Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.

Leland Stanford Junior University

Cella Genomics Inc.

Bahram Fathollahi

Rajiv Bharadwaj

Andrea W Chow

Javier Anibal Farinas

Stephane Mouradian

William Whalen

Daniel G Stearns

Described here is a device comprising a microfluidic chip and an acoustic transducer external to the microfluidic chip, wherein the microfluidic chip comprises a channel in communication with a microwell having a volume less than one microliter, and wherein the acoustic transducer is coupled to the microfluidic chip via a coupling medium. Also described here is a method for analyzing a cell or a biomolecule, comprising applying a focused acoustic beam to a microfluidic chip comprising a channel in fluid communication with a microwell having a volume less than one microliter, wherein the microwell comprises an aqueous compartment comprising a cell or a biomolecule, wherein the channel comprises a non-aqueous liquid phase immiscible with the aqueous compartment which encapsulates the aqueous compartment in the microwell, and wherein the acoustic beam displaces a meniscus at an interface of the aqueous compartment and the non-aqueous liquid phase thereby ejecting the aqueous compartment from the microwell into the channel as an aqueous droplet.

Devices and methods for high-throughput single cell and biomolecule analysis and retrieval in a microfluidic chip

The invention provides a method and apparatus for isolating individual target cells. The apparatus includes a body structure comprising a main channel, a collection channel, and a waste channel fluidly coupled at a first fluid junction. A plurality of trapping channels intersect the collection channel, each trapping channel having a diameter at a location adjacent to the intersection of the trapping channel with the collection channel that is less than a diameter of an individual target cell. The apparatus also includes an imaging system configured to image individual target and non-target cells within the main channel, thereby producing imaging data; a processor configured to perform real-time, multivariate analyses of the imaging data; and a directing system configured to direct the individual target cells. A pressure source is in fluid communication with one or more of the collection channel, the waste channel, the first side channel, and the second side channel.

High-throughput single-cell imaging, sorting, and isolation

The invention provides methods and apparatuses that allow a protein sample to undergo reduction, alkylation, and digestion in a continuous flow process carried out within a microfluidic device. Methods and apparatuses in accordance with the invention can be employed as part of an automated proteomics analysis carried out in an integrated proteomics system.

Method and apparatus for performing peptide digestion on a microfluidic device

The invention provides a method and apparatus for isolating individual target cells. The apparatus includes a body structure comprising a main channel, a collection channel, and a waste channel fluidly coupled at a first fluid junction. A plurality of trapping channels intersect the collection channel, each trapping channel having a diameter at a location adjacent to the intersection of the trapping channel with the collection channel that is less than a diameter of an individual target cell. The apparatus also includes an imaging system configured to image individual target and non-target cells within the main channel, thereby producing imaging data; a processor configured to perform real-time, multivariate analyzes of the imaging data; and a directing system configured to direct the individual target cells. A pressure source is in fluid communication with one or more of the collection channel, the waste channel, the first side channel, and the second side channel.

Growing community of inventors

Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Bahram Fathollahi