Biochip for high-throughput screening of circulating tumor cells

摘要

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to the use of effusive filtration to segregate tumor cells from a sample of bodily fluid. In one embodiment, fluid containing a cell is flowed down a channel having a filtration medium present along at least one side wall. The tumor cell is captured when the fluid passes through the filtration medium. Accumulated pressure on the captured tumor cell is reduced by allowing the fluid that has passed through the filtration medium to re-enter the channel. In a particular embodiment, the filtration medium may comprise side wall apertures having a width smaller than that of the cell, with downstream apertures allowing re-entry of the fluid into the channel.

主权项

1. An apparatus for filtering a liquid, the apparatus comprising:
walls enclosing a flow channel; and a filtration medium disposed on at least one wall and across the cross-sectional area of the flow channel, the filtration medium comprising a plurality of apertures, such that all liquid passing through the flow channel must cross through an aperture of the filtration medium at least once in order to exit the flow channel, and wherein an area spanned by the filtration medium is at least 100 times greater than a cross-sectional area of the flow channel.