Method and device for sorting particles suspended in an electrolyte
First Claim
1. Method to direct the flow of electrolyte and especially the motion of particles or cells in an electrolyte suspension to sort these particles or cells from a mixture into different containers according to their preselected properties, characterized in that the suspension flows in a middle channel along a preselected length of its trajectory in the form of a very thin stream and can be deflected into at least one side channel, that a pair of control electrodes is located in at least one of the side channels, which produces gas by electrolysis when being activated by an electric current impulse of sufficient amplitude, and that the production of a gas impulse in all side channels with activated control electrodes results in a deflection of the suspension stream into those side channels with inactivated or no control electrodes.
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Abstract
The invention discloses a method and apparatus which allows the sorting of particles or cells in accordance with their physical and/or chemical properties such as size, DNA and/or protein content. The present invention is furthermore characterized in that the device of the invention is combined with at least one analyzer system which is sensitive to at least one of the above or other properties and which converts the well defined property into an electrical impulse and, after analysis, directs the flow of particles into the sorter where the particles are to be sorted according to their analyzed properties in such a manner that an electrolysis gas impulse can be produced between the pairs of platinum control electrodes in each side channel of the sorter by supplying a short current impulse to said pair of electrodes; clearly, the production of such a gas impulse results in a reduction of the suction effect in this channel applied by an external suction pump and a deflection of the suspension stream which accordingly flows in the middle of the entrance channel into the other side channel lying opposite to said side channel in which the gas impulse is produced. The triggering of the impulse is provided by electronic equipment attached to the analyzing part of the device.
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Citations
38 Claims
- 1. Method to direct the flow of electrolyte and especially the motion of particles or cells in an electrolyte suspension to sort these particles or cells from a mixture into different containers according to their preselected properties, characterized in that the suspension flows in a middle channel along a preselected length of its trajectory in the form of a very thin stream and can be deflected into at least one side channel, that a pair of control electrodes is located in at least one of the side channels, which produces gas by electrolysis when being activated by an electric current impulse of sufficient amplitude, and that the production of a gas impulse in all side channels with activated control electrodes results in a deflection of the suspension stream into those side channels with inactivated or no control electrodes.
- 8. Method to direct the flow of electrolyte and especially the motion of particles or cells in an electrolyts suspension to sort these particles or cells from a mixture into different containers according to their preselected properties, characterized in that the suspension flows in a middle channel along a preselected length of its trajectory in the form of a very thin stream and can be deflected into at least one side channel, that at least one pair of control electrodes is located at the downstream end of one inner side wall of the middle channel which produces gas by electrolysis when being activated by an electrical current impulse of sufficient amplitude, and that the production of a gas impulse results in a deflection of the suspension stream into one of the side channels which corresponds to the activated pair of electrodes.
- 13. A sorter device in which the particles of an electrolyte suspension are sorted according to the magnitude of physical or chemical properties such as size, DNA and/or proteine content, characterized in that a particle-sensor produces for each particle at least one sensor impulse corresponding to the particular analysed property, that the particle-sensor directs the particles one after another into a middle channel of the sorter in which the suspension flows as a very thin stream and that at least one pair of control electrodes is located either in the middle channel or in each of at least two side channels branching from the middle channel, the pair of electrodes being selectively activated by voltage impulses from an electrical control circuit connected to the sensor such, that the activation of the preselected control electrode pairs corresponds to a deflection of the particle into the corresponding side channel.
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38. A device for the reduction of the interparticle distance of particles suspended in electrolyte flowing in a channel of capillary dimensions, characterized in that from a suspension containing main channel of very small cross-section at least one side channel branches out substantially perpendicular to the main channel, that the side channels are provided with valve-electrode pairs, said valve electrode pairs being activated by an electronic system such that the amount of electrolyte between any two consecutive particles is reduced by some amount of electrolyte leaving the main channel via the side channels.
Specification