Method and apparatus for sorting particles

• US 10,710,120 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2018
• Issued: 07/14/2020
• 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:
  US16/014,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20180297085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 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 actuators and chambers 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 system, comprising:

a duct configured to convey particles in a stream comprising an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet;

a sensor for sensing a predetermined characteristic of a particle flowing in the duct;

a first chamber having a movable wall fluidically couplable to the duct;

a second chamber having a movable wall fluidically couplable to the duct, the second chamber opposing the first chamber on an opposite side of the duct; and

an actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber,

wherein movement of the movable wall in the first chamber or the second chamber causes the first chamber or the second chamber to transiently discharge an amount of fluid into the duct such that the transient discharge of fluid pressure does not halt or disrupt flow volume through the first outlet or the second outlet.

2. The particle sorting system of claim 1 wherein the actuator operates to compress fluid in at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber to deflect one of the particles in the stream into one of the first outlet or the second outlet.

3. The particle sorting system of claim 2, wherein the actuator operates to compress fluid upon sensing of the predetermined characteristic by the sensor.

4. The particle sorting system of claim 1, further comprising a first side channel connecting the duct with the first chamber.

5. The particle sorting system of claim 4, further comprising a second side channel connecting the duct with the second chamber.

6. The particle sorting system of claim 5, wherein the first side channel and the second side channel are positioned upstream of the first outlet and the second outlet.

7. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein operation of the actuator to compress fluid in at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber causes flow through the duct to be transiently moved sideways back and forth upon pressurizing and depressurizing of the first chamber or second chamber.

8. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a piezoelectric actuator bonded to the movable wall of the first chamber or the movable wall of the second chamber.

9. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are filled with fluid.

10. The particle sorting system of claim 7, wherein the transient flow includes a component perpendicular to a normal flow of the particle through the duct.

11. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the first chamber or the second chamber acts as a buffer for absorbing pressure transients.

12. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber hydraulically co-operate with each other.

13. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the movable wall of the first chamber and the second chamber have resilient properties.

14. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes an optical sensor.

15. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined characteristic of the particle flowing in the duct is velocity.

16. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the particles flow in the stream in a sheath fluid.

17. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is an external actuator.

18. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are configured such that the pressure inside the first chamber is equalized to the pressure in the second chamber subsequent to the transient discharge of fluid pressure.

19. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the transient discharge of fluid pressure shifts a location of the particle flowing in the duct perpendicular to a flow direction of the particle.

20. The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein an angle between a first branch leading to the first outlet and a second branch leading to the second outlet is in a range between 10 and 45 degrees.