The General Hospital Corporation

Princeton University

Gpb Scientific, LLC

Cytovera Inc.

Lotien Richard Huang

Mehmet Toner

Ravi Kapur

James Christopher Sturm

Paul J Vernucci

Bruce L Carvalho

Zihua Wang

Robert H Austin

Thomas Alan Barber

Thomas A Barber

The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.

Devices and method for enrichment and alteration of cells and other particles

Embodiments of the present disclosure feature a filtration system comprising a filtration module for particle filtration and methods of using the device for the isolation of particles (e.g., viable cells). Advantageously, embodiments of the device provide for the high throughput filtration of large volumes of sample while preserving cell viability and providing high yields.

System and method for particle filtration

The present invention relates to methods and devices for separating particles according to size. More specifically, the present invention relates to a microfluidic method and device for the separation of particles according to size using an array comprising a network of gaps, wherein the field flux from each gap divides unequally into subsequent gaps. In one embodiment, the array comprises an ordered array of obstacles in a microfluidic channel, in which the obstacle array is asymmetric with respect to the direction of an applied field.

Method for continuous particle separation using obstacle arrays asymmetrically aligned to fields

Embodiments of the present disclosure feature a filtration system comprising a filtration module for particle filtration and methods of using the device for the isolation of particles (e.g., viable cells). Advantageously, embodiments of the device provide for the high throughput filtration of large volumes of sample while preserving cell viability and. providing high yields.

Devices and methods for enrichment and alteration of cells and other particles

A method and apparatus for generating tunable, uniform electric fields in fluidic applications for rapid separation of molecules, such as DNA, is provided. A region receives the molecules to be separated, the molecules being injected into the region by an injection channel connected thereto. Fluidic microchannels or resistor arrays connected to sides of the region inject currents into the region and produce electric fields in the region that can be oriented at any angle. The electric fields can separate the molecules according to size, and can be used to move or manipulate the molecules within the region. Further, the molecules can be separated by controlling fluid flows within the region to manipulate the molecules. One or more reservoirs can be attached to the fluidic microchannels for collecting the molecules after separation, movement, or manipulation.

Method and apparatus for generating electric fields and flow distributions for rapidly separating molecules

A method and apparatus for fractionation of charged macro-molecules such as DNA is provided. DNA solution is loaded into a matrix including an array of obstacles. An alternating electric field having two different fields at different orientations is applied. The alternating electric field is asymmetric in that one field is stronger in duration or intensity than the other field, or is otherwise asymmetric. The DNA molecules are thereby fractionated according to site and are driven to a far side of the matrix where the fractionated DNA is recovered. The fractionating electric field can be used to load and recover the DNA to operate the process continuously.

Growing community of inventors

Chestnut Hill, MA, United States of America

Lotien Richard Huang