A SILICON MICROMACHINED DEVICE FOR USE IN BLOOD-CELL DEFORMABILITY STUDIES

An application of silicon micromachining to the analysis of blood cell theology is described. The system, based upon a micromachined flow ce ll, provides a specific measurement of each cell in a statistically si gnificant population in terms of both flow velocity profile and an ind ex of cell volume while the cells flow through an array of microchanne ls. The-rationale, design, and fabrication of the silicon micromachine d flow cell is discussed. Interrelated considerations determining the design of the associated fluidic, mechanical, imaging, and real-time i mage analysis subsystems are examined. Sample data comparing normal an d iron deficiency anaemic blood are presented to illustrate the potent ial of this technique.