floor of the metering channel to create a slope.

Patent

Brief

Patent brief

Problem

How can microplastics and similar contaminants be removed from wastewater?

Novelty

The front-page text suggests a specialized implementation detail worth closer review.

Uses

Patent review

Assignee

Capitainer AB

Published

Mar 10, 2026

Inventors

Anna Ohlander, Gabriel Lenk

Domain

Environmental systems

Plain-English summary

Problem

How can microplastics and similar contaminants be removed from wastewater?

Solution

multilayer microfluidic device comprising: an inlet section comprising an inlet port and configured to transport and access the sample to a flat, laterally extending filtration membrane; a metering section, comprising an extraction chamber configured to receive an extracted body fluid from the filtration membrane and arranged in fluid communication with a metering channel; and an outlet section comprising a capillary means for collection of the metered volume of body fluid, wherein a roof of the extraction chamber is defined by a flat lower surface of the filtration membrane, and a floor of the extraction chamber is continuous with a floor of the metering channel and extends at an acute angle from the lower surface of the filtration membrane, and wherein the floor of the extraction chamber is inclined with respect to the floor of the metering channel to create a slope.

Key novelty

The front-page text suggests a specialized implementation detail worth closer review.

Applications

Patent review

Relevant search intents

f457703dec40

Claims preview

1 . A multilayer microfluidic device configured to sample, meter and collect a metered volume of body fluid for analysis by means of capillary transport, wherein the device comprises: an inlet section for receiving a body fluid sample, and a flat, laterally extending filtration membrane, wherein the inlet section comprises an inlet port and is configured to transport and access the sample to the filtration membrane; a metering section, comprising an extraction chamber and a metering channel, the extraction chamber being configured to receive an extracted body fluid from the filtration membrane and arranged in fluid communication with the metering channel; and an outlet section configured to receive and collect a metered volume of body fluid from the metering channel, the outlet section comprising a capillary means for collection of the metered volume of body fluid, wherein a roof of the extraction chamber is defined by a flat lower surface of the filtration membrane, and a floor of the extraction chamber is continuous with a floor of the metering channel and extends at an acute angle from the lower surface of the filtration membrane, wherein the floor of the extraction chamber is inclined with respect to the floor of the metering channel to create a slope, and wherein the extraction chamber is wedge-shaped with the floor and roof of the extraction chamber diverging from each other in a direction towards the metering channel. 2 . The device according to claim 1 , comprising, from the bottom of the device to the top of the device: a bottom layer; a hydrophilic floor layer forming the floor of the extraction chamber and the metering channel; and a support structure for the floor layer, wherein the support structure is arranged between the bottom layer and the floor layer such that a first part of the floor layer is supported on the support structure to contact the filtration membrane, and wherein a second part of the floor layer is supported on the bottom layer to form the acute angle between the filtration membrane and the floor layer in order to obtain the extraction chamber with a height gradually increasing towards the metering channel. 3 . The device according to claim 2 comprising at least: the bottom layer; the support structure; the floor layer; a channel structure layer comprising an opening configured to accommodate the support structure and the inclined slope constituting the floor of the extraction chamber, and a slot which forms side walls of the metering channel; and a cover layer providing a flat roof surface for the metering channel.

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