US 12,066,445 B2
System and method for cell levitation and monitoring
Utkan Demirci, Stanford, CA (US); Ionita Ghiran, Boston, MA (US); Savas Tasoglu, Storrs, CT (US); Ronald W. Davis, Palo Alto, CA (US); Lars Steinmetz, Palo Alto, CA (US); Naside Gozde Durmus, Palo Alto, CA (US); and Huseyin Cumhur Tekin, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to THE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, INC., Boston, MA (US); BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, Stanford, CA (US); and BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by THE BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, INC., Boston, MA (US); BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY, Stanford, CA (US); and BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER, Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Feb. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/169,765.
Application 17/169,765 is a continuation of application No. 15/121,646, granted, now 10,928,404, previously published as PCT/US2015/017705, filed on Feb. 26, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/072,040, filed on Oct. 29, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/944,707, filed on Feb. 26, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0373037 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. C12N 13/00 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B03C 1/32 (2006.01); C12Q 1/18 (2006.01); G01N 15/06 (2006.01); G01N 15/1031 (2024.01); G01N 27/76 (2006.01); G01N 33/487 (2006.01); G01N 33/49 (2006.01); G01N 33/574 (2006.01); G01N 33/80 (2006.01); G01N 15/00 (2006.01); G01N 15/10 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/80 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502761 (2013.01); B03C 1/32 (2013.01); C12N 13/00 (2013.01); C12Q 1/18 (2013.01); G01N 15/0656 (2013.01); G01N 15/1031 (2013.01); G01N 27/76 (2013.01); G01N 33/487 (2013.01); G01N 33/491 (2013.01); G01N 33/574 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0647 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0654 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0838 (2013.01); B01L 2300/168 (2013.01); B03C 2201/18 (2013.01); B03C 2201/26 (2013.01); G01N 2015/0053 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1006 (2013.01); G01N 2500/10 (2013.01); G01N 2800/042 (2013.01); G01N 2800/26 (2013.01); G01N 2800/52 (2013.01); G01N 2800/7042 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for separating a heterogeneous population of cells, the method comprising the steps of:
placing a channel containing a sample of the heterogeneous population of cells in a magnetically-responsive medium into a levitation system, wherein the system comprises
a set of two magnets producing a magnetic field, wherein a space between the two magnets is sized to receive the channel; and
a microscopy device having a stage between the set of two magnets on which the channel is placed; and
levitating the heterogeneous population of cells in the magnetically-responsive medium by balancing a magnetic force applied to each of the cells by the magnetic field of the magnets with a corrected gravitational force of the cells in the magnetically-responsive medium, thereby separating the heterogeneous population of cells;
separating the individual cells to an equilibrium exhibiting a balance between only gravitational forces and magnetic forces on the individual cell; and
obtaining an image of the heterogeneous population of cells using the microscopy device and analyzing the image to characterize the heterogeneous population of cells.