Axial electrode cell sensing and sorting

Abstract

A microfluidic system includes a cell sensor for high throughput, label-free cell isolation via a parallel electrode impedance sensing structure. A microfluidic device may include a channel fed by a cell-containing reservoir, and an ejection nozzle. The channel is flanked on two sides by electrodes. Electrodes are parallel to the channel axis. Positive and negative electrodes may be on one side of the channel and a ground electrode on the opposite side a differential sensing arrangement. A potential may be applied to the electrodes and the resulting current sensed, such as a difference current between the two electrodes. The sensor may detect presence of a cell based on peak-to-peak signal structure. The dispense head may move relative to a multiwell plate such that a new well is exposed under the nozzle. The cell may move via evaporation driven flow to the nozzle orifice, ready to be ejected.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.