Electrokinetic microfluidic flow cytometer apparatuses with differential resistive particle counting and optical sorting

摘要

The present invention provides electrokinetic microfluidic cytometers useful for detecting and/or sorting fluid-borne particles. In some embodiments, the electrokinetic microfluidic flow cytometer apparatus comprises a substrate having a microchannel formed therein, a particle-sensing gate that reduces the cross-sectional area of a portion of the microchannel, a pair of signal- and noise-detection electrodes, and a particle-detection circuit that is electrically connected to the signal- and noise-detection electrodes and is configured to generate a particle-detection signal responsive to differences in resistivity across the particle-sensing gate.

主权项

1. An electrokinetic microfluidic flow cytometer apparatus, comprising:
a substrate having defined therein an input port, an output port, and a microchannel that fluidly connects the input port and the output port to allow a particle-carrying fluid to flow therebetween; a particle-sensing gate that reduces the cross-sectional area of a portion of the microchannel; a pair of signal- and noise-detection electrodes, each mounted in or on a surface of the microchannel; and a particle-detection circuit electrically connected to the signal- and noise-detection electrodes, wherein one of the signal- and noise-detection electrodes is positioned upstream of the particle-sensing gate and the other is positioned downstream of the particle-sensing gate, and wherein the particle-detection circuit is configured to generate a particle-detection signal responsive to changes in resistivity across the particle-sensing gate as particles flow through the particle-sensing gate, while at least substantially canceling a common component of ambient electrical noise received by the signal- and noise-detection electrodes.