Method and apparatus for the processing and/or analysis and/or selection of particles, in particular, biological particles

摘要

Methods and apparatus are described for the processing (for example washing, incubation, etc.) of particles in which the particles suspended in a first fluid are introduced under laminar flow conditions into at least one first microchamber or first region of the same, in which a second fluid is introduced under laminar flow conditions into at least one second region of the microchamber or of a second microchamber, in such a way as not to mix with the first fluid, and in which at least one field of force acting on the particles is activated in the microchamber(s), to provoke a shift of the particles alone in a predetermined direction and to transfer the same in suspension into the second fluid; an apparatus is preferably used including at least three microchambers n microchambers arranged in sequence with each other in one direction and each connected with the microchamber immediately before it and after it with two orifices offset from each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sequence of the microchambers.

主权项

1. Apparatus for carrying out complex processing of particles, the apparatus comprising:
a first terminal microchamber and a second terminal microchamber, and at least one intermediate microchamber disposed between the first and second terminal microchambers, said microchambers being arranged in sequence with each other; wherein: each microchamber is comprises an array of selectively energizable electrodes delimiting a plane or floor of the microchamber, the microchambers are hydraulically connected to each other by at least one restriction or orifice, each microchamber includes an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice located at opposite ends of each microchamber, the inlet and outlet orifices of each microchamber are disposed in a direction perpendicular to that of the hydraulic connection between the microchambers, said at least one intermediate microchamber is connected to said terminal microchambers through a first and a second orifice of hydraulic communication in the direction of the sequence of microchambers, said first and second orifices being offset with each other in a transverse direction, which is perpendicular to the direction of arrangement in sequence of the microchambers, said first and second orifices being located one in the vicinity of the inlet orifice and the other in the vicinity of the outlet orifice of said at least one intermediate microchamber.