Light sequencing and patterns for dielectrophoretic transport
AssigneeBerkeley Lights, Inc.
InventorsTroy A. Lionberger, Brandon R. Bruhn, John A. Tenney, Eric D. Hobbs
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Abstract
Optically-actuated microfluidic devices permit the use of spatially-modulated light to manipulate micro-objects such as biological cells. Systems and methods are described for providing sequences of light patterns to move and direct a plurality of micro-objects within the environment of a microfluidic device. The sequenced light patterns provide improved efficiency in directing the transport of the plurality of micro-objects. Other embodiments are described.
Claims20
A method of disposing a selected micro-object of a plurality of micro-objects within a chamber of a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
- introducing the plurality of micro-objects into a flow path of a microfluidic device, wherein the chamber comprises an opening to the flow path;
- projecting a first light sequence into the microfluidic device, the first light sequence comprising a light bar having a starting position within the chamber, wherein, during the projection of the first light sequence, the light bar moves from the starting position to an ending position in the flow path, thereby excluding micro-objects of the plurality of micro-objects from a chamber portion proximal to the flow path;
- and
- projecting a second light sequence into the microfluidic device, the second light sequence comprising one or more shapes configured to at least partially surround the selected micro-object, wherein, during the projection of the second light sequence, the one or more shapes move into the chamber, thereby disposing the selected micro-object therein.
A method of disposing a set of selected micro-objects of a plurality of micro-objects within corresponding chambers of a plurality of chambers of a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
- introducing the plurality of micro-objects into a flow path of a microfluidic device, wherein each of the plurality of chambers comprises an opening to the flow path;
- projecting a first light sequence into the microfluidic device, the first light sequence comprising a light bar having a starting position within each of the plurality of chambers, wherein, during the projection of the first light sequence, the light bar moves from the starting position to an ending position in the flow path, thereby excluding micro-objects of the plurality of micro-objects from a chamber portion proximal to the flow path of each chamber of the plurality of chambers;
- and
- projecting a plurality of second light sequences into the microfluidic device, each second light sequence comprising one or more shapes configured to at least partially surround a selected micro-object of the set of selected micro-objects, wherein, during the projection of the plurality of second light sequences, the one or more shapes of each second light sequence move into a corresponding chamber of the plurality of chambers, thereby disposing the selected micro-object of the set of selected micro-objects therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.