Microdevice Enlarged Flow Channel for Rare Cell Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for concentrating rare cells in samples, such as circulating tumor cells, face significant cell loss and reproducibility issues due to centrifugation, making it difficult to accurately analyze these cells for early disease detection and diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
A microdevice with a flow channel chamber that includes an enlarged portion with a non-uniform cross-sectional area, where the electric field generation means is disposed on the bottom surface, allowing for the application of a dielectrophoretic force to capture and concentrate cells efficiently by reducing flow velocity and enhancing particle capture ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If centrifugation is used to concentrate rare cells in a sample, then cell concentration is improved, but cell loss increases and reproducibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with an electric field-based dielectrophoresis system. The microdevice uses electrodes to generate non-uniform electric fields that exert dielectrophoretic forces on cells, causing them to migrate and concentrate at specific locations within the flow channel without requiring mechanical rotation or high-speed spinning, thereby eliminating centrifugation-induced cell loss while achieving effective concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter from mechanical force (centrifugal force) to electrical force (dielectrophoretic force). By applying alternating electric fields through patterned electrodes, the system creates spatially varying electric field strengths that generate dielectrophoretic forces proportional to the gradient of the square of the electric field magnitude, enabling controlled cell concentration with different physical mechanisms that avoid the harmful effects of centrifugation
2Quantity of substance
If centrifugation is used to concentrate rare cells in a sample, then cell concentration is improved, but reproducibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical centrifugation system with an electric field-based dielectrophoresis system. The microdevice uses electrodes to generate non-uniform electric fields that exert dielectrophoretic forces on cells, causing them to migrate and concentrate at specific locations within the flow channel without requiring mechanical rotation or high-speed spinning, thereby eliminating centrifugation-induced cell loss while achieving effective concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter from mechanical force (centrifugal force) to electrical force (dielectrophoretic force). By applying alternating electric fields through patterned electrodes, the system creates spatially varying electric field strengths that generate dielectrophoretic forces proportional to the gradient of the square of the electric field magnitude, enabling controlled cell concentration with different physical mechanisms that avoid the harmful effects of centrifugation
3Device complexity
If a uniform flow channel is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but particle capture efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating an enlarged portion with non-uniform cross-sectional area at a specific location within the flow channel. This localized geometric variation generates a region of reduced flow velocity and enhanced electric field concentration, which improves dielectrophoretic particle capture efficiency without requiring the entire flow channel to be complex. The enlarged portion serves as a focused capture zone where particles are concentrated by the combination of flow deceleration and electric field effects
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The microdevice enables precise capture and concentration of rare cells with reduced loss and improved reproducibility, facilitating their analysis and collection while minimizing cell damage.
Implementation Method 1
the electric field generation means is disposed on the bottom surface, allowing for the application of a dielectrophoretic force to capture and concentrate cells efficiently by reducing flow velocity
Data Source
Figure 1(A)~1(C)
Figure 2(a)~2(d)
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a device and a method with which particles such as rare cells in a sample can be captured precisely. The present disclosure relates to a microdevice (1) for capturing cells in a sample through dielectrophoresis, and the microdevice (1) includes an inlet (10), an outlet (12), and a flow channel chamber (11) that connects the inlet (10) and the outlet (12), in which the flow channel chamber (11) has an enlarged portion (14) in which a cross-sectional area of a flow channel (11) enlarges, and the flow channel chamber (11) is provided with an electric field generation means (13) disposed at least in the enlarged portion (14) or the vicinity of the enlarged portion (14). Also, the present disclosure relates to a method for capturing particles in a sample in the flow channel chamber (11) of the microdevice (1), and the method for capturing particles in a sample includes causing the electric field generation means (13) of the microdevice (1) to generate an electric field, and introducing the sample into the flow channel chamber (11) from the inlet (10) of the microdevice (1).