# US 10,766,040 B2 · Analysis device and separation device

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- Number: US 10,766,040 B2
- Document ID: US10766040B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/073,770
- Filed: 2017-01-27
- Published: 2019-01-31
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-29
- Assignees: Afi Corporation
- Applicants: AFI Corporation; Kyoto University
- Inventors: Yoshikazu Wakizaka; Masayo Takano; Takayuki Itoi; Takaharu Enjoji; Masakazu Toi; Tomomi Nishimura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766040B2

## CPC

- B03C 5/005: {Dielectrophoresis, i.e. dielectric particles migrating towards the region of highest field strength}
- B03C 5/022: {Non-uniform field separators}
- B01L 3/502761: {specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads or physically stretching molecules}
- B03C 5/026: {using open-gradient differential dielectric separation, i.e. using electrodes of special shapes for non-uniform field creation, e.g. Fluid Integrated Circuit [FIC]}
- C12M 1/34: Measuring or testing with condition measuring or sensing means, e.g. colony counters
- C12Q 1/04: Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor {(C12Q1/6897 takes precedence)}
- G01N 15/1031: by measuring electrical or magnetic effects
- G01N 27/447: using electrophoresis
- B01L 2200/0652: Sorting or classification of particles or molecules
- B01L 2300/0645: Electrodes
- B01L 2400/0424: Dielectrophoretic forces
- B03C 2201/26: for use in medical or biological applications
- G01N 2015/016: {White blood cells}
- G01N 2015/1006: {for cytology}
- G01N 2015/1028: {Sorting particles}
- G01N 2015/1029: {Particle size}
- B03C: MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS (separating isotopes B01D59/00; combinations of magnetic or electrostatic separation with separation of solids by other means B03B, B07B)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

An analysis device (200) analyzes a crossover frequency at which a dielectrophoretic force on dielectric particles switches from a repulsive force to an attractive force or from the attractive force to the repulsive force, comprising a flow channel (5), a pair of electrodes (22, 23), a power supply (24), an imaging unit (25) and an analyzer (26). Through the flow channel (5), a sample solution containing the dielectric particles in the dielectrophoretic liquid flows. The pair of electrodes (22, 23) are arranged in the first channel. The power supply (24) applies a frequency-modulated AC voltage to the first electrodes (22, 23). The imaging unit (25) captures an image of a movement trajectory of each of the dielectric particles flowing between the electrodes (22, 23) in the flow channel. The analyzer (26) obtains the crossover frequency of the dielectric particles based on the captured image of the movement trajectory.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An analysis device for analyzing a crossover frequency at which a dielectrophoretic force on dielectric particles switches from a repulsive force to an attractive force or from the attractive force to the repulsive force, the analysis device comprising:
a first flow channel through which a sample solution containing the dielectric particles in dielectrophoretic liquid flows,
a pair of first electrodes arranged in the first flow channel,
a first power supply that applies a frequency-modulated AC voltage to the pair of first electrodes,
an imaging unit that captures an image of a movement trajectory of each of the dielectric particles flowing between the pair of first electrodes in the first flow channel; and
a controller that analyzes a change in the movement trajectory along which the dielectric particles flow in the first flow channel and determines the crossover frequency of the dielectric particles based on the change in the movement trajectory in the captured image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The analysis device according to claim 1, further comprising a replacement unit that includes:
a second flow channel which is disposed at a stage prior to the first flow channel and into which a suspension containing the dielectric particles and the dielectrophoretic liquid are introduced, and
a branched flow channel that branches from the second flow channel,
wherein the replacement unit is configured for branching a solution in the suspension into the branched flow channel to replace the solution in the suspension with the dielectrophoretic liquid and produce the sample solution, and
wherein the replacement unit individually and sequentially leads the dielectric particles in the sample solution from the second flow channel to the first flow channel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A separation device for separating dielectric particles, comprising:
the analysis device according to claim 1;
a pair of second electrodes arranged at a stage subsequent to the pair of first electrodes in the first flow channel of the analysis device;
a second power supply that applies an AC voltage of a predetermined frequency to the pair of second electrodes; and
a controller that controls the predetermined frequency based on the crossover frequency obtained by the analysis device with respect to the dielectric particles so that the dielectric particles analyzed by the analysis device are subjected to dielectrophoresis while the dielectric particles pass through the pair of second electrodes in the first flow channel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The separation device according to claim 3, wherein the analysis device further comprises a replacement unit that includes:
a second flow channel which is disposed at a stage prior to the first flow channel and into which a suspension containing the dielectric particles and the dielectrophoretic liquid are introduced, and
a branched flow channel that branches from the second flow channel,
wherein the replacement unit is configured for branching a solution in the suspension into the branched flow channel to replace the solution in the suspension with the dielectrophoretic liquid and produce the sample solution, and
wherein the replacement unit individually and sequentially leads the dielectric particles in the sample solution from the second flow channel to the first flow channel.