Devices and methods for determining particle concentration in a sample

An apparatus, comprising:

• a cartridge configured to be removably coupled to a rotation element configured to rotate the cartridge about a rotation axis to capture a plurality of target cells within a sample, the cartridge comprising:
• an inlet portion defining an inlet reservoir configured to contain the sample;
• a separation portion including a first surface and a second surface defining a separation chamber, the separation portion configured to contain a density medium having a density greater than a density of a first portion of the sample and less than a density of a second portion of the sample, the second portion including the plurality of target cells, the separation chamber configured to be fluidically coupled to the inlet reservoir such that at least the second portion of the sample can pass from the inlet reservoir to the separation chamber when the cartridge is rotated;
• and
• a detection portion including a detection surface that forms a boundary of a detection chamber, the detection chamber fluidically coupled to the separation chamber such that at least the plurality of target cells can pass through the density medium and into the detection chamber, the detection chamber being characterized by a substantially constant or diverging cross-sectional area, the detection surface being nonparallel to at least one of the first surface or the second surface such that the plurality of target cells impinge on the detection surface when passing into the detection chamber, the detection surface being angled at a non-zero angle with respect to a radial axis defined by the cartridge that is normal to the rotation axis, the detection surface configured to capture the plurality of target cells;
• and
• a dilution reagent, wherein at least one of the dilution reagent or the density medium comprise any of an antifoaming agent, a wetting agent, a dispersant, or an emulsifier.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a cartridge configured to be removably coupled to a rotation element configured to rotate the cartridge about a rotation axis to capture a plurality of target cells within a sample, the cartridge comprising:
• an inlet portion defining an inlet reservoir configured to contain the sample;
• a separation portion including a first surface and a second surface defining a separation chamber, the separation portion configured to contain a density medium having a density greater than a density of a first portion of the sample and less than a density of a second portion of the sample, the second portion including the plurality of target cells, the separation chamber configured to be fluidically coupled to the inlet reservoir such that at least the second portion of the sample can pass from the inlet reservoir to the separation chamber when the cartridge is rotated, wherein the first surface and the second surface are parallel to each other, the first surface and the second surface each being perpendicular to a distance between the first surface and the second surface;
• and
• a detection portion including a first detection surface and a second detection surface, the first detection surface and the second detection surface each being perpendicular to a distance between the first detection surface and the second detection surface, the distance between the first detection surface and the second detection surface being substantially equal to or greater than the distance between the first surface and the second surface, the first detection surface forming a first boundary of a detection chamber, the second detection surface forming a second boundary of the detection chamber, the detection chamber fluidically coupled to the separation chamber such that at least the plurality of target cells can pass through the density medium and into the detection chamber, the first detection surface and the second detection surface each being nonparallel to at least one of the first surface or the second surface such that the plurality of target cells impinge on at least one of the first detection surface or the second detection surface when passing into the detection chamber, at least one of the first detection surface or the second detection surface configured to capture the plurality of target cells;
• and
• a dilution reagent, wherein at least one of the dilution reagent or the density medium comprise any of an antifoaming agent, a wetting agent, a dispersant, or an emulsifier.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a cartridge configured to be removably coupled to a rotation element configured to rotate the cartridge about a rotation axis to capture a plurality of target cells within a sample, the cartridge comprising:
• an inlet portion defining an inlet reservoir configured to contain the sample;
• a separation portion including a first surface and a second surface defining a separation chamber, the second surface being a bottom surface of the separation portion, the separation portion configured to contain a density medium having a density greater than a density of a first portion of the sample and less than a density of a second portion of the sample, the second portion including the plurality of target cells, the separation chamber configured to be fluidically coupled to the inlet reservoir such that at least the second portion of the sample can pass from the inlet reservoir to the separation chamber when the cartridge is rotated;
• and
• a detection portion including a detection surface that forms a boundary of a detection chamber, the detection chamber fluidically coupled to the separation chamber such that at least the plurality of target cells can pass through the density medium and into the detection chamber, the detection surface being nonparallel to at least one of the first surface or the second surface such that the plurality of target cells impinge on the detection surface when passing into the detection chamber, the detection surface being angled at a non-zero angle with respect to a radial axis defined by the cartridge that is normal to the rotation axis, the detection surface configured to capture the plurality of target cells, the detection surface transitioning into a third surface coplanar with or lower than the second surface;
• and
• a dilution reagent, wherein at least one of the dilution reagent or the density medium comprise any of an antifoaming agent, a wetting agent, a dispersant, or an emulsifier.