Dielectrophoretic cell stream sorter

Abstract

A method and apparatus for continuously sorting living cells from a mixture of many unlike cells to obtain separate populations of like cells. The invention comprises cell and fluid intake ports, a cell deflection chamber, and a series of output vacuum pumps attached to a like number of collection reservoirs. The cell intake section is a two-stage system that first mixes the incoming cells with a deionized, buffered, processing medium then sheathes the output stream with a centering carrier fluid. An expansion chamber contains one or more electrodes connected to one or more RF generators that act upon the passing cells so that they are fanned out within the expansion chamber according to their size, physical construction, chemical composition and electronic properties. Vacuum pumps draw the fluids through the system and deposit the sorted cells in separate reservoirs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.