Method of profiling a sample comprising a plurality of cells and a system for performing the same

A sample profiling system comprising:

• a first region comprising a first array of pillars having an L shape configured to sort cells from a sample flowed therethrough at different flow velocities or flow rates and provide a plurality of different output portions of the first region and provide one or more distribution profiles of the sorted cells sorted in the different output portions of the first region;
• and
• a second region comprising a second array of pillars having an inverse L (L−1) shape configured to sort cells from the sample flowed therethrough at different flow velocities or flow rates and provide a plurality of different output portions of the second region and provide one or more distribution profiles of the cells sorted in the different output portions of the second region;
• and
• a processing unit configured to:
• flow cells from a sample through a first region comprising a first array of pillars having an L shape at different flow velocities or flow rates to sort the cells to different output portions of a first region;
• obtain a plurality of distribution profiles of the cells sorted by the first array in the different output portions of the first region;
• flow cells from the sample through a second region comprising a second array of pillars having an inverse L (L−1) shape at different flow velocities or flow rates to sort the cells to different output portions of a second region;
• obtain a plurality of distribution profiles of cells sorted by the second array in the different output portions of the second region;
• determine a first cell apparent sizes (L Dapp) based on the plurality of distribution profiles of the cells sorted by the first array, and a second cell apparent sizes (L−1 Dapp) based on the plurality of distribution profiles of the cells sorted by the second array;
• obtain a first cell-deformability modulus (CDML) based on changes in the first cell apparent sizes (L Dapp) at different flow velocities or flow rates, and a second cell-deformability modulus (CDML−1) based on changes in the second cell apparent sizes (L−1 Dapp) at different flow velocities or flow rates;
• derive a biophysical signature of the sample based on the first cell apparent sizes (L Dapp) and the first cell-deformability modulus (CDML), and the second cell apparent sizes (L−1 Dapp) and the second cell-deformability modulus (CDML−1);
• and
• determine a presence of an infection and/or inflammation in a subject based on the biophysical signature of the sample, and wherein the cells comprise immune cells;
• wherein:
• the biophysical signature comprises a plurality of biomarker features categorized into four groups:
• size, deformability, distribution, and cell count;
• and
• a group of the deformability comprises a feature named Def 6 described as CDMdot, wherein the CDMdot is a product of the first cell-deformability modulus (CDML) and the second cell-deformability modulus (CDML−1).