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US 2017/0304818 A1Published application
Methods, devices, and systems for sorting particles
AssigneesRobert Clark, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
InventorsKenneth Brown, Robert Clark, Alexa Harter, Kellie McConnell, Brian McMahon, Christine K. Payne, Gang Shu, Curtis Volin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are devices, systems, and methods for sorting a particle based on a characteristic of a particle.
Claims20
A method of sorting a particle based on a characteristic of the particle the method comprising:
- providing a device comprising:
- an insulating substrate having a surface;
- a first pair of alternating current (AC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein each of the AC electrodes comprising the first pair of AC electrodes is spaced apart on the surface of the insulating substrate such that the first pair of AC electrodes define a first arm of a channel, and wherein each of AC electrodes comprising the first pair of AC electrodes is electrically connected to an AC voltage source;
- a first direct current (DC) electrode disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and interspersed within the first arm of the channel, wherein the first DC electrode is electrically connected to a DC voltage source;
- a second pair of alternating current (AC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein each of the AC electrodes comprising the second pair of AC electrodes is spaced apart on the surface of the insulating substrate such that the second pair of AC electrodes define a second arm of a channel, and wherein each of AC electrodes comprising the second pair of AC electrodes is electrically connected to an AC voltage source;
- a direct current (DC) electrode disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and interspersed within the second arm of the channel, wherein the second DC electrode is electrically connected to a DC voltage source;
- a third pair of alternating current (AC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein each of the AC electrodes comprising the third pair of AC electrodes is spaced apart on the surface of the insulating substrate such that the third pair of AC electrodes define a third arm of a channel, and wherein each of AC electrodes comprising the third pair of AC electrodes is electrically connected to an AC voltage source;
- a third direct current (DC) electrode disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and interspersed within the third arm of the channel, wherein the third DC electrode is electrically connected to a DC voltage source;
- wherein the first, second, and third arms of the channel intersect at a junction;
- and
- wherein the length of the first arm of the channel, the second arm of the channel, the third arm of the channel, or a combination thereof is from 10 millimeters (mm) to 100 mm;
- applying AC voltage to the first pair of AC electrodes, the second pair of AC electrodes, and the third pair of AC electrodes thereby generating an electromagnetic trapping field defining a confinement region, wherein the confinement region is proximate the channel and above the surface of the insulating substrate;
- wherein the confinement region comprises:
- a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, and wherein the first, second, and third arms of the confinement region intersect at a junction;
- and
- wherein the first arm of the confinement region comprises a loading region and a detection region;
- injecting a droplet having a surface charge into the loading region, wherein the electromagnetic trapping field traps the droplet in the confinement region such that the droplet levitates above the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein the droplet comprises a liquid sample comprising a particle;
- applying a first DC voltage to the first DC electrode to translocate the droplet from the loading region to the detection region;
- determining a characteristic of the particle in the droplet at the detection region;
- applying a second DC voltage to the first DC electrode to translocate the droplet from the detection region to the junction of the confinement region;
- and
- applying a third DC voltage to the first DC electrode, the second DC electrode, the third DC electrode, or a combination thereof to translocate the droplet from the junction of the confinement region to the second arm of the confinement region or the third arm of the confinement region based on the characteristic of the particle, thereby sorting the droplet based on the characteristic of the particle.
19 more elements
A system comprising:
- a device comprising:
- an insulating substrate having a surface;
- a first pair of alternating current (AC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein each of the AC electrodes comprising the first pair of AC electrodes is spaced apart on the surface of the insulating substrate such that the first pair of AC electrodes define a first arm of a channel;
- a first direct current (DC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and interspersed within the first arm of the channel;
- a second pair of alternating current (AC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein each of the AC electrodes comprising the second pair of AC electrodes is spaced apart on the surface of the insulating substrate such that the second pair of AC electrodes define a second arm of a channel;
- a second direct current (DC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and interspersed within the second arm of the channel;
- a third pair of alternating current (AC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein each of the AC electrodes comprising the third pair of AC electrodes is spaced apart on the surface of the insulating substrate such that the third pair of AC electrodes define a third arm of a channel;
- a third direct current (DC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and interspersed within the third arm of the channel;
- wherein the first, second, and third arms of the channel intersect at a junction;
- and
- wherein the length of the first arm of the channel, the second arm of the channel, the third arm of the channel, or a combination thereof is from 10 millimeters (mm) to 100 mm;
- an AC voltage source electrically connected to the first pair of AC electrodes, the second pair of AC electrodes, and the third pair of AC electrodes, wherein applying an AC voltage to the first pair of AC electrodes, the second pair of AC electrodes, and the third pair of AC electrodes generates an electromagnetic trapping field defining a confinement region, wherein the confinement region is proximate the channel and above the surface of the insulating substrate;
- wherein the confinement region comprises:
- a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, and wherein the first, second, and third arms of the confinement region intersect at a junction;
- and
- wherein the first arm of the confinement region comprises a loading region and a detection region;
- a droplet generating device, wherein the electromagnetic trapping field traps a droplet having a surface charge injected into the loading region from the droplet generating device in the confinement region, such that the droplet levitates above the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein the droplet comprises a liquid sample comprising a particle
- a DC voltage source electrically connected to the first DC electrode, the second DC electrode, and the third DC electrode, wherein applying a first DC voltage to the first DC electrode translocates the droplet from the loading region to the detection region;
- and
- an instrument configured to determine a characteristic of the particle in the droplet at the detection region;
- wherein applying a second DC voltage to the first DC electrode translocates the droplet from the detection region to the junction of the confinement region;
- and
- wherein applying a third DC voltage to the first DC electrode, the second DC electrode, the third DC electrode, of a combination thereof translocates the droplet from the junction of the confinement region to the second arm of the confinement region or the third arm of the confinement region based on the characteristic of the particle, thereby sorting the droplet based on the characteristic of the particle.
20 more elements
A device comprising:
- an insulating substrate having a surface;
- a first pair of alternating current (AC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein each of the AC electrodes comprising the first pair of AC electrodes is spaced apart on the surface of the insulating substrate such that the first pair of AC electrodes define a first arm of a channel;
- a first direct current (DC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and interspersed within the first arm of the channel;
- a second pair of alternating current (AC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein each of the AC electrodes comprising the second pair of AC electrodes is spaced apart on the surface of the insulating substrate such that the second pair of AC electrodes define a second arm of a channel;
- a second direct current (DC) electrode disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and interspersed within the second arm of the channel;
- a third pair of alternating current (AC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate, wherein each of the AC electrodes comprising the third pair of AC electrodes is spaced apart on the surface of the insulating substrate such that the third pair of AC electrodes define a third arm of a channel;
- a third direct current (DC) electrodes disposed on the surface of the insulating substrate and interspersed within the third arm of the channel;
- wherein the first, second, and third arms of the channel intersect at a junction;
- and
- wherein the length of the first arm of the channel, the second arm of the channel, the third arm of the channel, or a combination thereof is from 10 millimeters (mm) to 100 mm.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.