Microfluidic Filters: Techniques and Applications

This lecture covers various techniques for filtering particles in microfluidics, including cross-flow filters, filters with fluid oscillations, wall contact effects, hydrodynamic filtration of whole blood, and pinched flow fractionation. The instructor explains the challenges of steric filters due to clogging, and presents alternative methods such as wall exclusion and sedimentation. The use of side channels to prevent clogging is discussed, along with the concept of wall contact effect for size-based separation. The design of continuous filtration devices for blood components is explored, highlighting the importance of fluidic resistances in achieving particle separation. Pinched flow fractionation as a method for particle separation is also presented.