519 results about "Dielectrophoresis" patented technology

An optical image-driven light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus and method are described which provide for the manipulation of particles or cells with a diameter on the order of 100 μm or less. The apparatus is referred to as optoelectric tweezers (OET) and provides a number of advantages over conventional optical tweezers, in particular the ability to perform operations in parallel and over a large area without damage to living cells. The OET device generally comprises a planar liquid-filled structure having one or more portions which are photoconductive to convert incoming light to a change in the electric field pattern. The light patterns are dynamically generated to provide a number of manipulation structures that can manipulate single particles and cells or groups of particles / cells. The OET preferably includes a microscopic imaging means to provide feedback for the optical manipulation, such as detecting position and characteristics wherein the light patterns are modulated accordingly.

An apparatus and method for establishing closed dielectrophoretic potential cages and precise displacement thereof comprising a first array of selectively addressable electrodes, lying on a substantially planar substrate and facing toward a second array comprising one electrode. The arrays define the upper and lower bounds of a micro-chamber where particles are placed in liquid suspension. By applying in-phase and counter-phase periodic signals to electrodes, one or more independent potential cages are established which cause particles to be attracted to or repelled from cages according to signal frequency and the dielectric characteristics of the particles and suspending medium. By properly applying voltage signal patterns into arrays, cages may trap one or more particles, thus permitting them to levitate steadily and / or move. In the preferred embodiment, where one array is integrated on a semiconductor substrate, displacement of particles can be monitored by embedded sensors.

The invention features devices and methods for enriching a sample in one or more desired particles. An exemplary use of these devices and methods is for the enrichment of cells, e.g., white blood cells in a blood sample. In general, the methods of the invention employ a device that contains at least one sieve through which particles of a given size, shape, or deformability can pass. Devices of the invention have at least two outlets, and the sieve is placed such that a continuous flow of fluid can pass through the device without passing through the sieve. The devices also include a force generator for directing selected particles through the sieve. Such force generators employ, for example, diffusion, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, centrifugal force, or pressure-driven flow.

The invention provides a device and method for the manipulation of materials (e.g., particles, cells, macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids or other moieties) in a fluid sample. The device comprises a substrate having a plurality of microstructures and an insulator film on the structures. Application of a voltage to the structures induces separation of materials in the sample. The device and method are useful for a wide variety of applications such as dielectrophoresis (DEP) or the separation of a target material from other material in a fluid sample.

An optical image-driven light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus and method are described which provide for the manipulation of particles or cells with a diameter on the order of 100 μm or less. The apparatus is referred to as optoelectric tweezers (OET) and provides a number of advantages over conventional optical tweezers, in particular the ability to perform operations in parallel and over a large area without damage to living cells. The OET device generally comprises a planar liquid-filled structure having one or more portions which are photoconductive to convert incoming light to a change in the electric field pattern. The light patterns are dynamically generated to provide a number of manipulation structures that can manipulate single particles and cells or groups of particles / cells. The OET preferably includes a microscopic imaging means to provide feedback for the optical manipulation, such as detecting position and characteristics wherein the light patterns are modulated accordingly.

A method of transferring mass of at least one solute between a liquid first phase and a fluid second phase that is immiscible with the first phase, the method comprising moving at least one droplet of said liquid first phase in a microfluidic device by using electric-type forces (electrowetting or dielectrophoresis) within a space that is filled with said fluid second phase. Said droplet is preferably moved by said electric-type forces along a path between a point for injecting said droplet into said microfluidic device, and an extraction and / or analysis zone, said path being defined in such a manner that said droplet sweeps through a significant fraction of said space filled with said fluid second phase. The method may include a step of transferring said droplet using said electric-type forces to a chemical analysis device integrated in said microfluidic device, and a step of chemically analyzing said droplet. The invention also provides a device for implementing such a method.

The present invention provides a device and methods of use thereof in microscale cell sorting. This invention provides sorting cytometers, which trap individual cells within vessels following exposure to dielectrophoresis, allow for the assaying of trapped cells, such that a population is identified whose isolation is desired, and their isolation.

Devices and methods for performing dielectrophoresis are described. The devices contain a sample channel which is separated by physical barriers from electrode channels which receive electrodes. The devices and methods may be used for the separation and analysis of particles in solution, including the separation and isolation of cells of a specific type. As the electrodes do not make contact with the sample, electrode fouling is avoided and sample integrity is better maintained.

An optical pattern-driven light induced dielectrophoresis (DEP) apparatus and separation methods are described which provide for the manipulation of particles or cells and selection based on traits correlated with the DEP response. Embodiments of the apparatus use DEP electric field patterns in combination with microfluidic laminar flows to measure response, separate, segregate and extract particles from heterogeneous mixtures according to the relative response of the particles to one or more DEP fields without damaging living cells. The methods are particularly suited for selecting and extracting the best sperm and embryo candidates based on fitness for use with existing artificial reproduction procedures and excluding defective or non-viable gametes.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatus, methods, and applications involving the actuation of a semi-insulative working fluid by electromechanical forces based on electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) and liquid dielectrophoresis (liquid DEP) mechanisms that are controlled by the frequency, but not the magnitude, of an AC voltage (i.e., ‘frequency-addressable). In the various apparatus embodiments of the invention, a single, frequency-addressable electrode pair includes at least one electrode that has a spatially-varying dielectric coating thickness and thus a spatially-varying electrode gap wherein at least a portion of which a volume of a working fluid can stably reside under no influence of an applied voltage. In an exemplary aspect, a frequency-addressable, bistable apparatus includes at least one wider gap and one narrower gap associated, respectively, with a thicker and a thinner dielectric coating thickness of the electrode(s). The working fluid resides in only one of the at least two gap regions only under the influence of capillary force. A brief burst of AC voltage at a selected high frequency or low frequency will move the liquid from one gap region to another (and back) by one of an EWOD-based and a DEP-based force. In an alternative aspect, an analog apparatus has a continuous, spatially-varying electrode gap in which the dielectric coating thickness on the electrodes varies smoothly in an inverse manner. Various applications to a display device, fiber optic coupler and attenuator, controlled liquid volume dispensers, spotting arrays, well plate apparatus, and others are presented, along with control methods.

Devices utilize elements carried by a fluid in a microchannel toswitch, attenuate, shutter, filter, or phase shift optical signals. In certain embodiments, a microchannel carries a gaseous or liquid slug that interacts with at least a portion of the optical power of an optical signal traveling through a waveguide. The microchannel may form part of the cladding of the waveguide, part of the core and the cladding, or part of the core only. The microchannel may also have ends or may be configured as a loop or continuous channel. The fluid devices may be self-latching or may be semi-latching. The fluid in the microchannel is moved using e.g., e.g., electrocapillarity, differential-pressure electrocapillarity, electrowetting, continuous electrowetting, electrophoresis, electroosmosis, dielectrophoresis, electro-hydrodynamic electrohydrodynamic pumping, magneto-hydrodynamic magnetohydrodynamic pumping, thermocapillarity, thermal expansion, dielectric pumping, and / or variable dielectric pumping.

Devices and methods for performing dielectrophoresis are described. The devices contain sample channel which is separated by physical barriers from electrode channels which receive electrodes. The devices and methods may be used for the separation and analysis of particles in solution, including the separation and isolation of cells of a specific type. As the electrodes do not make contact with the sample, electrode fouling is avoided and sample integrity is better maintained.

Method and apparatus for dielectrophoretic separation of particles in a fluid based using array of insulating structures arranged in a fluid flow channel. By utilizing an array of insulating structures, a spatially inhomogeneous electric field is created without the use of the embedded electrodes conventionally employed for dielectrophoretic separations. Moreover, by using these insulating structures a steady applied electric field has been shown to provide for dielectrophoresis in contrast to the conventional use of an alternating electric field. In a uniform array of posts, dielectrophoretic effects have been produced flows having significant pressure-driven and electrokinetic transport. Above a threshold applied electric field, filaments of concentrated and rarefied particles appear in the flow as a result of dielectrophoresis. Above a higher threshold applied voltage, dielectrophoresis produces zones of highly concentrated and immobilized particles. These patterns are strongly influenced by the angle of the array of insulating structures with respect to the mean applied electric field and the shape of the insulating structures.

The invention relates to a dielectrophoresis automobile exhaust dust remover which comprises an air inlet cylinder, an air outlet cylinder, a front-end three-way catalytic converter and a rear-end three-way catalytic converter. The front-end three-way catalytic converter and the rear-end three-way catalytic converter are fixedly arranged in the air inlet cylinder and the air outlet cylinder respectively in a coaxial mode, a processing cylinder is fixedly installed between the air inlet cylinder and the air outlet cylinder in a coaxial and communicated mode, ceramic flange plates are fixedly installed at the two sides inside the processing cylinder in mirror symmetry in a coaxial mode respectively, electrode couples are fixedly distributed between the two ceramic flange plates in the radial direction at intervals, the electrode couple between the lower portion of the processing cylinder and the two ceramic flange plates is fixedly provided with a dust collecting box in a communicated mode, a gap is formed between one ceramic flange plate and the air inlet cylinder arranged at one side, and a gap is formed between the other ceramic flange plate and the air outlet cylinder at the other side. According to the dielectrophoresis automobile exhaust dust remover, the dielectrophoresis technology is adopted and due to the fact that the dielectric polarization capacity of solid particles, the dielectric polarization capacity of heavy metal and the dielectric polarization capacity of suspended gas are different, the solid particles and the heavy metal are pushed out of an electrode or the solid particles are attracted to the electrode through the dielectrophoresis force, so that the content of the solid particles and the content of the heavy metal in automobile exhaust are reduced, and therefore pollution to the atmosphere by the solid particles and the heavy metal is reduced.

The invention integrates a two-stage dielectrophoretic (DEP) droplet dispensing and distribution system with particulate DEP to create a novel LOC platform capable of manipulating biological cells based on the varied dielectrophoretic signatures that distinguish cells in a population, for example, healthy from diseased cells. The two-stage DEP droplet transport system acts as the backbone of this application, providing the essential dispensing and distribution function, while particulate DEP provides the critical capability to characterize and analyze the heterogeneous biological cell populations routinely encountered in biotechnology and clinical settings.

This invention relates to devices and methods for performing active, multi-step molecular and biological sample preparation and diagnostic analyses employing immunochemical techniques. It relates generally to bioparticle separation, bioparticle enrichment, and electric field-mediated immunochemical detection on active electronic matrix devices utilizing AC and DC electric fields. More specifically, the invention relates to devices and methods for sample preparation / manipulation, immunoimmobilization, and immunoassays, all of which can be conducted on one or more active electronic chip devices within a single system. These manipulations are useful in a variety of applications, including, for example, detection of pathogenic bacteria and biological warfare agents, point-of-care diagnostics, food or medical product quality control assays, and other biological assays.

This method for disposing fine objects, in a substrate preparing step, prepares a substrate having specified positions where fine objects (120) are to be disposed in an area where a first electrode (111) and a second electrode (112) face each other, and in a fluid introducing step, a fluid (121) is introduced on the substrate (110). The fluid (121) contains a plurality of the fine objects (120). The fine objects (120) are diode elements, each of which has, as an alignment structure, a front side layer (130) composed of a dielectric material, and a rear side layer (131) composed of a semiconductor. In the fine object disposing step, by applying an AC voltage to between the first electrode (111) and the second electrode (112), the fine objects (120) are disposed by dielectrophoresis with the front side layer (130) facing up at the predetermined positions in the area (A) where the first electrode (111) and the second electrode (112) face each other.

The invention comprises: a photoinduction dielectrophoresis chip, machine vision unit, a vision servo unit and a virtual electrode writing unit. Said photoinduction dielectrophoresis chip is located on a supporting unit and is used for placing the simple cell suspension; said photoinduction dielectrophoresis chip is a three layer hamburger structure; said three layer structure comprises a conducting glass layer, a micro channel layer and a photoinduction chip; on the conducting glass, respectively setting an inlet and an outlet.

The invention discloses a combined splint microelectrode type micro-fluidic dielectrophoresis cell separation and enrichment chip and relates to a micro-fluidic chip which is applied in cell sample separation and enrichment, a dielectrophoresis (DEP ) splint combined type electrode is obtained through depositing gold film on the surface of glass, and the electrode can be connected with a corresponding external connected low pressure high frequency ac circuit to realize DEP separation and enrichment process control. The combined splint microelectrode which is provided by the invention designs that the functions of on-line separation and on-line enrichment of sample such as cells and the like are effectively integrated on a chip, which realizes organic combination between the micro-fluidic chip technique and the microelectrode principles, and the chip can be applied and can realize the separation and the enrichment of various cells and bacterium.

A well, in particular an open well (14) with an upper end having a vertical axis (101), for containing a liquid and particles contained within said liquid, characterized by comprising at least two manipulation electrodes (1, 2, 3, 31, 32, 36, 17, 40, 41) able to be powered by electrical voltages, in particular alternating electrical voltages, so as to manoeuvre particles within the well by means of the dielectrophoretic effect. A platform comprising a plurality of wells as described above and a method for using said well.

An apparatus separating a polarizable analyte using dielectrophoresis includes a vessel including a membrane having a plurality of nano- to micro-sized pores, the membrane disposed inside the vessel, electrodes generating spatially non-uniform electric fields in the nano- to micro-sized pores of the membrane when an AC voltage is applied to the electrodes, and a power source applying the AC voltage to the electrodes, wherein a sectional area of the pores varies along a depth of the pores. A method of separating a polarizable material uses the apparatus.

Nanoelements such as single walled carbon nanotubes are assembled in three dimensions into a nanoscale template on a substrate by means of electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis at ambient temperature. The current-voltage relation indicates that strong substrate-nanotube interconnects carrying mA currents are established inside the template pores. The method is suitable for large-scale, rapid, three-dimensional assembly of 1,000,000 nanotubes per square centimeter area using mild conditions. Circuit interconnects made by the method can be used for nanoscale electronics applications.

The invention discloses a dielectrophoresis demulsification mechanism-based novel crude oil electric dehydration and desalination method and dielectrophoresis demulsification mechanism-based novel crude oil electric dehydration and desalination equipment. The core part of the equipment is an electrode component which may consist of vertically suspended corrugated-plate-shaped electrodes installed with the wave crests and wave troughs of each two adjacent electrodes corresponding one by one respectively, or may consist of corrugated-plate-shaped electrodes and flat-plate-shaped electrodes, which are combined alternately and arranged vertically, wherein the surface of each electrode is coated with a compact insulation layer. When a high-voltage current is applied onto the electrode component, horizontal and non-uniform electric fields are generated between electrode plates to arouse the dielectrophoresis agglomeration of dispersed phase water particles in crude oil emulsion. The method and the equipment disclosed by the invention can meet the dehydration and desalination requirements of crude oil emulsions with different water content, particularly the agglomeration growth and fine dehydration and desalination requirements of dispersed phase small water particles in crude oil emulsion of oil refineries. In addition, the method and the equipment help greatly reduce the use amount of chemical demulsification agent, reduce overall operation cost and improve economic benefit of the oil refineries.

Devices and methods for performing dielectrophoresis are described. The devices contain sample channel which is separated by physical barriers from electrode channels which receive electrodes. The devices and methods may be used for the separation and analysis of particles in solution, including the separation and isolation of cells of a specific type. As the electrodes do not make contact with the sample, electrode fouling is avoided and sample integrity is better maintained.

A microfluidic device includes a plurality of array elements configured to manipulate one or more droplets of fluid on an array, each of the array elements including a top substrate electrode and a drive electrode between which the one or more droplets may be positioned, the top substrate electrode being formed on a top substrate, and the drive electrode being formed on a lower substrate; and active matrix drive circuitry arranged to provide drive signals to the top substrate and drive electrodes of the plurality of array elements to manipulate the one or more droplets among the plurality of array elements. With respect to one or more of the array elements the active matrix drive circuitry is configured to provide the drive signals to the top substrate and drive electrodes to selectively manipulate the one or more droplets within the array element both by Electro-wetting-on-Dielectric (EWOD) and by Dielectrophoresis (DEP).

A microfluidic dielecttrophoresis separating device is provided. The microfluidic dielectrophoresis separating device includes a primary passage, at least a secondary passage and at least an electrode assembly. The primary passage has a primary flow containing a plurality of particulates flowing therein. The secondary passage has an input path and an output path and is connected with the primary passage. The electrode assembly generates a dielectrophoresis force to drive a specific one of the particulates into the output path.

The present invention comprises devices and methods for performing channel-less separation of cell particles by dielectrophoresis, DC high voltage-pulsed electronic lysis of separated cells, separation of desired components from crude mixtures such as cell lysates, and / or enzymatic reaction of such lysates, all of which can be conducted on a single bioelectronic chip. A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a cartridge (10) including a microfabricated silicon chip (12) on a printed circuit board (14) and a flow cell (16) mounted to the chip (12) to form a flow chamber. The cartridge (10) also includes output pins (22) for electronically connecting the cartridge (10) to an electronic controller. The chip (12) % includes a plurality of circular microelectrodes (24) which are preferably coated with a protective permeation layer. Specific cells from various cell mixtures were separated, lysed, and enzymatically digested on the chip.

Microtechnologically prepared component as a flow cytometer. The component contains a preparation area to specifically influence and separate the particles, preferably by dielectrophoresis, a measuring channel area for characterizing the particles, and a sorting area for sorting the particles identified in the measuring channel area by dielectrophoresis. The sorting includes switching elements which permit active guidance of the particles into two or more subchannels corresponding to the criteria which have been registered in the measuring channel area. With a component configured in this way for the use of a flow cytometer, quick and precise sorting of particles, in particular biological cells in a suspension, can be implemented.

Disclosed herein are methods and devices for applying two or more mobilization fields in a microchannel using a multifunctional structure and manipulating particles and fluids based on more than one characteristic. Specifically, a fluidic channel comprising at least one metal structure having a coat comprising a conductive material, an insulative material, a semi-conductive material, or a combination thereof, is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for manipulating or assaying a particle in a sample which comprises subjecting the sample to a fluidic channel comprising at least one metal structure having a coat comprising a conductive material, an insulative material, a semi-conductive material, or a combination thereof and inducing at least one mobilization field such as a magnetic field, an electroosmotic field, an insulative dielectrophoresis (iDEP) field, which iDEP field may be an iDEP trapping field or an iDEP streaming field, or a combination thereof.

A hybridization detecting unit which includes a reaction region in which hybridization takes place, a plurality of sites (e.g., the surface of electrodes) arranged in the reaction region to which is fixed a nucleic acid for detection, and means for sequentially moving by dielectrophoresis the target nucleic acid introduced into the reaction region according to the order of arrangement of the sites to which is fixed a nucleic acid for detection. A sensor chip provided with the hybridization detecting unit. The detecting unit compulsorily moves the target nucleic acid into the region where a probe nucleic acid for detection exists, thereby increasing the probability of hybridization taking place.