Inventors:
William Frank Butler - La Jolla CA, US
Haichuan Zhang - San Diego CA, US
Philippe Marchand - Poway CA, US
Keunho Ahn - La Jolla CA, US
Yi Zhang - San Diego CA, US
John Francis - San Diego CA, US
Benjamin Lai - San Diego CA, US
Eugene Tu - San Diego CA, US
International Classification:
C12M 1/36, C12M 1/34, F16K 11/074
US Classification:
4352865, 4352871, 422 81, 436 53, 13762512, 137595
Abstract:
Apparatus and Methods are provided for a microfabricated fluorescence activated cell sorter based on a switch for rapid, active control of cell routing through a microfluidic channel network. This sorter enables low-stress, highly efficient sorting of populations of small numbers of cells (i.e., 1000-100,000 cells). The invention includes packaging of the microfluidic channel network in a self-contained plastic cartridge that enables microfluidic channel network to macro-scale instrument interconnect, in a sterile, disposable format. Optical and/or fluidic switching forces are used alone or in combination to effect switching.