Method and apparatus for fractionation using generalized dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the discrimination of matter utilizing dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation, comprising:
- a) a chamber having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, said chamber having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said chamber further having a substantially greater width than thickness which causes fluid traveling through said chamber to travel at different velocities according to a velocity profile;
b) a plurality of electrode elements adapted along a portion of said chamber, wherein the plurality of electrode elements comprise an electrode array; and
c) wherein said plurality of electrode elements energized at different phases by electrical signals provided by an electrical signal generator creates a traveling electric field, thereby causing a dielectrophoretic force on said matter having components normal to the direction of said fluid traveling through said chamber, said dielectrophoretic force displaces said matter to varying distances in said velocity profile and in a plane parallel with respect to said plurality of electrode elements such that said matter is not collected on said plurality of electrode elements.
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a novel apparatus and novel methods for the separation, characterization, and manipulation of matter. In particular, the invention combines the use of frequency-dependent dielectric and conductive properties of particulate matter and solubilized matter with the properties of the suspending and transporting medium to discriminate and separate such matter. The apparatus includes a chamber having at least one electrode element and at least one inlet and one output port into which cells are introduced and removed from the chamber. Matter carried through the chamber in a fluid stream is then displaced within the fluid by a dielectrophoretic (DEP) force caused by the energized electrode. Following displacement within the fluid, matter travels through the chamber at velocities according to the velocity profile of the chamber. After the matter has transitted through the chamber, it exits at the opposite end of the chamber at a characteristic position. Methods according to the invention involve using the apparatus for discriminating and separating matter for research, diagnosis of a condition, and therapeutic purposes. Examples of such methods may include separation of mixtures of cells, such as cancer cells from normal cells, separation of parasitized erythrocytes from normal erythrocytes, separation of nucleic acids, and others.
226 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the discrimination of matter utilizing dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation, comprising:
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a) a chamber having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, said chamber having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said chamber further having a substantially greater width than thickness which causes fluid traveling through said chamber to travel at different velocities according to a velocity profile; b) a plurality of electrode elements adapted along a portion of said chamber, wherein the plurality of electrode elements comprise an electrode array; and c) wherein said plurality of electrode elements energized at different phases by electrical signals provided by an electrical signal generator creates a traveling electric field, thereby causing a dielectrophoretic force on said matter having components normal to the direction of said fluid traveling through said chamber, said dielectrophoretic force displaces said matter to varying distances in said velocity profile and in a plane parallel with respect to said plurality of electrode elements such that said matter is not collected on said plurality of electrode elements. - 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, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus for the discrimination of matter, comprising:
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a) a chamber having an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports, said chamber having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a top wall, a bottom wall and two side walls, said chamber having a substantially greater width than thickness which causes fluid traveling through said chamber to travel at different velocities according to a velocity profile; b) an electrode array adapted along a portion of each of at least two said walls in opposing relation, each of said electrode arrays electrically connected to electrical conductors; c) a duct entering the chamber, said duct capable of introducing said fluid to carry said matter from an inlet port of said chamber to a plurality of outlet ports of said chamber; d) an electrical signal generator electrically connected to said electrical conductors; and e) wherein said electrode arrays energized at different phases by electrical signals provided by said electrical signal generator create a traveling electric field in said chamber, thereby causing a dielectrophoretic force on said matter to displace said matter to varying distances in said velocity profile with respect to said electrode arrays, and to displace said matter parallel to said electrode arrays such that said matter is not collected on said electrode arrays. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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Specification