Particle manipulation system with cytometric capability

摘要

A MEMS-based particle manipulation system which uses a particle manipulation stage and a plurality of laser interrogation regions. The laser interrogation regions may be used to assess the effectiveness or accuracy of the particle manipulation stage. In one exemplary embodiment, the particle manipulation stage is a microfabricated, flap-type fluid valve, which sorts a target particle from non-target particles in a fluid stream. The laser interrogation stages are disposed in the microfabricated fluid channels at the input and output of the flap-type sorting valve. The laser interrogation regions may be used to assess the effectiveness or accuracy of the sorting, and to control or adjust sort parameters during the sorting process.

主权项

1. A method for sorting particles, comprising:
directing laser light into a first laser interrogation region in first portion of a microchannel formed in a substrate; manipulating at least one particle using a particle manipulation stage formed in the substrate; and directing laser light into at least one additional laser interrogation region formed in a second portion of a microchannel formed in the substrate, wherein the first portion of the microchannel is disposed upstream of the particle manipulation stage, and the second portion of the microchannel is disposed downstream of the particle manipulation stage, and the particle manipulation stage comprises a movable structure microfabricated on the substrate which includes the microfluidic channels, wherein the particle manipulation stage comprises a movable structure microfabricated on the substrate, and wherein the movable structure has a characteristic dimension smaller than about 500 microns.; and wherein the movable structure moves in response to a signal from the first laser interrogation region, thereby separating a target particle from a remainder of a sample stream.