Microfluidic device, assemblies, and method for extracting particles from a sample

Abstract

A microfluidic device (1) comprising, a pallet, having a first surface (4a) and second, opposite, surface (4b); the first surface (4a) having defined therein, a main channel (5), and one or more inletsubsidiary channels (6a,6b) each of which is in fluid communication with the main channel (5) at a first junction (7) which is located at one end of the main channel (5), and corresponding one or more outlet subsidiary channels (8a,8b) each of which is in fluid communication with the main channel (5) at a second junction (9) which is located an second, opposite, end of the main channel (5); wherein the depth ('d') of the one or more inlet subsidiary channels (6a,6b) and the depth ('x') of the one or more outlet subsidiary channels (8a,8b) is less than the depth ('f) of the main channel (5) sothat there is step (106a,106b, 108a, 108b) defined at the first junction (7) and at the second junction (9);the second, opposite, surface (4b) having defined therein a groove (15) which can receive ameans for generating a magnetic field, wherein the groove (15) is aligned with, and extends parallel to, the main channel (5). There is further provided a corresponding assembly and method of extracting ferromagnetic, paramagnetic and / or diamagnetic particles from a sample.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a microfluidic device that can be used to extract ferromagnetic, paramagnetic (including superparamagnetic) and / or diamagnetic particles from a sample. Further provided are corresponding components comprising microfluidic devices and corresponding methods of extracting ferromagnetic, paramagnetic (including superparamagnetic) and / or diamagnetic particles from a sample. Background technique [0002] Prior art techniques for extracting ferromagnetic, paramagnetic (including superparamagnetic) and / or diamagnetic particles from a sample involve the use of a magnetic field to move the particles laterally from the sample into a buffer solution. In particular, the sample and the buffer solution flow simultaneously along the channel of the microfluidic device; the channel of the microfluidic device has a planar channel bed (for example, the channel has a rectangular cross-section), and the particles move from the sample to the ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Indeed, the size of a magnetized or magnetisable structure is proportional to the magnetic force that can be applied to the particle; thus to ensure efficient extraction of ferromagnetic, paramagnetic (including superparamagnetic) and / or diamagnetic particles from the sample into the buffer solution, Need to integrate large magnetized or magnetizable structures into the microfluidic device, which in turn increases the size of the microfluidic device

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