University of California

Steven C George

Abraham Phillip Lee

Peter Condorelli

Christopher C W Hughes

Xiaolin Wang

Duc Phan

Yu-Hsiang Hsu

Hye-Won Shin

Nikolaos Tsoukias

Monica Moya

A pressure regulator module for a chip-based microfluidic platform is provided. The module includes a microfluidic channel for passing flowable material from the inlet region through the outlet region and into a downstream compartment; one or more microvalves fluidly connected to the microfluidic channel and upstream of the outlet region; and one or more reservoirs fluidly connected to the microvalves, for receiving flowable material diverted by the microvalves, where a flow of flowable material passing from the inlet region toward the downstream compartment is at least partially diverted by the microvalves into the reservoirs as a result of a pressure increase in the microfluidic channel. In some versions, the microvalves are capillary burst valves. A microfluidic chip containing the module and a method of using the module are provided.

Microfluidic pressure regulator for robust hydrogel loading without bursting

Provided is a process for creating a 3D metabolically active microtissue perfused with living microvessels which have a direct fluidic connection with neighboring microfluidic channels. The process comprises preparing a template comprising a plurality of channels, and creating a network within said channels, said network comprising microfluidic channels, metabolically active living microvessels, and microtissues. The microvessels can sprout from said microvessels and/or form within the microtissue in response to a stimulus applied from said microfluidic channels or stimulus derived from the said tissues. In another embodiment, a device is provided comprising a supportive structure, one or more microfluidic channels, one or more microtissue compartments, and one or more microvessels, whereby the microvessels connect said microfludic channels and microtissue and perfuse the microtissue to deliver fluid from the microfluidic channels to the microtissues.

High-throughput platform comprising microtissues perfused with living microvessels

Parametric characterization of nitric oxide (NO) gas exchange using a two-compartment model of the lungs is a non-invasive technique to characterize inflammatory lung diseases. The technique applies the two-compartment model to parametric characterization of NO gas exchange from a tidal breathing pattern. The model is used to estimate up to six flow-independent parameters, and to study alternate breathing patterns.

Flow-independent parameter estimation based on tidal breathing exhalation profiles

An apparatus and method to characterize NO gas exchange dynamics in human lungs comprising the steps of: (1) performing a series of breath hold maneuvers of progressively increasingly breath hold times, each breath hold maneuver comprising a) inhaling a gas, b) holding a breath for a selected time duration, and c) exhaling at a flow rate which is uncontrolled but which is effective to ensure evacuation of the airway space and (2) measuring airway NO parameters during consecutive breath hold maneuvers. As a result disease states of the lungs are diagnosed using the measured airway NO parameters.

Accurate method to characterize airway nitric oxide using different breath-hold times including axial diffusion of nitric oxide using heliox and breath hold

The invention provides an estimation of key flow-independent parameters characteristic of NO exchange in the lungs, namely: 1) the steady state alveolar concentration, C; 2) the maximum flux of NO from the airways, J; and 3) the diffusing capacity of NO in the airways, D. The parameters were estimated from a single exhalation maneuver comprised of a pre-expiratory breathhold, followed by an exhalation in which the flow rate progressively decreased. The mean values for J, D, and Cdo not depend on breathhold time for breathhold times greater than approximately 10 seconds.estimates of the parameter confidence intervals demonstrates that a breathhold no longer than 20 seconds may be adequate, and that Jbe can estimated with the smallest uncertainty, and Dthe largest.

Apparatus and method for the estimation of flow -independent parameters which characterize the relevant features of nitric oxide production and exchange in the human lungs

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Irvine, CA, United States of America

Steven C George