Methods, systems and apparatus for separation and isolation of one or more sample components of a sample biological material

A microfluidic device for isolating one or more sample components from a sample material source comprising:

• a substrate having at least one surface;
• at least first and second channels fabricated into said surface of said substrate which intersect with each other at a first location along a length of the first channel, at least one of said first and second intersecting channels having at least one cross-sectional dimension in the range of from about 0.1 to about 500 μm;
• a sample material separation system operably coupled to at least said first channel for controlling separation of the sample material into one or more sample components in the first channel in the presence of a separation matrix;
• a detection zone located at a second location along the length of said first channel upstream from said first location wherein detection of said one or more sample components can occur;
• and
• a fluid direction system operably coupled to at least said second channel for controlling movement of selected one or more sample components from said first channel into said second channel based on information received at said detection zone.

A system for isolating one or more sample components of a sample material following separation of said sample material into a plurality of sample components, comprising:

• a microfluidic substrate having at least one surface;
• a separation conduit fabricated into said surface and having a separation matrix disposed therein;
• a detector in sensory communication with said separation conduit at a first location along a length of the separation conduit for detecting said one or more sample components in the separation conduit;
• a sample component collection conduit fabricated into said surface and being in fluid communication with said separation conduit at a second location downstream from said first location;
• a fluid direction system for controlling movement of at least one or more of said sample components within at least said sample component collection conduit;
• and
• a processor which is operably coupled to said detector and to said fluid direction system for instructing said fluid direction system to direct movement of one or more sample components from said separation conduit into said sample component collection conduit based on information received from said detector.

A method of separating a sample material into a plurality of separated components and isolating one or more of said separated components comprising:

• providing a microfluidic substrate including a separation conduit having a separation matrix disposed therein;
• providing a detector in sensory communication with said separation conduit at a first location along a length of the separation conduit for detecting said one or more sample components in the separation conduit;
• providing a sample component collection conduit in said substrate in fluid communication with said separation conduit at a second location downstream from said first location;
• providing a user-programmable processor which is operably coupled to said detector and to a fluid direction system, the processor including appropriate programming for receiving a signal from the detector that is indicative of a separated component passing the detector, determining a retention time of the separated components in the separation conduit, and determining a size of the separated components by comparing the retention time of the separated components to a retention time of components of a standard reference of known size for the sample material;
• inputting instructions to the processor to direct the fluid direction system to move a selected one or more of the separated components of interest from the separation conduit into the sample component collection conduit based on the determined size of the selected one or more sample components;
• transporting a first sample material through the separation conduit to separate the first sample material into a plurality of first sample components;
• detecting said plurality of first sample components at said first location with said detector;
• and
• moving said selected one or more of said plurality of first sample components from said separation conduit into the sample component collection conduit in response to said instructions from the processor to the fluid direction system.