Process for manipulating microscopic, dielectric particles and a device therefor
First Claim
1. A process for manipulation of microscopic, dielectric particles, said process comprising the steps of:
- exposing said particles to an electric field,suspending said particles in one of a fluid and a gel,operating said electric field to effect one or several high-frequency fields with frequencies between 0.1 MHz and 1 GHz traveling in prescribed directions, such that a traveling velocity of said high-frequency fields induces interfacial charges in said particles, which charges remain behind a traveling field vector to cause movement of said particles.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a process for manipulating microscopic dielectric particles in which particles are exposed to an electric field. In disadvantaged processes the particles are exposed to inhomogeneous electric field and are polarized by them. The polarized particles are moved in the direction of higher field strength. These processes permit no reversal of the traveling direction of the particles. The particles are enriched at the electrode so that they cannot be retained in free space. In the invented process the particles are exposed to high-frequency field traveling in one or more prescribed direction, by which the particles are subject to a force which sets them in a motion that is strongly synchronous to the field. With the aid of a device for carrying out the invented process, the particles can be manipulated very flexibly. By means of linearly or circularly disposed electrodes, the particles can be moved on linear paths in any direction including through branched microstructures, they can be separated according to their dielectric properties and retained without contact. Applications are in the fields of biotechnology and molecular separation, focussing and microtransport technology.
247 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for manipulation of microscopic, dielectric particles, said process comprising the steps of:
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exposing said particles to an electric field, suspending said particles in one of a fluid and a gel, operating said electric field to effect one or several high-frequency fields with frequencies between 0.1 MHz and 1 GHz traveling in prescribed directions, such that a traveling velocity of said high-frequency fields induces interfacial charges in said particles, which charges remain behind a traveling field vector to cause movement of said particles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A device for carrying out manipulation of microscopic, dielectric particles, said device comprising:
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a base on which a multi-electrode system is disposed, surfaces of said electrodes coated with a coating of insulating materials having a rough or smooth structure, with said coating being provided with troughs, waves and regions of varying strength; an electronic circuit for successive application of predetermined electric voltages to all said electrodes to generate a high-frequency electric field with a traveling direction in said base; and wherein electrodes of said multi-electrode system are arranged side by side approximately perpendicular to said a travelling direction of said high-frequency electric field, with both a distance of said electrodes from each other and a linear expansion of said electrodes in said traveling direction approximately corresponding in magnitude to said particles to be manipulated. - View Dependent Claims (7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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6. A device for carrying out manipulation of microscopic, dielectric particles, said device comprising:
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a base on which a multi-electrode system is disposed, surfaces of said electrodes coated with a coating of insulating materials having a rough or smooth structure, with said coating being provided with troughs, waves and regions of varying strength; an electronic circuit for successive application of predetermined electric voltages to all said electrodes to generate a high-frequency electric field with a traveling direction in said base; and wherein electrodes of said multi-electrode system are arranged side by side approximately perpendicular to said a travelling direction of said high-frequency electric field, with both a distance of said electrodes from each other and a linear expansion of said electrodes in said traveling direction approximately corresponding in magnitude to said particles to be manipulated; wherein said multi-electrode system is provided with a branching arrangement to effect a branching manipulation of said microscopic, dielectric particles. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification