Particle Focusing and Separation in the Low Aspect Ratio Serpentine‐Hook Shape Microarray

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn recent years, researchers have been heavily focused on developing effective techniques for isolating and counting particles. Particle separation methods are enhancing disease point of care and treatment applications. Separation techniques not only increase the chance of early detection of illness but also greatly improve the success rate of treatment. This article introduces a passive microarray separator with a low aspect ratio (<20%). By incorporating a low aspect ratio design, the flow inertial term is effectively diminished, leading to a creeping flow at the channel. This strategy results in negligible lift force and mixing effect on particles. Terminating the mentioned factors provides a channel with sensitive focusing properties. In the proposed research we enhanced a hook‐shaped geometry to increase regional centrifugal force. This configuration results in size‐base particle separation. An expansion was also added to improve the performance of the channel. To validate the functionality and limitations of the designed channel numerical simulation and experimental tests were conducted. To provide better insights into the low aspect ratio separator a numerical simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics has been established. The experiments indicated 91% purity at an input flow of 720 µL/min.