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 cartridge assembly for sorting individual particles on a particle-by-particle basis from a stream of particles, the particle processing cartridge assembly comprising:
a microfluidic chip having:
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; andat least one switch element operatively interfaced with the switching region and configured to selectively sort individual particles on a particle-by-particle basis from the stream of particles flowing within the microfluidic channel; and a cartridge having fluid contact surfaces including a sample chamber, a keep chamber and a waste chamber, wherein the sample chamber of the cartridge is in fluid communication with the sample input of the microfluidic channel, wherein the keep chamber of the cartridge is in fluid communication with the keep output of the microfluidic channel, wherein the waste chamber of the cartridge is in fluid communication with the waste output of the microfluidic channel; and wherein the at least one switch element is configured to operatively and removably interface with at least one actuator located external to the particle processing cartridge assembly and configured to actuate the at least one switch element to deflect a selected particle from the stream of particles, and wherein all the fluid contact surfaces of the particle processing cartridge assembly are enclosed and configured to be sealed against liquid transfer to an exterior environment during a sorting operation.