US 12,233,418 B2
Cell capture in microfluidic devices
Özden Baltekin, Uppsala (SE); Ove Öhman, Uppsala (SE); Martin Lovmar, Mölndal (SE); Johan Elf, Uppsala (SE); and Mikael Olsson, Uppsala (SE)
Assigned to ASTREGO DIAGNOSTICS AB, Uppsala (SE)
Appl. No. 16/969,891
Filed by ASTREGO DIAGNOSTICS AB, Uppsala (SE)
PCT Filed Feb. 15, 2019, PCT No. PCT/SE2019/050135
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 13, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/160492, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 22, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1850169-2 (SE), filed on Feb. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0008554 A1, Jan. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01D 61/18 (2006.01); B01D 63/00 (2006.01); G01N 33/50 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502761 (2013.01) [B01D 61/18 (2013.01); B01D 63/005 (2013.01); B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502746 (2013.01); G01N 33/5008 (2013.01); B01L 2200/027 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0652 (2013.01); B01L 2200/10 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0627 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0681 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0861 (2013.01); B01L 2400/082 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of capturing target cells from a biological sample, said method comprising:
providing an upstream microfluidic device comprising:
a substrate having first cell channels adapted to accommodate said target cells;
a first flow input channel having a first end and a second end; and
a first flow output channel in fluid connection with a first output fluid port, wherein a respective first end of said first cell channels is in fluid connection with said first flow input channel, a respective second end of said first cell channels is in fluid connection with said first flow output channel, and said first cell channels comprise a respective obstruction designed to prevent said target cells from passing said respective obstruction and into said first flow output channel;
inducing a flow of a biological sample comprising said target cells in a flow channel of the upstream microfluidic device between a first end and a second end of said flow channel,
monitoring said first cell channels to detect a presence of target cells captured in said cell channels;
when at least a minimum number of target cells are captured in said first cell channels:
reducing said flow of said biological sample in said flow channel; and
applying a fluid medium at said first output fluid port of said upstream microfluidic device to release said target cells captured in said first cell channels of said upstream microfluidic device and to enable transfer of said target cells into second cell channels of a downstream microfluidic device, said downstream microfluidic device comprising:
a substrate having said second cell channels adapted to accommodate said target cells;
a second flow input channel having a first end and a second end, wherein the second flow input channel is in fluid commination with the released target cells; and
a second flow output channel in fluid connection with a second output fluid port, wherein a respective first end of said second cell channels is in fluid connection with said second flow input channel, a respective second end of said second cell channels is in fluid connection with said second flow output channel, and said second cell channels comprise a respective obstruction designed to prevent said target cells from passing said respective obstruction and into said second flow output channel.