High throughput whole blood inertial focusing device and method of use
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Michigan
InventorsSunitha Nagrath, Daniel F. Hayes, Kaylee J. Smith
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Abstract
A microfluidic device for focusing circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from whole blood without a sheath buffer includes a first section and a second section. The first section includes a single flow channel having a plurality of square corners, and the second section includes at least one flow channel having a plurality of curves positioned in a serpentine arrangement. A method of using the device including pumping a whole blood sample through the microfluidic device at a flow rate of approximately 2.4 mL/min to separate CTC enriched blood from waste.
Claims20
A microfluidic device for focusing circulating tumor cells (CTC) from whole blood without a sheath buffer, the microfluidic device comprising:
- a first section including a single flow channel, the single flow channel including a plurality of square corners;
- and
- a second section in fluid communication with the first section, the second section including at least one flow channel including a plurality of curves,
- characterized in that each of the at least one flow channel curves in a first direction around a first center point at a first longitudinal location and then curves in a second direction around a second center point at a second longitudinal direction downstream of the first longitudinal location, with the first direction and the second direction being substantially opposite one another so as to result in a serpentine arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.