Leland Stanford Junior University

Stefanie S Jeffrey

Ronald W Davis

Michael Nicholas Mindrinos

R Fabian Pease

Ashley Ann Powell

Roger T Howe

AmirAli Talasaz

Ali Mohamed Ibrahim

AmirAli Hajhossein Talasaz

Yasser Hussein Anis

Jose I Padovani Blanco

Amirali Hajhossein Talasaz

Michael Mindrinos

Fabian R Pease

An active microfluidic droplet generation device includes a droplet generation junction joining at least one continuous phase channel for carrying a ferrofluid, and a dispersed phase channel for carrying a dispersed phase (e.g., aqueous) flow. A miniature electropermanent magnet (EPM) upstream from the junction generates a magnetic field to modulate a flow rate of a ferrofluid in the continuous phase channel so that dispersed phase droplets are generated with volumes actively controlled on-demand and under continuous flow.

Electropermanent magnet activated microfluidic droplet size modulation

Described here is an automated robotic device that isolates circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or other biological structures with extremely high purity. The device uses powerful magnetic rods covered in removable plastic sleeves. These rods sweep through blood samples, capturing, e.g., cancer cells labeled with antibodies linked to magnetically responsive particles such as superparamagnetic beads. Upon completion of the capturing protocol, the magnetic rods undergo several rounds of washing, thereby removing all contaminating blood cells. The captured target cells are released into a final capture solution by removing the magnetic rods from the sleeves. Additionally, cells captured by this device show no reduced viability when cultured after capture. Cells are captured in a state suitable for genetic analysis. Also disclosed are methods for single cell analysis. Being robotic allows the device to be operated with high throughput.

Apparatus for magnetic separation of cells

Methods and apparatus for magnetic separation of cells

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos Hills, CA, United States of America

Stefanie S Jeffrey