Systems and methods for cell subpopulation analysis

A fluidic device for the analysis of cells, the device comprising:

• a dielectrophoretic prefilter comprising one or more trapping electrodes configured to trap at least a portion of the cells with a dielectrophoretic force;
• a dielectrophoretic field-flow fractionation separator coupled to the prefilter and configured to discriminate cells by balancing a dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force to displace the cells to positions within a velocity profile in the separator;
• and
• two or more spiral electrode segments coupled to the separator and configured to trap at least a portion of the cells as a function of the cells' time of emergence from the separator.

A fluidic device for the analysis of cells, the device comprising:

• a dielectrophoretic field-flow fractionation separator configured to discriminate cells by balancing a dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force to displace the cells to positions within a velocity profile in the separator;
• a multi-segment electrode array isolator coupled to the separator and configured to trap at least a portion of the cells emerging from the separator;
• and
• a programmable fluidic processor coupled to the electrode array isolator.

A method for cell isolation and analysis, comprising:

• introducing cells into a dielectrophoretic field-flow fractionation separator;
• discriminating the cells in the separator, the discriminating comprising balancing a dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force to displace the cells to positions within a velocity profile in the separator;
• and
• trapping at least a portion of the cells emerging from the separator with a multi-segment electrode array isolator coupled to the separator.

A method for cell isolation and analysis, comprising:

• introducing cells into a dielectrophoretic prefilter comprising one or more trapping electrodes configured to trap at least a portion of the cells with a dielectrophoretic force;
• directing the cells trapped from the prefilter into a dielectrophoretic field-flow fractionation separator coupled to the prefilter;
• discriminating the cells, the discriminating comprising balancing a dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force to displace the cells to positions within a velocity profile in the separator;
• and
• trapping at least a portion of the cells as a function of the cells' time of emergence from the separator with two or more spiral electrode segments coupled to the separator.

A method for cell isolation and analysis, comprising:

• introducing cells into a dielectrophoretic field-flow fractionation separator;
• discriminating the cells in the separator, the discriminating comprising balancing a dielectrophoretic force with a gravitational force to displace the cells to positions within a velocity profile in the separator;
• trapping at least a portion of the cells emerging from the separator with a multi-segment electrode array isolator coupled to the separator;
• manipulating the cells with a programmable fluidic processor coupled to the electrode array isolator.