Three dimensional microelectrode system for dielectrophoresis

A dielectrophoresis apparatus for separating particles from a fluid sample containing the particles by directing the particles into a recovery fluid, comprising:

• an apparatus body made of glass, silicon, or plastic material;
• a dielectrophoresis channel in said apparatus body, said dielectrophoresis channel having
• a central axis,
• a bottom,
• a top above said bottom,
• a first side, and
• a second side;
• a recovery fluid channel connected to said dielectrophoresis channel that directs the recovery fluid into said dielectrophoresis channel, along said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel, and out of said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a sample fluid channel connected to said dielectrophoresis channel that directs the sample fluid into said dielectrophoresis channel adjacent the recovery fluid and along said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a first mesa projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel from said bottom and extending from said first side across said dielectrophoresis channel to said second side, said first mesa made of said glass, silicon, or plastic material that said apparatus body is made of and providing a ridge projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel from said bottom and extending perpendicular to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel but at an angle to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a first electrode extending along said first mesa;
• a second mesa projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel from said bottom and extending from said first side across said dielectrophoresis channel to said second side, said second mesa made of said glass, silicon, or plastic material that said apparatus body is made of and providing a ridge projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel from said bottom and extending perpendicular to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel but at an angle to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a second electrode extending along said second mesa;
• said second mesa located parallel to said first mesa and said second mesa located offset from said first mesa along said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel;
• and
• a gap between said first electrode and said second electrode;
• wherein the sample fluid containing the particles is directed through said first space and said second space and the particles are drawn from the sample fluid into the recovery fluid.

A dielectrophoresis apparatus for separating particles from a sample fluid containing the particles by directing the particles into a recovery fluid, comprising:

• an apparatus body made of glass, silicon, or plastic material;
• a dielectrophoresis channel in said apparatus body, said dielectrophoresis channel having
• a channel central axis,
• a channel height, and
• a channel width;
• a recovery fluid channel connected to said dielectrophoresis channel that directs the recovery fluid into said dielectrophoresis channel, along said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel, and out of said dielectrophoresis channel, wherein the recovery fluid flows through said recovery fluid channel and said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a sample fluid channel connected to said dielectrophoresis channel that directs the sample fluid into said dielectrophoresis channel adjacent the recovery fluid and along said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel, wherein the fluid sample flows through said sample fluid channel and said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a first mesa projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel, said first mesa made of said glass, silicon, or plastic material that said apparatus body is made of and providing a ridge projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel from said bottom and being less than said channel height producing a first mesa space, said first mesa extending perpendicular to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel but at an angle to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a first electrode extending along said first mesa;
• a second mesa projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel, said second mesa made of said glass, silicon, or plastic material that said apparatus body is made of and providing a ridge projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel from said bottom and being less than said channel height producing a second mesa space;
• a second electrode extending along said second mesa, said second mesa extending perpendicular to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel but at an angle to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel;
• and
• a gap between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein the sample fluid containing the particles is directed through said first mesa space and said second mesa space and the particles are drawn from the sample fluid into the recovery fluid;
• said second mesa located parallel to said first mesa and said second mesa.

A dielectrophoresis apparatus for separating particles from a sample fluid containing the particles by directing the particles into a recovery fluid, comprising:

• an apparatus body made of glass, silicon, or plastic material;
• a dielectrophoresis channel in said apparatus body, said dielectrophoresis channel having
• a channel central axis,
• a channel height, and
• a channel width;
• a recovery fluid channel connected to said dielectrophoresis channel that directs the recover fluid into said dielectrophoresis channel, along said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel, and out of said dielectrophoresis channel, wherein the recovery fluid flows through said recovery fluid channel and said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a sample fluid channel connected to said dielectrophoresis channel that directs the sample fluid into said dielectrophoresis channel adjacent the recovery fluid and along said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel, wherein the fluid sample flows through said sample fluid channel and said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a first mesa projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel, said first mesa made of said glass, silicon, or plastic material that said apparatus body is made of and providing a ridge projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel from said bottom and being less than said channel height producing a first mesa space, said first mesa extending perpendicular to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel but at an angle to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel;
• a first electrode extending along said first mesa;
• a second mesa projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel, said second mesa made of said glass, silicon, or plastic material that said apparatus body is made of and providing a ridge projecting into said dielectrophoresis channel from said bottom and being less than said channel height producing a second mesa space;
• and
• a second electrode extending along said second mesa, said second mesa extending perpendicular to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel but at an angle to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel;
• wherein said first mesa extends at a first angle to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel, wherein said second mesa extends at a second angle to said central axis of said dielectrophoresis channel, and wherein said first angle and said second angle are different angles.