Method and apparatus for manipulating polarizable analytes via dielectrophoresis

• Main Authors: ZENHAUSERN FREDERIC, TERBRUEGGEN ROBERT HENRY, CHOU CHIA-FU
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.01.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL ORENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES; ENZYMOLOGY; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLIDMATERIALS OR FLUIDS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROMSOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; MEASURING; MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEICACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PHYSICS; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS; SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATICTABLES OR JIGS; SPIRITS; TESTING; TRANSPORTING; VINEGAR; WINE

The present invention is directed to devices and methods for manipulating polarizable analytes via dielectrophoresis to allow for improved detection of target analytes. Microfluidic devices are configured such that the application of a voltage between field-generating electrodes results in the generation of an asymmetric electric field within the device. Some embodiments of the invention provide a physical constriction, and electrically floating conductive material or a combination of the two techniques to generating an asymmetrical field. Using dielectrophoresis, target analytes are concentrated or separated from contaminant analytes and transported to a detection module.