Microfluidic chip for sorting living cells
Inventors
WU, YONGGUANG • Chen, Xiang • Zheng, Yan • LIU, Mengyu • XIAO, Jianhang • XIE, Longxu
Assignees
GUANGDONG HYBRIBIO BIOTECH Co Ltd • Guangzhou Hybribio Medicine Technology Ltd • Hybribio Medtech Device Co Ltd
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Publication Number
US-12318779-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a microfluidic chip for sorting living cells. A sample flow channel communicates with a liquid inlet end of a sorting flow channel. A gas inlet flow channel, a target flow channel and a non-target flow channel communicate with a liquid outlet end of the sorting flow channel. An included angle between the target flow channel and the sorting flow channel is from 100° to 130°, and an included angle between the non-target flow channel and the sorting flow channel is from 100° to 140°. A distance between an intersection of an axis of the gas inlet flow channel and an axis of the sorting flow channel and an intersection of the sorting flow channel, the target flow channel and the non-target flow channel is from 0.02 mm to 0.05 mm.
Core Innovation
The document describes a pneumatic microfluidic chip configured for sorting living cells. The chip includes a mixed cell region, a sheath fluid region, a cell flow channel and a sheath fluid flow channel that communicate with a liquid inlet end of a sorting flow channel, and an electromagnetic gas inlet valve connected to a gas inlet flow channel that communicates with the sorting flow channel close to a liquid outlet end.
The core geometry constrains the relative placement of the gas inlet flow channel with respect to the sorting flow channel and constrains the branching angles to define a sorting region. An axis of the gas inlet flow channel is perpendicular to an axis of the sorting flow channel, an included angle between the target flow channel and the sorting flow channel is from 100° to 130°, and an included angle between the non-target flow channel and the sorting flow channel is from 100° to 140°.
The document states that pneumatic gas-driven deflection of target cells into the target flow channel is used, including a parabolic trajectory, and that non-target cell capture is avoided by the geometry. Preferred embodiments further extend the sorting region or residence time and improve targeting accuracy at lower gas pressure by using the constrained spacing and by shaping junction regions, including a tapered junction and arc chamfers aligned with the cell trajectory.
Additional structural refinements are described, including preferred dual-part sorting flow channel diameters to reduce cell or gas velocity and prevent backflow, and a sample inlet arrangement using mixed cell region with sheath-fluid channels arranged symmetrically and a serpentine flow resistance section to reduce sheath velocity.
Claims Coverage
One independent claim is provided. It specifies a microfluidic chip with inventive flow-channel architecture, including an electromagnetic gas inlet valve and a constrained geometry that uses specific included-angle ranges, a perpendicular axis relationship, and a distance constraint between channel-axis intersections. It also requires a mixed cell region and sheath fluid region connected to a sorting flow channel and branching target and non-target flow channels.
Constrained pneumatic channel geometry for target and non-target branching
A microfluidic chip for sorting living cells with a sorting flow channel branching into a target flow channel on one side of the sorting flow channel and a non-target flow channel on the other side, with an included angle between the target flow channel and the sorting flow channel from 100° to 130°, an included angle between the non-target flow channel and the sorting flow channel from 100° to 140°, and an axis of the gas inlet flow channel perpendicular to an axis of the sorting flow channel.
Proximity positioning and intersection distance control
The gas inlet flow channel communicates with the sorting flow channel close to the liquid outlet end of the sorting flow channel, and a distance between intersections of axes of the gas inlet flow channel, the sorting flow channel, the target flow channel, and the non-target flow channel is from 0.02 mm to 0.05 mm.
Integration of mixed cell region, sheath fluid region, and sorting flow channel
The chip comprises a mixed cell region and a sheath fluid region, with a cell flow channel and a sheath fluid flow channel communicating with a liquid inlet end of the sorting flow channel, and with the target flow channel and the non-target flow channel communicating with a liquid outlet end of the sorting flow channel.
Electromagnetic gas inlet valve positioned near liquid outlet end
An electromagnetic gas inlet valve communicates with a gas inlet flow channel that communicates with the sorting flow channel close to a liquid outlet end, thereby providing pneumatic gas inlet functionality for sorting living cells.
The independent claim coverage centers on a pneumatic microfluidic chip architecture that combines a mixed cell region, sheath fluid region, a sorting flow channel, a target and a non-target branch, and an electromagnetic gas inlet valve. The claim further defines the inventive arrangement through included-angle ranges between target/non-target channels and the sorting channel, a perpendicular relationship between gas inlet and sorting channel axes, and a limited distance between defined axis intersections near the sorting region.
Stated Advantages
Improved sorting accuracy versus prior-art control chips.
Reduced cell damage.
Accuracy robustness to reduced gas pressure.
Documented Applications
Sorting living cells using a pneumatic microfluidic chip with an electromagnetic gas inlet valve, including improved targeting accuracy and avoidance of non-target capture based on chip geometry.
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