Apparatus and process for isolating specific physical items within a set of physical items

A branched microfluidic apparatus for the isolation of a target cell from a plurality of sample cells comprising:

• a first cell chamber configured to hold a sample mixture including one or more sample cells including at least one target cell, the first cell chamber further including:
• a first cell chamber testing element configured for use in testing the sample mixture;
• and
• a first cell chamber output valve configured to control flow of the sample mixture out of the first cell chamber;
• a first cell chamber output channel coupled to the first cell chamber output valve and including a first flow splitter for dividing the sample mixture into at least two subsample mixtures each comprising one or more sample cells;
• a plurality of second cell chambers, wherein a respective second cell chamber of the plurality of second cell chambers is configured to hold a respective subsample mixture, the respective second cell chamber further including:
• a second cell chamber testing element configured for use in testing the subsample mixture;
• and
• a second cell chamber output valve configured to control flow of the respective subsample mixture out of the second cell chamber;
• a second cell chamber output channel coupled to the second cell chamber output valve and including a second flow splitter for dividing the subsample mixture into at least two sub-subsample mixtures each comprising one or more sample cells;
• a plurality of third cell chambers, wherein a respective third cell chamber of the plurality of third cell chambers is configured to hold a respective sub-subsample mixture, the respective third cell chamber further including:
• a third cell chamber testing element configured for use in testing the sub-subsample mixture;
• and
• a third cell chamber output valve configured to control flow of the respective sub-subsample mixture out of the third cell chamber.

A method of isolating of a target component from a plurality of sample components comprising:

• receiving a sample mixture comprising one or more sample components including at least one target component;
• dividing the sample components of the sample mixture into at least two subsample mixtures each comprising one or more sample components;
• testing the at least two subsample mixtures for the presence of the a target component;
• discarding a respective subsample mixture of the at least two subsample mixtures when a discard criterion is met;
• and
• retaining a respective subsample mixture of the at least two subsample mixtures when a retention criterion is met and iteratively performing the dividing, testing, discarding, and retaining until an isolation criterion is met.