PLASMA SEPARATION USING A DROP OF BLOOD

摘要

Systems, combinations, and/or methods for separating plasma from a drop of blood use a capillary tube and a filter membrane having a rough side and a smooth side. The pores on the rough side of the filter membrane are large enough for blood cells to enter and be captured. The pores on the smooth side of the filter membrane are small enough to block blood cells, but allow the plasma within the drop of blood to pass through the smooth side of the filter membrane.

主权项

1. A combination for separating plasma from blood, the combination including:
a capillary tube having a diameter ranging between 0.1 mm and 2.5 mm, and further having an interior, a first opening, and a second opening; and a filter membrane having a rough side and a smooth side, wherein the rough side includes pores large enough to capture blood cells, wherein the smooth side includes pores small enough to block blood cells, wherein using the combination of the capillary tube and the filter membrane together allows separation of plasma from a quantity of blood of 0.03 ml or less, responsive to the filter membrane being disposed in proximity of the blood such that the blood enters the filter membrane through the rough side of the filter membrane, by virtue of capillarity from the capillary tube acting to transfer the plasma through the smooth side of the filter membrane.