ACTUATION OF PARALLEL MICROFLUIDIC ARRAYS

摘要

An improved actuator for use in a microfluidic particle sorting system utilizes a staggered packing scheme for a plurality of actuators used to selectively deflect a particle in an associated sorting channel from a stream of channels. An actuator block may be provided for housing a two-dimensional array of actuators, each configured to align with an actuation port in an associated sorting chip containing a plurality of sorting channels. The actuator block may include a built-in stressing means to pre-stress each actuator housed by the block. An actuator comprising a piezo-electric stack may employ contact-based electrical connection rather than soldered wires to improve packing density. The actuator may be an external actuator. That is, the external actuator is external to the substrate in which the sorting channels are formed.

主权项

1. A particle processing assembly for sorting individual particles on a particle-by-particle basis from a stream of particles, the particle processing assembly comprising:
a microfluidic chip including at least one microsorter having fluid contact surfaces including a microfluidic channel having a sample input, a switching region, a keep output and a waste output, wherein the switching region is configured to be operatively and removably interfaced with at least one actuator external to the microfluidic chip, and wherein the switching region is configured to direct a pressure pulse across the microfluidic channel to deflect a selected particle from the stream of particles.