Actuation of parallel microfluidic arrays

A system for sorting individual particles on a particle-by-particle basis from a stream of particles, the system comprising:

• a particle processing assembly including a microfluidic chip, the microfluidic chip including at least one microsorter having a switching region, and a microfluidic channel formed in the microfluidic chip fluidically coupled to a sample input a keep output a waste output, and the switching region;
• and
• at least one actuator configured to generate a pressure pulse in the microfluidic channel,
• wherein the switching region directs the pressure pulse generated by the at least one actuator to deflect a selected particle from the stream of particles, and
• wherein the at least one actuator is external to the particle processing assembly and is interfaced with the switching region of the microfluidic chip and wherein the at least one actuator is configured to be actuated in response to a desired particle characteristic of an individual particle being detected in a detection region of the microfluidic channel.

A method for sorting particles comprising:

• obtaining a microfluidic particle sorting component including at least one microsorter having a switching region and a microfluidic channel formed in the microfluidic chip fluidically coupled to a sample input, a keep output, a waste output, and the switching region;
• operatively interfacing the microfluidic particle sorting component with an operating machine, including aligning the switching region of the microfluidic particle sorting component with a pressure pulse generator external to the microfluidic particle sorting component and provided by the operating machine;
• operating the operating machine to process a sample having particles to be sorted, including the steps of:
• flowing the sample containing particles through the microfluidic particle sorting component;
• detecting whether individual particles flowing within the microfluidic particle sorting component have a predetermined characteristic;
• causing the pressure pulse generator provided on the operating machine to generate a pressure pulse in the switching region of the microsorter in response to the predetermined characteristic of an individual particle being detected;
• deflecting the individual particle from the particles flowing within the microfluidic particle sorting component into one of the keep output and the waste output;
• and
• removing the microfluidic particle sorting component from the operating machine.