Dielectrophoretic concentration of particles under electrokinetic flow
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsRobin R. Miles, Kerry A. Bettencourt, Christopher K. Fuller
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Abstract
The use of dielectrophoresis to collect particles under the conditions of electrokinetically-driven flow. Dielectrophortic concentration of particles under electrokinetic flow is accomplished by interdigitated electrodes patterned on an inner surface of a microfluid channel, a DC voltage is applied across the ends to the channel, and an AC voltage is applied across the electrodes, and particles swept down the channel electrokinetically are trapped within the field established by the electrodes. The particles can be released when the voltage to the electrodes is released.
Claims9
An apparatus for dielectrophoretic concentration of particles under electrokenelic flow, comprising:
- at least one microfluidic channel,
- means for producing a DC voltage across ends of said microfluidic channel
- at least one pair of interdigitated electrodes located on a surface of said microfluidic channel, and
- means for producing an AC voltage across the interdigitated electrodes.
In a microfluidic device using electrokinetic/electroosmotic flow to sweep particles down a microfluidic channel, improvement comprising:
- interdigitated electrodes patterned on an inner surface of a microfluidic channel, and means for applying an AC voltage across the interdigitated electrodes to set up a non-uniform electric field capable of trapping particles using a dielectrophoretic force as the particles are swept down the microfluidic channel electrokinetically.
A method for concentrating particles under electrokinetic flow, comprising:
- forming at least one pair of interdigitated electrodes on a fluidic microchannel through which particles are swept electrokinetically, and
- applying an AC voltage across the interdigitated electrodes to establish a non-uniform electric field capable of trapping particles using the dielectrophoretic force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.