US 12,076,719 B2
Microfluidic contactless DEP separation and assay system
Temple Douglas, Blacksburg, VA (US); Philip Melvin Graybill, Blacksburg, VA (US); and Rafael Davalos, Blacksburg, VA (US)
Assigned to Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
Appl. No. 16/980,362
Filed by Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc., Blacksburg, VA (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 12, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/021941
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 11, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/178163, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/641,447, filed on Mar. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0370292 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B03C 5/00 (2006.01); B03C 5/02 (2006.01); G01N 33/50 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [B01L 3/50273 (2013.01); B01L 3/502761 (2013.01); B03C 5/005 (2013.01); B03C 5/026 (2013.01); G01N 33/5008 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2300/069 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0829 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0883 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0424 (2013.01); B03C 2201/26 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic separation and assay system comprising:
a microfluidic contactless dielectrophoretic (cDEP) device, wherein the microfluidic cDEP device comprises:
a cDEP main chamber comprising a main channel layer and an electrode layer comprising electrode channels, wherein the main channel layer and the electrode layer are separated by a cDEP membrane, and wherein the main channel layer comprises a plurality of pillars;
a cell suspension inlet microchannel, wherein the cell suspension inlet microchannel is coupled to the main channel layer,
an electrode buffer inlet microchannel, wherein the electrode buffer inlet microchannel is coupled to the electrode channels;
a microfluidic concentrator, wherein the microfluidic concentrator is coupled to the microfluidic cDEP device, wherein the microfluidic concentrator comprises:
a concentrator main chamber comprising:
a first inlet configured to receive a fluid flow from the microfluidic cDEP device;
a second inlet configured to receive an uncured hydrogel;
a porous wall extending diagonally along a length of the concentrator main chamber and across a width of the concentrator main chamber, wherein the first inlet and the second inlet are on a first-side of the porous wall;
a first outlet and a second outlet, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are position on an end of the concentrator main chamber opposite the first inlet and the second inlet, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet are on opposite sides of the porous wall from each other, and wherein the first outlet is on the first side of the porous wall; and
an assay chamber, wherein the assay chamber is coupled to the microfluidic concentrator and wherein the assay chamber comprises:
a serpentine microchannel comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the serpentine microchannel is coupled to the first outlet of the concentrator main chamber via a microchannel;
a test microchannel, wherein the test microchannel is positioned relative to the serpentine microchannel such that a fluid flow through the test microchannel is perpendicular to a fluid flow through the serpentine microchannel; and
an assay chamber a porous membrane, wherein the assay chamber porous membrane is positioned between the serpentine microchannel and the test microchannel.