Systems and method for sorting particles suspended in a fluid
Inventors
Sims, Patrick Craig • Emery-Adleman, Teresa • Sabater, Andrew B. • George, Robert D. • SORENSEN, KARA C. • Obraztsova, Anna • Boss, Pamela A.
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11738352-B1
Publication Date
2023-08-29
Expiration Date
2042-05-11
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Abstract
A system and method sorts particles suspended in a fluid. The system includes a transverse flow filter and a microfluidic sorter. The transverse flow filter concentrates the particles in a retained portion of the fluid. The microfluidic sorter sorts the particles and includes a delivery channel and at least one sorting stage. The delivery channel is dimensioned to permit passage of all the particles in the retained fluid from the transverse flow filter. The delivery channel delivers the particles in the retained fluid to a respective input for each sorting stage and exhausts a remainder of both the particles and the retained fluid at a drain output. Each sorting stage has a labyrinth of interconnected passageways dimensioned to permit passage from the respective input to a respective output for the sorting stage of those of the particles smaller than a respective size for the sorting stage.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a system and method for sorting particles suspended in a fluid using a combination of a transverse flow filter and a microfluidic sorter. The transverse flow filter concentrates particles in a retained portion of the fluid by allowing the fluid to pass through pores that block the particles. The microfluidic sorter then sorts these concentrated particles by size through at least one sorting stage, each having a labyrinth of interconnected passageways dimensioned to permit passage of particles smaller than a respective size.
The system addresses the problem of clogging and inoperability in existing microfluidic devices when sorting certain samples, such as microbial organisms in marine samples including seawater. Existing particle concentration devices, like centrifuges, are not portable or scalable to large volumes, while adsorption-elution systems require multiple steps and specific chemicals. This invention provides a scalable method to concentrate and sort microbial organisms suspended in large volumes of fluid with minimal chemical use and no existing comparable system that concentrates and sorts such organisms.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent system claim and one independent method claim. The inventive features cover a system and method integrating particle concentration with size-based sorting using microfluidic components and transverse flow filtration.
Integration of a transverse flow filter and microfluidic sorter for particle concentration and sorting
The system combines a transverse flow filter that concentrates particles in a retained fluid portion and a microfluidic sorter that sorts these particles by size using a delivery channel and one or more sorting stages with interconnected passageways allowing smaller particles to pass.
Labyrinthine sorting stages dimensioned for size-based passage
Each sorting stage comprises a labyrinth of interconnected passageways or pillars dimensioned to permit passage of particles smaller than a specific size, enabling efficient size-based sorting within the microfluidic device.
Sequential arrangement of sorting stages with increasing size thresholds
Multiple sorting stages are arranged in sequence from an initial stage to a last stage, with each stage's size threshold monotonically increasing, so particles are progressively sorted from smallest to largest size ranges.
Delivery channel dimensioned for full particle passage and flow control
The delivery channel is designed to permit passage of all particles from the transverse flow filter to respective sorting stages, delivering them in order for sorting and exhausting remaining particles at a drain output.
System includes pumps and valves for flow control and recycling
The system utilizes pumps (such as peristaltic or syringe pumps) and valves to control fluid flow, enable recycling of retentate during concentration loops, and switch flow between concentrating and sorting phases.
Microfluidic sorter features pillars arranged in hexagonal grids with specific dimensions
In each sorting stage, pillars are arranged in a hexagonal grid with nearest approach spacing and pillar height matching the sorting size, and the spacing is significantly larger than the pillar width for efficient area use and flow resistance equalization.
Gaps between delivery channel and sorting stages aid in sorting of irregularly shaped particles
The microfluidic sorter includes gaps adjacent to the delivery channel matching sorting sizes, facilitating initial sorting along one dimension for plate- or rod-shaped particles that may temporarily clog prior sorting stage inputs.
Method for sorting particles including concentration, delivery, sorting, and exhausting steps
The method involves concentrating particles using a transverse flow filter, delivering them via a dedicated delivery channel to sorting stages with labyrinth passages that permit passage of smaller particles, and exhausting remaining particles and fluid at a drain output.
The independent claims broadly cover a system and method integrating transverse flow filtration with a microfluidic sorter featuring sequential sorting stages that sort particles by size through labyrinthine passageways, employing flow control elements and structural features optimized for particle size sorting and fluid handling.
Stated Advantages
Scalable method to concentrate and sort microbial organisms suspended in large volumes of fluid with minimal use of chemicals or consumables.
Avoids clogging and inoperability issues common in existing microfluidic devices when analyzing certain samples like seawater.
Enables sorting and concentration of multiple particle size ranges efficiently within a single integrated system.
The arrangement of sorting stages with monotonically increasing sizes minimizes interference between sorted particle populations.
Documented Applications
Sorting and interrogating microbial organisms suspended in seawater.
Sorting particles in fluids for downstream interrogation, collection, or further microfluidic processing.
Use of the system to concentrate and sort microbial organisms for sensing applications by delivering particles to interaction regions compatible with sensing modalities.
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