US 12,377,414 B2
Microfluidic device and method for detecting an infected cell in a fluid sample
Bee Luan Khoo, Kowloon (HK); Song Lin Chua, Kowloon (HK); and Junchen Liao, Kowloon (HK)
Assigned to City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon (HK); and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon (HK)
Filed by City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon (HK); and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon (HK)
Filed on Feb. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/674,087.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/150,716, filed on Feb. 18, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0258160 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 1/30 (2006.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502753 (2013.01); G01N 1/30 (2013.01); G01N 21/6428 (2013.01); G01N 21/6458 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0864 (2013.01); B01L 2300/088 (2013.01); G01N 2021/6439 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for detecting an immune cell comprising an internalized microbe in a fluid sample comprising the steps of:
A. providing a microfluidic device comprising:
i. an inlet to receive a fluid sample with an immune cell with an internalized microbe and an immune cell without an internalized microbe;
ii. a curvilinear microchannel in fluid communication with the inlet, the curvilinear microchannel is configured in a loop concentrically surrounding the inlet, wherein at least a curve portion of the loop has a rectangular cross-section along a substantial portion of the length of the curved portion enabling the detection of the immune cell with an internalized microbe from the immune cell without an internalized microbe in the fluid sample through their differences in cell deformability, wherein the microchannel has an inner wall; and
iii. a plurality of outlets in fluid connection with the curvilinear microchannel, wherein at least two of the outlets closest to the inner wall of the microchannel receive the immune cell with an internalized microbe; each of the outlets receive the immune cell without an internalized microbe,
wherein the plurality of outlets is from about 2 outlets to about 20 outlets;
B. introducing the fluid sample into the inlet at a predetermined flow rate of from about 1.3 ml/min to about 2.1 ml/min; or from about 1.5 ml/min to about 1.9 ml/min; or about 1.7 ml/min;
C. individually collecting the output from the plurality of outlets; and
D. quantifying a proportion of the immune cells with an internalized microbe in each of the outputs, thereby enabling determination of infection stage of the fluid sample;
wherein the quantifying step comprises an optical imaging step.