Microfabricated cell sorter
First Claim
1. A microfluidic system for processing a flow of biological material in a fluid, wherein said system comprises:
- (i) a substrate having an analysis unit microfabricated thereon, wherein said analysis unit comprises(a) a main channel in communication with a sample inlet,(b) a detection region downstream of the sample inlet,(c) a branch point discrimination region adjacent to and downstream of the detection region; and
(d) at least two branch channels originating at the branch point discrimination region and in communication with the main channel;
(ii) a detection apparatus for evaluating the biological material according to at least one characteristic as the material passes through the detection region;
(iii) a processor configured to receive a signal from the detection apparatus and in response to the signal, actuate the flow control system to reverse the flow of fluid in a branch channel; and
(iv) a flow control system, wherein said flow control system is responsive to the processor and is adapted to direct biological material into a selected branch channel and to reverse the direction of movement of biological material that has been directed into a selected branch channel.
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Abstract
The invention provides a microfabricated device for sorting cells based on a desired characteristic, for example, reporter-labeled cells can be sorted by the presence or level of reporter on the cells. The device includes a chip having a substrate into which is microfabricated at least one analysis unit. Each analysis unit includes a main channel, having a sample inlet channel, typically at one end, and a detection region along a portion of its length. Adjacent and downstream from the detection region, the main channel has a discrimination region or branch point leading to at least two branch channels. The analysis unit may further include additional inlet channels, detection points, branch points, and branch channels as desired. A stream containing cells is passed through the detection region, such that on average one cell occupies the detection region at a given time. The cells can be sorted into an appropriate branch channel based on the presence or amount of a detectable signal such as an optical signal, with or without stimulation, such as exposure to light in order to promote fluorescence.
198 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A microfluidic system for processing a flow of biological material in a fluid, wherein said system comprises:
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(i) a substrate having an analysis unit microfabricated thereon, wherein said analysis unit comprises (a) a main channel in communication with a sample inlet, (b) a detection region downstream of the sample inlet, (c) a branch point discrimination region adjacent to and downstream of the detection region; and (d) at least two branch channels originating at the branch point discrimination region and in communication with the main channel; (ii) a detection apparatus for evaluating the biological material according to at least one characteristic as the material passes through the detection region; (iii) a processor configured to receive a signal from the detection apparatus and in response to the signal, actuate the flow control system to reverse the flow of fluid in a branch channel; and (iv) a flow control system, wherein said flow control system is responsive to the processor and is adapted to direct biological material into a selected branch channel and to reverse the direction of movement of biological material that has been directed into a selected branch channel. - 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, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification