Microdevice for cell separation utilizing activation phenotype
AssigneeTexas Tech University System
InventorDimitri Pappas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a system and method for a microdevice to separate blood cells based on differences in antigen expression. Specifically, cells of the same phenotype are separated based on whether or not they are activated during infection or resting. The device of the present disclosure takes a small sample of blood and provides differential cell counts that can be used to test for infection and inflammatory response. The device can be used to identify sepsis and other infections rapidly. By measuring differences in activated white cell counts such as neutrophils, the device of the present disclosure measures physiological response to infection in hospitalized patients recovering from burns, surgeries, etc.
Claims6
A method of identifying the presence of infection, comprising:
- a. flowing a patient sample through a microfluidic device having a substrate having formed therein one or more separation channels, at least one portion of the one or more separation channels having a plurality of monolayers, wherein at least a portion of said monolayers comprises a monocyte affinity surface capable of monocyte cell capture, and one or more optical zones having a plurality of monolayers, wherein at least a portion of said monolayers comprises a neutrophil affinity surface capable of neutrophil cell capture;
- b. capturing active neutrophils in at least one separation channel wherein at least a portion of said monolayers in the at least one separation channel comprises a neutrophil affinity surface capable of capturing the active neutrophils;
- c. capturing resting neutrophils in at least one separation channel wherein at least a portion of said monolayers in the at least one separation channel comprises a neutrophil affinity surface capable of capturing the resting neutrophils;
- d. enumerating the active and resting neutrophils in the optical zone;
- and
- e. determining the ratio of active-to-resting neutrophils to thereby identify the presence of infection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.