High throughput compact microfluidic cell counter

A cell manufacturing apparatus, comprising:

• a master device having a controller for processing control programs;
• and
• a cell counting device electrically coupled to the master device to facilitate transfer of data therebetween and fluidly coupled to the master device, wherein the cell counting device comprises:
• a flow-splitting chamber fluidly coupled to a collection chamber, wherein at least one of the flow-splitting chamber and the collection chamber are fluidly coupled to the master device, wherein the flow-splitting chamber includes a spaced apart array of posts in the flow-splitting chamber along a flow path and configured to redirect a liquid sample containing cells into a plurality of streams, wherein the spaced apart array of posts are arranged uniformly in the flow-splitting chamber:
• an input tube configured to deliver the liquid sample to the flow-splitting chamber;
• a plurality of sensing zones corresponding to the plurality of streams;
• a first electrode electrically coupled to the flow-splitting chamber;
• a second electrode electrically coupled to the collection chamber;
• and
• a plurality of sensing electrodes, wherein each sensing electrode is disposed in a corresponding sensing zone of the plurality of sensing zones and configured to detect a change in electrical impedance as the cells in the liquid sample flow through the plurality of sensing zones.

An apparatus for counting cells in a liquid sample, comprising:

• a flow-splitting chamber fluidly coupled to a collection chamber;
• an input tube configured to deliver a liquid sample containing cells to the flow-splitting chamber;
• a spaced apart array of posts having a triangular cross sectional shape arranged in the flow-splitting chamber in a plurality of rows of posts along a flow path to define a plurality of channels therebetween and configured to redirect the liquid sample into a plurality of streams corresponding to the number of channels defined by a last row of posts in the plurality of rows of posts;
• a plurality of sensing zones corresponding to the plurality of streams;
• a plurality of sensing electrodes, wherein each sensing electrode is disposed in a corresponding sensing zone of the plurality of sensing zones and configured to detect a change in electrical impedance as the cells in the liquid sample flow through the plurality of sensing zones;
• a first electrode electrically coupled to the flow-splitting chamber, wherein the first electrode is disposed between the last row of posts of the plurality of rows of posts and a second to last row of posts of the plurality of rows of posts;
• and
• a second electrode electrically coupled to the collection chamber downstream of the plurality of rows of posts.