Methods and devices for sorting cells and other biological particulates

An apparatus for sorting embryos by light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP), the apparatus comprising:

• (a) a fluidic chamber having a first surface and a second surface configured for retaining in the fluidic chamber a liquid containing a population of embryos;
• and
• (b) a photoconductive area on said first or said second surface configured for conversion of received light to a local electric field in the vicinity of the received light;
• (c) wherein embryos in the fluidic chamber are responsive to the electric field as a function of viability;
• (d) wherein a more negative response to the electric field indicates a more viable embryo in the population of embryos;
• and
• (e) an extraction port configured for manual extraction of a particle or cell from the fluidic chamber using a micropipette.

A method for sorting cells or particles by light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP), the method comprising:

• (a) providing a fluidic chamber, the fluidic chamber comprising:
• (i) a first surface and a second surface configured for retaining in the fluidic chamber a liquid containing a population of particles or cells to be sorted;
• (ii) a photoconductive area on said first or said second surface configured for conversion of received light to a local electric field in the vicinity of the received light;
• (iii) an extraction port configured for manual extraction of a particle or cell from the fluidic chamber using a micropipette;
• (iv) the extraction port comprising a beveled circular edge in the first surface, and a beveled circular edge in the second surface, the beveled circular edge in the second surface opposing the beveled circular edge in the first surface;
• (b) introducing into the fluidic chamber a sample liquid containing a population of particles or cells to be sorted;
• (c) exposing at least a portion of the photoconductive area to a source of light and inducing the local electric field;
• and
• (d) selecting a particle or cell for extraction as a function of response to the electric field;
• and
• (e) extracting the selected particle or cell through the extraction port.

A method for sorting embryos by light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP), the method comprising:

• (a) providing a fluidic chamber, the fluidic chamber comprising:
• (i) a first surface and a second surface configured for retaining in the fluidic chamber a liquid containing a population of embryos;
• (ii) a photoconductive area on said first or said second surface configured for conversion of received light to a local electric field in the vicinity of the received light;
• (iii) an extraction port configured for manual extraction of an embryo from the fluidic chamber using a micropipette;
• (iv) the extraction port comprising a beveled circular edge in the first surface, and a beveled circular edge in the second surface, the beveled circular edge in the second surface opposing the beveled circular edge in the first surface;
• (b) introducing into the fluidic chamber a sample liquid containing population of embryos;
• (c) exposing at least a portion of the photoconductive area to a source of light and inducing the local electric field;
• and
• (d) selecting an embryo for extraction as a function of response to the electric field;
• and
• (e) extracting the selected embryo through the extraction port.

A method for sorting embryos by light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP), the method comprising:

• (a) providing a fluidic chamber, the fluidic chamber comprising:
• (i) a first surface and a second surface configured for retaining in the fluidic chamber a liquid containing a population of embryos;
• (ii) a photoconductive area on said first or said second surface configured for conversion of received light to a local electric field in the vicinity of the received light;
• (iii) an extraction port configured for manual extraction of an embryo from the fluidic chamber using a micropipette;
• (iv) the extraction port comprising a beveled circular edge in the first surface, and a beveled circular edge in the second surface, the beveled circular edge in the second surface opposing the beveled circular edge in the first surface;
• (b) introducing into the fluidic chamber a sample liquid containing population of embryos;
• (c) exposing at least a portion of the photoconductive area to a source of light and inducing the local electric field;
• (d) selecting an embryo for extraction as a function of response to the electric field;
• (e) wherein embryos in the fluidic chamber are responsive to the electric field as a function of viability;
• and
• (f) wherein a more negative response to the electric field indicates a more viable embryo in the population of embryos;
• and
• (g) extracting the selected embryo through the extraction port.

A method for sorting cells or particles by light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP), the method comprising:

• (a) identifying traits of interest of a population of particles or cells in a sample;
• (b) exposing the sample to DEP;
• (c) measuring the response of the particles or cells to the DEP;
• (d) indexing the response measurements;
• (e) correlating the indexed response measurements with specific traits;
• (f) separating particles or cells with desired traits from a population of particles or cells based on the correlated response to DEP;
• and
• (g) isolating and extracting the separated particles or cells.

A method for sorting cells or particles by light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP), the method comprising:

• (a) identifying targeted characteristics of a population of particles or cells in a sample;
• (b) exposing the sample to a range of DEP field intensities;
• (c) measuring the response of the particles or cells to the range of DEP field intensities;
• (d) correlating the targeted characteristics with the DEP response measurements;
• and
• (e) extracting particles or cells with the targeted characteristics from the sample.

A method for sorting cells or particles by light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP), the method comprising:

• (a) identifying targeted characteristics of a population of particles or cells in a sample;
• (b) exposing the sample to a range of DEP field intensities;
• (c) measuring the response of the particles or cells to the range of DEP field intensities;
• (d) correlating optimum DEP responses of targets with optimum DEP field characteristics;
• (e) separating targets with traits of interest from a population of targets with optimum DEP field characteristics;
• and
• (f) extracting separated targets according to strength of target response to optimized DEP fields.

A process of sorting embryos in a liquid disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode on which is disposed a photoconductive layer, said process comprising:

• applying a biasing voltage between said first electrode and said second electrode;
• activating virtual electrodes at a surface of said photoconductive layer by directing light onto said surface;
• and
• sorting viable ones of said embryos in said liquid by maturity based on different responses of said embryos to dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces created by said virtual electrodes.

A process of sorting sperm or eggs in a liquid disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode on which is disposed a photoconductive layer, said process comprising:

• applying a biasing voltage between said first electrode and said second electrode;
• activating virtual electrodes at a surface of said photoconductive layer by directing light onto said surface;
• and
• sorting viable ones of said sperm or eggs into categories based on a magnitude of responses of said sperm or eggs to dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces created by said virtual electrodes.