Device for high throughput sperm sorting
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A microfluidic chip comprising:
- a substrate;
a flow channel formed in the substrate and configured for a flow direction comprising;
a sample inlet located at a first vertical position for injecting sample into the flow channel;
one or more sheath inlets that provide sheath fluid to the flow channel;
a fluid focusing region having;
a lateral fluid focusing chamber,a first vertical fluid focusing channel in fluid communication with the flow channel that diverts sheath fluid from the lateral fluid focusing chamber and reintroduces the diverted sheath fluid at a first location downstream of the sample inlet, the first vertical fluid focusing channel having a horseshoe shape, anda second vertical fluid focusing channel, having a horseshoe shape, in fluid communication with the flow channel that diverts sheath fluid from the lateral fluid focusing chamber and reintroduces the diverted sheath fluid at a second location, wherein one of the first vertical fluid focusing channel or the second vertical fluid focusing channel is in fluid communication with the flow channel from above the flow channel and the other is in fluid communication with the flow channel from below the flow channel, and wherein the flow channel is contacted by a vertical fluid focusing channel on only one side at the first location and downstream of the first location the flow channel is contacted on only the opposite side at the second location;
an inspection region at least partially downstream of the fluid focusing region; and
at least a first outlet in fluid communication with the flow channel.
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to a device in the form of a microfluidic chip. In particular, various features are incorporated into the microfluidic chip for aligning and orienting sperm in flow channels, as well as for separating selected subpopulations of sperm.
80 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A microfluidic chip comprising:
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a substrate; a flow channel formed in the substrate and configured for a flow direction comprising; a sample inlet located at a first vertical position for injecting sample into the flow channel; one or more sheath inlets that provide sheath fluid to the flow channel; a fluid focusing region having; a lateral fluid focusing chamber, a first vertical fluid focusing channel in fluid communication with the flow channel that diverts sheath fluid from the lateral fluid focusing chamber and reintroduces the diverted sheath fluid at a first location downstream of the sample inlet, the first vertical fluid focusing channel having a horseshoe shape, and a second vertical fluid focusing channel, having a horseshoe shape, in fluid communication with the flow channel that diverts sheath fluid from the lateral fluid focusing chamber and reintroduces the diverted sheath fluid at a second location, wherein one of the first vertical fluid focusing channel or the second vertical fluid focusing channel is in fluid communication with the flow channel from above the flow channel and the other is in fluid communication with the flow channel from below the flow channel, and wherein the flow channel is contacted by a vertical fluid focusing channel on only one side at the first location and downstream of the first location the flow channel is contacted on only the opposite side at the second location; an inspection region at least partially downstream of the fluid focusing region; and at least a first outlet in fluid communication with the flow 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)
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Specification