METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING PARTICLES

• US 20100032350A1
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Published: 02/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytonome/St, Llc (Cytonome Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cytonome/St, Llc (Cytonome Inc.)
• Inventors: GILBERT, John R., DESHPANDE, Manish
• Granted Patent: US 8,567,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/210
• 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 system, comprising:

at least one primary sorting channels through which flows a stream of suspended particles confined in a carrier liquid, each primary sorting channel having a detection region for detecting a predetermined characteristic in a particle and a switching region for separating particles having the predetermined characteristic into a first receiving channel from particles that do not have the predetermined characteristic, which flow into a second receiving channel;

an aggregation region for aggregating the particles having the predetermined characteristic from the first receiving channels,

an enrichment region for adjusting a volume of carrier liquid surrounding the particles having the predetermined characteristic after the particles having the predetermined characteristic are aggregated; and

at least one secondary sorting channel in series with the plurality of parallel primary sorting channels for collecting the selected particles from the plurality of first outlet channels and separating particles in the secondary sorting channel having the predetermined characteristic from other particles in the secondary sorting channel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the enrichment region removes excess carrier fluid from the particles having the predetermined characteristic.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one primary sorting channel comprises a plurality of parallel primary sorting channels.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the enrichment region comprises:

an enrichment channel intersecting one of said receiving channels; and

a membrane separating the enrichment channel from said receiving channel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the enrichment region comprises:

an enrichment channel intersecting said aggregation region; and

a membrane separating the enrichment channel from the aggregation region.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the enrichment region comprises:

an enrichment channel intersecting the secondary sorting channel; and

a membrane separating the enrichment channel from the secondary sorting channel.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection region of each primary channel comprises a sensor for measuring a velocity of a particle in the corresponding primary channel.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising hydration device for adding secondary carrier fluid to the particles after the enrichment region.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising a recycling channel connecting the enrichment region to the primary sorting channel for introducing said removed sheath fluid into the primary sorting channel.

10. A method of sorting particles, comprising

conveying a plurality of streams suspended particles confined in a carrier liquid through a plurality of parallel primary sorting, each primary sorting channel having a detection region for detecting a predetermined characteristic in a particle and a switching region for separating particles having the predetermined characteristic into a first receiving channel from particles that do not have the predetermined characteristic, which flow into a second receiving channel;

separating particles having the predetermined characteristic from particles that do not have the predetermined characteristic

aggregating the particles having the predetermined characteristic from the first receiving channels in an aggregation region,

adjusting a volume of carrier liquid surrounding the particles having the predetermined characteristic after the particles having the predetermined characteristic are aggregated;

conveying the selected particles having the predetermined characteristic through at least one secondary sorting channel in series with the plurality of parallel primary sorting channels; and

separating particles in the secondary sorting channel having the predetermined characteristic from other particles in the secondary sorting channel.