Method and apparatus for sorting particles

摘要

A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises a bubble valve for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.

主权项

1. A particle sorting system, comprising:
a duct for conveying a stream of particles, comprising an inlet, and a plurality of outlets including a first outlet and a second outlet, wherein the particles normally flow from the inlet into the first outlet; an actuator for selectively applying a pressure pulse to deflect a selected particle in the stream of particles into the second outlet when a predetermined characteristic is detected; and a buffer configured to fluidically co-operate with the actuator for absorbing or dampening the pressure pulse to allow other particles in the stream of particles to normally flow into the first outlet while the deflected particle flows into the second outlet.