High-performance acoustofluidic blood plasma separation devices driven by an algorithm-optimized elliptical reflector focusing ultrasonic transducer (ELIPS)
Chen, Zhirui ; Qiu, Wei LU
; Imashiro, Chikahiro
and Morita, Takeshi
(2026)
In Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
468.
- Abstract
- Blood plasma separation is a fundamental step in point-of-care diagnostics and testing. However, conventional centrifugation relies on bulky equipment and multiple manual handling, while most microfluidic methods struggle to achieve high purity, high throughput, and high plasma yield simultaneously. In this study, we demonstrate a high-performance acoustofluidic plasma separation device satisfying three requirements driven by an algorithm-optimized ElLIPtical reflector focusing ultrasonic tranSducer (ELIPS). The genetic algorithm was used as a design tool to preserve strong acoustic performance while reducing the device footprint. Simulations show that the device volume was reduced by a factor of 2.3, suitable for lab-on-chip integration,... (More)
- Blood plasma separation is a fundamental step in point-of-care diagnostics and testing. However, conventional centrifugation relies on bulky equipment and multiple manual handling, while most microfluidic methods struggle to achieve high purity, high throughput, and high plasma yield simultaneously. In this study, we demonstrate a high-performance acoustofluidic plasma separation device satisfying three requirements driven by an algorithm-optimized ElLIPtical reflector focusing ultrasonic tranSducer (ELIPS). The genetic algorithm was used as a design tool to preserve strong acoustic performance while reducing the device footprint. Simulations show that the device volume was reduced by a factor of 2.3, suitable for lab-on-chip integration, while achieving a 1.7-fold improvement in simulated device efficiency compared with previous reflector-based designs. Experiments validate approximately a 58.3% improvement in practical device efficiency, evidenced by perfect focusing of 5-µm-diameter polystyrene particles at a flow rate of 3 mL/min using only 500 mW. Continuous plasma separation from whole blood was further achieved using a double-stage microfluidic chip driven by two ELIPSs, with a plasma collection rate of 40 μL/min and a plasma yield of 26.7%, while maintaining the chip temperature below 37 °C. The collected plasma exhibits nearly 100% blood cell removal rate and an average platelet separation efficiency of 95%, meeting clinical standards. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the highest throughput on blood plasma separation among acoustofluidic systems that meet clinical requirements, offering a good combination of high throughput, high purity, and high plasma yield. These results highlight the potential of reflector-based acoustofluidic systems for point-of-care applications. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/19e9646c-2866-4887-bccc-e92309b50904
- author
- Chen, Zhirui
; Qiu, Wei
LU
; Imashiro, Chikahiro
and Morita, Takeshi
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-08-25
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
- volume
- 468
- article number
- 140753
- pages
- 10 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105048078151
- ISSN
- 0925-4005
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.snb.2026.140753
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 19e9646c-2866-4887-bccc-e92309b50904
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-03 00:01:55
- date last changed
- 2026-09-10 09:45:34
@article{19e9646c-2866-4887-bccc-e92309b50904,
abstract = {{Blood plasma separation is a fundamental step in point-of-care diagnostics and testing. However, conventional centrifugation relies on bulky equipment and multiple manual handling, while most microfluidic methods struggle to achieve high purity, high throughput, and high plasma yield simultaneously. In this study, we demonstrate a high-performance acoustofluidic plasma separation device satisfying three requirements driven by an algorithm-optimized ElLIPtical reflector focusing ultrasonic tranSducer (ELIPS). The genetic algorithm was used as a design tool to preserve strong acoustic performance while reducing the device footprint. Simulations show that the device volume was reduced by a factor of 2.3, suitable for lab-on-chip integration, while achieving a 1.7-fold improvement in simulated device efficiency compared with previous reflector-based designs. Experiments validate approximately a 58.3% improvement in practical device efficiency, evidenced by perfect focusing of 5-µm-diameter polystyrene particles at a flow rate of 3 mL/min using only 500 mW. Continuous plasma separation from whole blood was further achieved using a double-stage microfluidic chip driven by two ELIPSs, with a plasma collection rate of 40 μL/min and a plasma yield of 26.7%, while maintaining the chip temperature below 37 °C. The collected plasma exhibits nearly 100% blood cell removal rate and an average platelet separation efficiency of 95%, meeting clinical standards. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the highest throughput on blood plasma separation among acoustofluidic systems that meet clinical requirements, offering a good combination of high throughput, high purity, and high plasma yield. These results highlight the potential of reflector-based acoustofluidic systems for point-of-care applications.}},
author = {{Chen, Zhirui and Qiu, Wei and Imashiro, Chikahiro and Morita, Takeshi}},
issn = {{0925-4005}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{08}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical}},
title = {{High-performance acoustofluidic blood plasma separation devices driven by an algorithm-optimized elliptical reflector focusing ultrasonic transducer (ELIPS)}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2026.140753}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.snb.2026.140753}},
volume = {{468}},
year = {{2026}},
}