University of Utah Research Foundation

Alex Jafek

Bruce Kent Gale

Raheel Samuel

Douglas T Carrell

James Trauba

Jiyoung Son

Kenneth I Aston

Timothy Jenkins

Jim Hotaling

A method for separating and enriching sperm from a tissue sample comprises: obtaining a microfluidic separating system having an inlet end and an outlet end, and a membrane filter (e.g., hollow fiber membrane filter) fluidly connected to the outlet end; separating the tissue sample via the microfluidic separating system into a debris fluid volume and a sperm fluid volume; and enriching the sperm fluid volume by removing excess media via the membrane filter. A two-stage tissue sample separation system comprising: a microchannel structure defining a separation fluid channel to form a separation stage; an inlet end of the microchannel structure; an outlet end of the microchannel structure; and a membrane filter fluidly connected to the outlet end for removal of at least a portion of excess media in the tissue sample.

Microfluidic system for sperm separation and enrichment from various types of sperm samples

A microfluidic device can include a temperature regulator positioned to generate a temperature gradient across a thermally controlled portion of the microfluidic device from a high temperature region to a low temperature region. Additionally, the microfluidic device can include a bi-directional microfluidic serpentine pathway having a first terminus and a second terminus. The bi-directional microfluidic serpentine pathway can be oriented along a longitudinal direction transverse to the temperature gradient. Further, the bi-directional microfluidic serpentine pathway can include a plurality of oscillation segments fluidly coupling the first terminus to the second terminus and forming a flow path adapted to oscillate a fluid between the high temperature region and the low temperature region. The bi-directional microfluidic serpentine pathway can have a uniform cross section to facilitate bi-directional flow.

Thermal gradient plug flow microfluidic devices for extreme PCR

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Alex Jafek