US 12,135,201 B2
System and method to detect, enumerate and characterize circulating tumor cells
Jian Sheng, Corpus Christi, TX (US); and Maryam Jalali-Mousavi, Woodbury, MN (US)
Assigned to The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX (US)
Filed by The Texas A&M University System, College Station, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/714,545.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/171,173, filed on Apr. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0316864 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G01B 11/16 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01B 11/16 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0663 (2013.01); B01L 2300/168 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of performing circulating tumor cell (CTC) analysis, the method comprising:
flowing a sample through a CTC microfluidic platform, wherein the flowing comprising passing the sample through at least one channel of the CTC microfluidic platform having a constricted section, wherein the CTC microfluidic platform comprises: an inlet and an outlet formed on the at least one channel; a nanostrain sensor between the inlet and the outlet and operable to contact the sample flowing through the at least one channel, the nanostrain sensor comprising: a first layer; a metallic layer; a second layer; and a substrate; and a reflective digital holographic microscopic interferometry (DHMI) system;
deforming a CTC within the sample;
measuring CTC deformation through an imprint of the deformed CTC;
processing data related to the measuring; and
at least one of identifying or characterizing parameters related to the data that enables at least one of detection of CTCs, enumeration of CTCs in the sample, characterization of biophysical properties, CTC cell size, CTC cell membrane deformability, stresses on CTC cell membranes, adhesion stress on CTC cells, normal stress of CTC cells, or combinations thereof.