RHEOTAXIS-BASED SEPARATION OF MOTILE SPERM AND BACTERIA USING A MICROFLUIDIC CORRAL SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A microfluidic system for separation of motile sperm from immotile sperm or motile bacteria from immotile bacteria, said system comprising:
- a housing having a first end and a second end and containing a passage connecting the first and second ends;
an inlet at the first end of said housing for charging fluids into the passage proximate to the first end of said housing;
an outlet at the second end of said housing for discharging fluids from the passage proximate to the second end of said housing, whereby fluid flows from said inlet, through the passage, and into said outlet; and
one or more corrals within the passage, each of said corrals comprising a closed side and a partially open side, wherein the closed side is closer to the first end than the partially open side with the closed side and partially open side defining between them a confinement region suitable for retaining motile sperm or motile bacteria.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present application relates to a microfluidic system and its method for use for the separation of motile sperm from immotile sperm or motile bacteria from immotile bacteria. The system includes a housing having a first end, and a second end, with a passage connecting the first and second ends. There is an inlet at the first end of the housing for charging fluids into the passage and an outlet at the second end of said housing for discharging fluids from the passage. There are one or more corrals within the passage, each of the corrals including a closed side and a partially open side. The closed side of the corrals is closer to the first end than the partially open side, with the closed side and partially open side defining between them a confinement region suitable for retaining motile sperm or motile bacteria.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A microfluidic system for separation of motile sperm from immotile sperm or motile bacteria from immotile bacteria, said system comprising:
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a housing having a first end and a second end and containing a passage connecting the first and second ends; an inlet at the first end of said housing for charging fluids into the passage proximate to the first end of said housing; an outlet at the second end of said housing for discharging fluids from the passage proximate to the second end of said housing, whereby fluid flows from said inlet, through the passage, and into said outlet; and one or more corrals within the passage, each of said corrals comprising a closed side and a partially open side, wherein the closed side is closer to the first end than the partially open side with the closed side and partially open side defining between them a confinement region suitable for retaining motile sperm or motile bacteria. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification