Method and apparatus for sorting particles

• US 10,029,283 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cytonome/St, Llc (Cytonome Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cytonome/St, Llc (Cytonome Inc.)
• Inventors: Deshpande, Manish, Gilbert, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US14/828,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20150352597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0652 Sorting or classification of particles or molecules
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/02 Measures preceding sorting, e.g. arranging articles in a stream orientating sorting and transport of caps B67B3/06
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/34 Sorting according to other particular properties material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/36 Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02
• CPC Class Codes: F15C 5/00 Manufacture of fluid circuit elements; Manufacture of assemblages of such elements integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0001 Microvalves microdevices B81B1/00; manufacture or treatment of devices or systems in or on a substrate B81C1/00; microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; micropumps F04B19/006
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0019 Valves using a microdroplet or microbubble as the valve member
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0028 Valves having multiple inlets or outlets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0046 using magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 99/0048 using piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/10 Investigating individual particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/14 Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 : specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1027 : Determining speed or velocity of a particle
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1028 : Sorting particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1477 : Multiparameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1497 : Particle shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/906 : Pneumatic or liquid stream feeding item
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/932 : Fluid applied to items

Abstract

A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises a bubble valve for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.

Claims

1. A particle sorting chip comprising:

a duct configured to convey particles in a stream, the duct including an inlet and a plurality of flow-through outlet channels formed in a substrate;

a first chamber formed in the substrate, the first chamber in fluid communication with the duct via a first side opening and otherwise sealed, the first side opening positioned upstream of the plurality of flow-through outlet channels; and

an actuator provided on the substrate and associated with the first chamber, the actuator configured to increase a pressure within the first chamber and to discharge an amount of fluid from the first side opening into the duct during a switching operation.

2. The particle sorting chip of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator bonded to the chip.

3. The particle sorting chip of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a heat pulse generation actuator configured to generate a vapor bubble within the actuator chamber.

4. The particle sorting chip of claim 1, wherein the first chamber has a flexible wall and wherein movement of the flexible wall causes the first chamber to transiently discharge an amount of fluid through the first side opening into the duct.

5. The particle sorting chip of claim 1, further comprising a second chamber in fluid communication with the duct via a second side opening, wherein the first side opening and the second side opening are positioned on opposite sides of the duct upstream of the plurality of flow-through outlet channels.

6. The particle sorting chip of claim 5, wherein the second chamber is otherwise sealed.

7. The particle sorting chip of claim 1, further comprising a gradient mask associated with the duct, the gradient mask configured to produce a pattern in an optical detector.

8. The particle sorting chip of claim 1, further comprising an optically detectable pattern in a detection region of the duct, the optically detectable pattern configured for simultaneously transmitting signals to determine a time delay and a classification of the selected particle.

9. The particle sorting chip of claim 1, further comprising an optical mask having an optical pattern extending along a length of the duct, the optical mask configured to provide information on the velocity of the selected particle.

10. The particle sorting chip of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ducts, each duct configured to convey particles in a stream, each duct including an inlet and a plurality of flow-through outlet channels, wherein the particles normally flow from the inlet into a first outlet channel of the plurality of flow-through outlet channels, and each duct including a first chamber configured to selectively discharge a transient pressure pulse during a switching operation via a first side opening of the duct to a selected particle having a predetermined characteristic.

11. The particle sorting system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a measurement of velocity of the selected particle.

12. The particle sorting system of claim 1, further comprising an optically detectable pattern for spatially modulating signals from a detection region of the duct, the optically detectable pattern configured for simultaneously transmitting signals to determine a time delay and a classification of the selected particle.

13. The particle sorting system of claim 1, further comprising an optical mask having an optical pattern associated with a length of the duct, the optical mask configured to provide information on the velocity of the selected particle.