# US 12,179,200 B2 · Microfluidic device with DEP arrays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,200 B2 - Document ID: US12179200B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/275,637 - Filed: 2019-09-12 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-12 - Assignees: Quantumdx Group Limited - Applicants: Quantumdx Group Limited - Inventors: Heather Murton; Lothar Schmid; Eduardo Boada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179200B2 ## CPC - 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 5/005: {Dielectrophoresis, i.e. dielectric particles migrating towards the region of highest field strength} - 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]} - B01L 2200/025: Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other - B01L 2200/027: for microfluidic devices - B01L 2200/04: Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs - B01L 2200/0647: Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles - B01L 2200/0668: Trapping microscopic beads - B01L 2200/12: Specific details about manufacturing devices - B01L 2300/0645: Electrodes - B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions - B01L 2300/0819: Microarrays; Biochips - B01L 2300/12: Specific details about materials - B01L 2400/0424: Dielectrophoretic forces - B03C 2201/26: for use in medical or biological applications - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - 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) ## Abstract Microfluidic device having a plurality of microfluidic channels and corresponding dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrode arrays, each channel arranged to direct fluid over a DEP electrode array such that in use target particles are manipulated by the DEP electrode array. The device also has a first connection point and second connection point for connecting the device to an alternating current source, a first input of each DEP electrode array connected to the first connection point via the first conductor and second input of each DEP electrode array connected to the second connection point via the second conductor. A resistance of the first conductor between the first input of each electrode and the first connection point, and a resistance of the second conductor between the second input of each electrode and the second connection point is substantially at least an order of magnitude less than a total resistance of the connected electrode arrays. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microfluidic device comprising: a plurality of microfluidic channels and a plurality of corresponding dielectrophoresis (DEP) electrode arrays, wherein each microfluidic channel is configured to direct fluid over a DEP electrode array, and at least one first connection point and at least one second connection point configured to connect the microfluidic device to an alternating current source, wherein: a first input of each DEP electrode array is connected to the at least one first connection point via a first conductor, and a second input of each DEP electrode array is connected to the at least one second connection point via a second conductor, and an electrical resistance of the first conductor between the first input of each DEP electrode array and the at least one first connection point, and an electrical resistance of the second conductor between the second input of each DEP electrode array and the at least one second connection point is each substantially at least an order of magnitude less than a total electrical resistance of the plurality of DEP electrode arrays, wherein the first and second conductors comprise conducting leads comprising a conducting material deposited on a substrate, and wherein each of the conducting leads comprises one or more internal gaps absent the conducting material to increase an edge-length of the conducting leads. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein each DEP electrode array is associated with only one microfluidic channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of DEP electrode arrays is electrically connected in parallel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first connection point and the at least one second connection point are the only connection points on the device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of DEP electrode arrays comprises an interdigitated electrode (IDE) array. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The microfluidic device according to claim 5, wherein each IDE array comprises a first set of electrodes comprising 5 to 40 electrodes interdigitated with a second set of electrodes comprising 5 to 40 electrodes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The microfluidic device according to claim 5, wherein each IDE array is approximately 2 mm to 8 mm long. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The microfluidic device according to claim 7, wherein each IDE array is operable to generate an average electric field of approximately 80 kV/m RMS. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of DEP electrode arrays has a resistance of 1.6-2.4 kΩ. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic device is a microfluidic cassette insertable in a corresponding analysis device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The microfluidic device according to claim 1, comprising at least two DEP electrode arrays. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein the conducting material comprises gold, nickel, platinum, or aluminum. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The microfluidic device according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic device is configured for selectively manipulating target particles by DEP, wherein the target particles are target cells.