text:
US20120088295A1 - Device for concentrating and separating cells - Google Patents
Device for concentrating and separating cells Download PDF
flow path
Kenji Yasuda
Masahito Hayashi
Akihiro Hattori
Kanagawa Institute Of Industrial Science And Technology
Tokyo Medical and Dental University NUC
NATIONAL INIVERSITY CORP TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL
Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology
ON CHIP CELLOMICS CONSORTIUM CO Ltd
2009-03-31 Priority to JP2009086076 priority Critical
2009-03-31 Priority to JP209-086076 priority
2009-03-31 Priority to JP2009-086076 priority
2010-02-24 Priority to JP2010039371A priority patent/JP2010252785A/en
2010-03-31 Priority to PCT/JP2010/055793 priority patent/WO2010113994A1/en
2010-03-31 Application filed by Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology, NATIONAL INIVERSITY CORP TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL, ON CHIP CELLOMICS CONSORTIUM CO Ltd filed Critical Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology
2011-12-19 Assigned to NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNIVERSITY, ON-CHIP CELLOMICS CONSORTIUM CO., LTD., KANAGAWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY reassignment NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MASAHITO, HAYASHI, HATTORI, AKIHIRO, YASUDA, KENJI
2015-06-30 Assigned to NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNIVERSITY, KANAGAWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY reassignment NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNIVERSITY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ON-CHIP CELLOMICS CONSORTIUM
2017-08-18 Assigned to KANAGAWA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY reassignment KANAGAWA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KANAGAWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
C12M—APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS
C12M47/00—Means for after-treatment of the produced biomass or of the fermentation or metabolic products, e.g. storage of biomass
C12M47/04—Cell isolation or sorting
B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
B01D—SEPARATION
B01D21/00—Separation of suspended solid particles from liquids by sedimentation
B01D21/28—Mechanical auxiliary equipment for acceleration of sedimentation, e.g. by vibrators or the like
B01D21/283—Settling tanks provided with vibrators
B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
B01L3/502761—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules
B01L3/502769—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by multiphase flow arrangements
B01L3/502776—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by multiphase flow arrangements specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows
B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
B01L2200/06—Fluid handling related problems
B01L2200/0636—Focussing flows, e.g. to laminate flows
B01L2200/0647—Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles
B01L2200/0652—Sorting or classification of particles or molecules
B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
B01L2300/0809—Geometry, shape and general structure rectangular shaped
B01L2300/0816—Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
B01L2400/0403—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces
B01L2400/0415—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
B01L2400/0424—Dielectrophoretic forces
B01L2400/0433—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces vibrational forces
B01L2400/0439—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific forces vibrational forces ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements
Provided is a device for concentrating and separating cells, which has a function for continuously concentrating cells; a function for then continuously arranging the concentrated cells in predetermined regions of a flow path; a function for simultaneously identifying shape and fluorescent emission in one-cell units on the basis of cell concentration and purification images, which serve to continuously separate and purify cells that have different properties in that they are either attracted to or repelled by an induction electrophoresis force of a predetermined frequency; and a function for identifying cells on the basis of this shape and fluorescent emission information and thereby separating and purifying the cells.
The present invention relates to a device for concentrating and separating cells.
A biological tissue of a multicellular organism maintains a harmonious function as a whole by various cells taking on different roles. Once some cells become cancerous (hereinafter collectively referred to as a cancer, including a tumor), the cells grow into neoplasm different from its peripheral region. However, the cancerous region and a normal tissue region far away from the cancerous region are not necessarily distinguished by a certain borderline, and the peripheral region surrounding the cancerous region is affected to some extent. Therefore, in order to analyze a function of an organ tissue, it is necessary to separate a small number of cells present in a small region as easily as possible with minimal loss for a short time.
In the field of regeneration medicine, an attempt is being made to separate an organ stem cell from a tissue, reculture the stem cell, and induce the differentiation of the stem cell to regenerate a target tissue, and furthermore an organ.
To identify or separate cells, it is necessary to distinguish the cells according to a certain index. Common methods of distinguishing cells include the following:
1) Morphological cell classification based on visual observation: Examples include an examination for bladder cancer, urethral cancer and the like by an examination for atypical cells present in urine, and a cancer screening by classification of atypical cells in blood or cytological diagnosis in a tissue.
2) Cell classification based on cell surface antigen (marker) staining by a fluorescent antibody method: This is to stain a cell surface antigen, generally called as a CD marker, with a fluorescent labeling antibody specific thereto, and is used, for example for cell separation using a cell sorter, and a cancer screening using a flow cytometer or tissue staining. Naturally, these are frequently used not only in the medical field but also for the cytophysiological study and the industrial use of cells.
3) Alternatively, for separation of stem cells, fluorescent pigments designed to be taken into cells are used as reporters to roughly separate cells including stem cells and further then actually culture the cells, thereby separating target stem cells. Since an effective marker for a stem cell has not yet been established, the target cells are substantially separated by making use of only cells whose differentialtion has been induced by their actual culture.
Separating and collecting specific cells in a culture medium in this manner is an important technique for biological and medical analyses. When cells are separated based on a difference in the specific gravity of the cells, the target cells can be separated by a velocity sedimentation method. However, when there is little difference in the specific gravity of the cells that allows distinguishing between a non-sensitized cell and a sensitized cell, it is necessary to separate the cells one by one based on information from staining with a fluorescent antibody or information from visual observation.
This technique may be represented by, for instance, a cell sorter. The cell sorter is a technique in which a cell after fluorescent staining processing is dropped in a charged droplet as isolated one by one, and a high electric field is applied in any direction on the plane normal to the dropping direction in the process of the droplet dropping, where the dropping direction of the droplet is controlled by the applied voltage, based on the presence or absence of the fluorescence in the cell in the droplet and the amount of light scattering, to fractionate and collect the droplet in a plurality of containers placed at the bottom (Non Patent Literature 1: Kamarck, M. E., Methods Enzymol. Vol. 151, p 150-165 (1987)).
However, this technique involves the following problems: the cost is high; the system is large; a high electric field of some thousand volts is required; a large amount of samples concentrated to a certain concentration or more is required; cells may be damaged in the process of generating droplets; the samples cannot be directly observed. To solve these problems, a cell sorter has been recently developed which generates a fine flow path using microfabrication technology and separates cells flowing through the laminar flow in the flow path while directly observing the cells under a microscope (Non Patent Literature 2: Micro Total Analysis, 98, pp. 77-80 (Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1998)), Non Patent Literature 3: Analytical Chemistry, 70, pp. 1909-1915 (1998)). However, the following problems occur. Since the cell sorter which generates a fine flow path using the microfabrication technology is slow in the response speed of the sample separation with respect to an observation unit, another processing method that does not damage the samples and is faster in response is required in order to put the cell sorter into practical use. Further, the separation efficiency of the device cannot be improved sufficiently at a low cell concentration unless the concentration of the cells in a sample solution used is increased in advance to a predetermined concentration or more. Furthermore, when the cells are concentrated in a very small amount of a sample using a separated device, it is difficult to collect the concentrated solution without loss and at the same time the cells are contaminated at a cumbersome preprocessing stage, which is undesirable in regeneration medicine and the like.
In order to solve the problems, the present inventors have developed a device for cell analysis and separation capable of fractionating samples based on fine structures of the samples and fluorescence distribution in the samples and easily analyzing and separating the cell samples without damaging the samples collected, by utilizing microfabrication technology (Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-107099, Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-85323, Patent Literature 3: International Publication No. WO 2004/101731). This device is a sufficiently practical cell sorter at a laboratory level. However, for its versatile use in regeneration medicine, it is necessary to develop new techniques for a liquid transport method, a colletion method, and preprocessing such as sample preparation.
LIST OF PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Literature
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-107099
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-85323
Patent Literature 3: International Publication No. WO 2004/101731
Non Patent Literature
Non Patent Literature 1: Kamarck, M. E., Methods Enzymol. Vol. 151, p 150-165 (1987)
Non Patent Literature 2: Micro Total Analysis, 98, pp. 77-80 (Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1998)
Non Patent Literature 3: Analytical Chemistry, 70, pp. 1909-1915 (1998)
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention
When a micro flow path is formed on one surface of a substrate and a liquid is allowed to flow therethrough, the liquid flowing therethrough generally becomes a laminar flow. At a glance, it appears as if there were no flow rate distribution in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction. However, when a cell suspension is actually allowed to flow through such a micro flow path, a phenomenon frequently occurs in which cells contact a wall in the flow path. Since the cells in contact with the wall receive a resistance against the flow, the flow rate is decreased and thus the cells may contact other cells flowing from behind. When such a phenomenon occurs in a cell sorter or a flow cytometer, it becomes difficult to sort and detect the cells. In order to avoid such a phenomenon, a sheath flow technique is used in general. This sheath flow technique is to array the cells in line by allowing the cell suspension to flow into a core of the liquid flow flowing at a high rate as a sheath, which is achieved by uniting the sheath flow and the core flow and discharging the same into air as a jet flow. Since there is no wall in the conventional method, the cells can be sorted in an ideal state where the cells do not contact the wall.
However, it is extremely difficult to stably form the jet flow using the sheath. A practical system is very expensive, and cells for forming the sheath are not replaceable for each sample. Not only concerning a large-sized system but also concerning a cell sorter formed on a chip, all of the conventional techniques other than the method disclosed by the inventors of the present invention use independent pumps for delivering a sample liquid and for delivering a sheath liquid. These pumps are placed separately from the chip, and need to be reconnected every time the chip is replaced. It is also necessary to readjust the balancing fluctuation between the sample liquid delivery speed and the sheath liquid delivery speed accompanied with the replacement of the chip. To perform such precise control, large-sized and highly stable pumps are required. When the cells are arranged by introducing a sheath liquid, it is necessary to introduce a large amount of side sheath liquid. Thus, the concentration of the cells is unfavorably diluted.
Further, in the conventional cell sorter, in order to sort a target cell to be retrieved, a label such as a fluorescent antibody which can be optically identified is bound to the target cell and the label is identified by an optical method using a fluorescent detector or the like to be judged by an electronic method. Then, cells are sorted and purified. The cells are damaged by a labeling means and thus it becomes difficult to recultivate and replant the cells.
Solution to Problem
It is an object of the present invention to establish a cell concentrating and separating technique for reliably detecting and separating predetermined cells for the purpose of cell separation or detection using a flow path formed on one surface of a substrate, and to provide a device for concentrating and separating cells which can separate the cells continuously after a preparation process without contaminating the cells by including means for executing the cell concentration preparation process in which a cell concentration is not required to be adjusted in advance.
Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for optically recognizing a shape of each of cells arranged in line as an image to retrieve the cells without labeling, and for identifying and retrieving the cells by an electronic means based on the image data of the shape of each cell.
Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for retrieving only cells attracted to or repelled from electrophoresis force of a plurality of different frequencies in predetermined combination by the difference in responsiveness between cells arranged in line attracted to or repelled from an electrophoresis force of a predetermined frequency and by the fact that both of the cells having the repulsive force and the cells having the attracting force are concentrated to an acute end of a V-shape of an interdigitated electrode.
A cell assumed in the present invention ranges from a bacteria at the smallest to an animal cell such as a cancer cell at the largest. Therefore, the diameter of the cell ranges approximately from 0.5 μm to 30 μm. To concentrate and separate cells using a flow path incorporated in one surface of a substrate, the first problem is the width of the flow path (cross-sectional dimension). The flow path is formed on one surface of the substrate in a space of approximately 10 to 100 μm in the thickness direction of the substrate substantially in a two-dimensional plane. Based on the size of the cell, the suitable size of the flow path is 5 to 10 μm for the bacteria, and 10 to 50 μm for the animal cell.
The device for concentrating and separating cells according to the present invention includes a cell concentration portion having means for concentrating the cells, a cell arrangement portion and cell separation portion having means for separating and purifying the cells, and an optical analyzer for identifying and judging the separated and purified cells in the same chip. The cell concentration portion has a basic structure for introducing a sample liquid, which is not concentrated, from one inlet and discharging the sample liquid through an outlet disposed downstream of the concentration portion. In addition, the cell concentration portion includes means for concentrating the cells by imparting an external force to the cells toward a concentrated cell retrieving port disposed in a side wall of the concentration portion. As the external force, an ultrasonic radiation pressure, a gravitational force, an electrostatic force, or a dielectrophoretic force may be used. The external force is applied in the direction orthogonal to the flow of the sample liquid in the concentration portion and in the direction toward the concentrated cell retrieving port.
In the portion for separating and purifying the cells includes means for applying the external force to the cells to arrange the cells at the center of the flow path through which the cells flow and flowing all cells into one of two branched flow paths disposed on the downstream, and means for further applying the external force to only cells to be retrieved among the arranged cells to move the flow of the cells to be retrieved and introducing the cells to be retrieved into the other flow path of the two branched flow paths only when the external force is further applied. Specifically, by applying the external force, means for arranging cells in a node of standing wave by an ultrasonic radiation force, means for arranging cells at the vertex of a wedge-shaped electrode array, or means for arranging cells between a pair of electrodes using a pair of electrodes with whiskers. By using such means, cells can be arranged in line without adding a side sheath liquid. Thus, the problem to be solved by the present invention, in which a cell liquid concentrated in advance is diluted, can be solved.
In the portion for separating and purifying the cells includes means for applying the external force to the cells to arrange the cells at the center of the flow path through which the cells flow and flowing all cells into one of two branched flow paths disposed on the downstream, and means for further applying the external force to only cells to be retrieved of the arranged cells to move the flow of the cells to be retrieved and introducing the cells to be retrieved into the other flow path of the two branched flow paths only when the external force is further applied. Specifically, by applying the external force, means for arranging cells in a node of standing wave by an ultrasonic radiation pressure, means for arranging cells at the vertex of a wedge-shaped electrode array, or means for arranging cells between a pair of electrodes using a pair of electrodes with whiskers. By using such means, cells can be arranged in line without adding a side sheath liquid. Thus, the problem to be solved by the present invention, in which a cell liquid concentrated in advance is diluted, can be solved.
A cell detection portion in the device for concentrating and separating cells according to the present invention is provided in the cell separation portion. When a cell is captured as an image to be evaluated, an area to be observed by a CCD camera is provided upstream of a flow path branched portion. A cell separation area is provided downstream thereof as needed. When the cell passing through the flow path is irradiated by laser, and a scattering light or fluorescence are bound to the cell flowing, the fluorescence may be detected by a light detector without using the image of the cell. At this time, a separation flow path point serving as the cell separation area is provided downstream of the detector.
The cells are separated in the separation portion in the cell separation area. For example, when a dielectrophoretic force is applied to the cells as an external force from the outside for moving the cells in the cell separation portion, a pair of interdigitated electrodes and a flow path for separating and discharging the cells are provided. When an electrostatic force is applied as the external force, the positions of the cells in the flow path are changed by applying voltage to the electrodes. At this time, the cells are negatively charged and thus moved toward the positive electrode.
Also, since the pressure for introducing the sample liquid into the chip is used as the drive force for moving the liquid according to the present invention, it is preferable that pressures in a waste liquid outlet of the concentration portion, a purified cell outlet of the cell separation portion, and a waste liquid outlet of the cell separation portion are approximately equalized. Thus, a flow path resistance adjustment portion such as a thin flow path and an S-shaped long flow path for adjusting the pressure is arranged immediately before each outlet.
The algorithm of the recognition and sorting of the cells have the following features.
For capturing a cell as an image for evaluation, an area is provided in which the post-merging flow path can be observed with a CCD camera. The measuring range is expanded two-dimensionally to identify and trace the cell by image recognition. Thus, cell separation is performed with certainty. The important element at this point is the image capturing rate. With a general camera with a video rate of 30 frames/sec., all the cells cannot be imaged. A video rate of at least 200 frames/sec. is required to recognize the cells flowing in the flow path at high rate.
Next, the image processing method will be described. When the image-capturing rate is high, complicated image processing cannot be performed. Regarding the cell recognition, the cell moving velocity varies depending on each cell, and one cell may go past another cell as described above. Therefore, when each cell appears in an image frame for the first time, the cell is numbered. The same cell is managed with the same number until the cell disappears from the image frame. In other words, how an image of each cell is moved in a plurality of continuous frames is managed with the number. The cell in one frame and the same cell in another frame are linked with the condition that a cell is moved from the upstream to the downstream in each frame and that the moving velocity of a specified numbered cell recognized in the image is within a certain range. Thus, even if one cell goes past another cell, each cell can be traced with certainty.
In this manner, it becomes possible to recognize the cells. For numbering a cell, a cell image is binarized and the center of gravity thereof is obtained. The luminance center of gravity, area size, circumferential length, longer diameter and shorter diameter of the binarized cell are obtained, and each cell is numbered using these parameters. At this point, each cell image is automatically stored as an image because it is beneficial to the user.
In cell separation, only specific cells among the numbered cells need to be separated. The index for separation may be the information on the above-mentioned luminance center of gravity, area size, circumferential length, longer diameter, shorter diameter, or information obtained by fluorescence detection performed in addition to the image capturing. In any way, the cells detected in the cell detection area are separated in accordance with the numbers. More specifically, the moving velocity (V) of each numbered cell is calculated from images taken at an interval of a predetermined time period. A voltage is applied to a cell of a target number when such a cell is between the electrodes at a timing of (L/V) to (L/V+T), where L denotes the distance from the cell detection area to the cell separation area and T denotes the application period. In this manner, the cells are electrically separated.
Specifically, a device for concentration and separation cells as described below is provided according to the present invention.
(1) A cell separation chip including: a substrate; a flow path formed on the substrate and configured to allow a sample liquid containing cells to flow down; a cell concentration area provided in the flow path and configured to concentrate the cells; and a cell separation area provided in the flow path and configured to separate the cells.
(2) The cell separation chip as described in (1), in which the flow path is branched downstream of the cell concentration area, the sample liquid containing the cells passing through the cell concentration area is delivered into one of the branched flow paths, and the cell separation area is provided in the one of the branched flow paths.
(3) The cell separation chip as described in (2) including a cell information detection area upstream of the cell separation area in the branched flow path, in which the cells are separated in the cell separation area based on information relating to the cells detected in the cell information detection area.
(4) The cell separation chip as described in (2) or (3), in which the branched flow path is further branched downstream of the cell separation area, and the sample liquid containing the cells separated in the cell separation area is delivered into one of the further branched flow paths.
(5) The cell separation chip as described in any of (1) to (4) including a mechanism for applying an ultrasonic radiation pressure, a gravitational force, an electrostatic force, or a dielectrophoretic force to the cells in the cell concentration area.
(6) The cell separation chip as described in (5), in which the mechanism includes an electrode disposed on a surface of the flow path in the cell concentration area.
(7) The cell separation chip as described in (6), in which the electrode is an interdigitated electrode array.
(8) The cell separation chip as described in (7), in which the interdigitated electrode array comprises an array of V-shaped electrodes, and a vertex of a V-shape of each V-shaped electrode is oriented toward a downstream of the flow path.
(9) The cell separation chip as described in (1), in which the cell concentration area and the cell separation area are integrated in the flow path.
(10) The cell separation chip as described in (9), in which the interdigitated electrode array comprising the array of V-shaped electrodes is arranged on one surface of the flow path in the integrated cell concentration area and cell separation area so that the vertex of the V-shape of each V-shaped electrode is oriented toward the downstream of the flow path.
(11) The cell separation chip as described in (10), in which the flow path is branched downstream of the integrated cell concentration area and cell separation area, and the cells separated in a direction away from the electrodes or in a direction approaching the electrodes in the flow path are delivered into each branched flow path.
(12) A device for concentrating and separating cells including: (a) a cell separation chip including (i) a substrate, (ii) a flow path formed on the substrate and configured to allow a sample liquid containing cells to flow down, (iii) a cell concentration area provided in the flow path and configured to concentrate the cells, (iv) a cell information detection area provided downstream of the cell concentration area in the flow path and configured to obtain information relating to the cells, and (v) a cell separation area provided downstream of the cell information detection area in the flow path and configured to separate the cells; (b) a mechanism configured to apply an ultrasonic radiation pressure, a gravitational force, an electrostatic force, or a dielectrophoretic force to the cells in the cell concentration area; (c) a cell information detector including an optical system and a cell image processing unit configured to obtain information relating to the cells passing through the cell information detection area; and (d) a mechanism configured to apply a voltage to apply an external force to the cells in the cell separation area based on the information relating to the cells obtained by the cell information detector.
(13) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (12), in which the mechanism described in (b) includes an electrode arranged on a surface of the flow path in the cell concentration area.
(14) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (13), in which the electrode is an interdigitated electrode array.
(15) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (14), in which the interdigitated electrode array comprises an array of V-shaped electrodes, and a vertex of a V-shape of each V-shaped electrode is oriented toward a downstream of the flow path.
(16) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (12) including: a substrate; a first flow path provided on one surface of the substrate and configured to allow a liquid containing cells to flow down; an introduction inlet configured to introduce the liquid into the first flow path; a mechanism configured to concentrate the cells flowing down in the first flow path; a waste liquid outlet arranged at one end of the first flow path and configured to discharge a waste liquid remaining after the cells are concentrated; a second flow path connected to the first flow path and configured to branch the liquid containing the concentrated cells; a mechanism configured to arrange the cells in a straight line in the second flow path while flowing the concentrated cells; a cell information detector configured to detect a state of each cell in a predetermined area in the second flow path after arranging the cells; a cell separator provided downstream of the cell information detector in the second flow path and configured to allow the cells to flow down into one of two branched flow paths further downstream of the second flow path in accordance with information relating to the detected cell; and two liquid tanks provided downstream of the two branched flow paths and configured to hold a buffer liquid containing the cells flowing through the branched flow paths.
(17) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (16), in which the substrate is a plastic substrate formed by injection molding with a die, and the flow path is formed of a groove formed on one surface of the plastic substrate and a laminate film covering the groove.
(18) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (16), in which the information relating to the cell detected in the cell information detection area is obtained from information relating to an image of the cell.
(19) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (16), in which an ultrasonic radiation pressure, a dielectrophoretic force, or a dielectrophoretic force generated using an electrode array having a repeated structure of interdigitated electrodes having an acute end oriented toward a central portion downstream of the second flow path where the cells are desired to be concentrated, is are used as the mechanism configured to arrange the cells.
(20) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (16), in which a pair of interdigitated electrodes are provided in the second flow path through which the cells are delivered with a buffer liquid as the cell separating means, and the cells are divided into either one of two branched flow paths in the cell separation area depending on whether an alternating current is delivered between the two electrodes or not.
(21) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (16), in which one introduction inlet for introducing the liquid is provided in the first flow path and three or more waste liquid outlets are provided in the first flow path and the second flow path, and a flow path serving as an adjustment portion for adjusting a pressure is added immediately before the three or more waste liquid outlets to equalize a pressure as a drive force for moving the liquid introduced from the introduction inlet at the three or more outlets.
(22) A device for concentrating and separating cells including: (a) a cell separation chip including (i) a substrate, (ii) a flow path formed on the substrate and configured to allow a sample liquid containing cells to flow down, (iii) a cell concentration area and a cell separation area integrated in the flow path, and (iv) an interdigitated electrode array comprising an array of V-shaped electrodes arranged on one surface in the flow path in the integrated cell concentration area and cell separation area so that a vertex of a V-shape of each V-shaped electrode is oriented toward a downstream of the flow path; and (b) a mechanism configured to apply an AC electric field of a predetermined frequency to apply a dielectrophoretic force of a predetermined frequency depending on the cells to be separated to the interdigitated electrode array.
(23) The device for concentrating and purifying cells as described in (22), in which the predetermined frequency of the AC electric field is varied.
(24) The device for concentrating and separating cells as described in (22) or (23), in which the flow path for the cell separation chip is branched downstream of the integrated cell concentration area and cell separation area, and the cells separated in a direction away from the electrodes or in a direction approaching the electrodes in the flow path are delivered into each branched flow path.
(25) A device for concentrating and separating cells including a plurality of the devices for concentrating and separating cells as described in (24), in which at least one of the branched flow paths is connected to an upstream end of a flow path configured to allow the sample liquid containing the cells in another device for concentrating and separating cells to flow down, and the plurality of devices for concentrating and separating cells are arranged in tandem so that the liquid containing the cells flowing through the at least one of the branched flow paths is further concentrated and separated in the other device for concentrating and separating cells.
Advantageous Effects of the Invention
By using the device for concentrating and separating cells according to the present invention, a cell concentrating and separating technique for reliably detecting and separating a predetermined cell for the purpose of cell separation or detection using a flow path formed on one surface of a substrate can be established. Further, since the device for concentrating and separating the cells includes means for executing a cell concentration preparation process in which a cell concentration is not required to be adjusted in advance, the cells are separated continuously after the preparation process without contaminating the cells.
In a conventional cell sorter formed on a chip, cells introduced into the cell sorter are concentrated through a concentration process using a centrifugal separator or the like that is separately provided, and accordingly, the cells are contaminated. However, according to the present invention, cells are concentrated directly on a chip, and a portion for delivering a liquid and a tank for cultivating the cells are also formed on the chip. Because functions other than optical system are employed only on the chip, the cells are not contaminated with no loss. Further, the procedure can be simplified and the processing time is shortened to improve usability. For example, for stem cell separation or clinical examination, the prevention of contamination of cells derived from a specimen tissue is required. However, the contamination needs not to be considered. Since main processes including the preparation process of the cell sorter are conducted on the chip as described above, the cross contamination of the device can be completely prevented. A cell separation system in which the cross contamination is prevented and which is required in the field of medicine, especially in the field of regeneration medicine is provided.
According to the present invention, a single-use device for concentrating and separating cells without contamination which does not require pre-treatment such as cell concentration and which can separate the cells stably can be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view schematically showing one example of a system structure of a device for concentrating, separating and cultivating cells according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing one example of a structure of a cell concentration portion shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing one example of a structure of a cell arrangement portion shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 shows results in which polystyrene particulates are actually arranged using wedge-shaped electrodes as one example of the structure of the cell arrangement portion shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 shows a result in which polystyrene particulates are actually arranged using electrodes with whiskers as one example of the structure of the cell arrangement portion shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a plan view schematically showing one example of a structure of a cell separation portion shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of an optical system in a cell detection area.
FIG. 8 includes a plan view (upper view) and a side view (lower view) schematically showing one example of a device for continuously separating and purifying particulates by difference in polarity of dielectrophoretic forces.
FIG. 9 includes a plan view (upper view) and a side view (lower view) of a conceptual diagram illustrating the principle of separating and purifying particulates when the particulates receiving a negative dielectrophoretic force are introduced into the device shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 includes a plan view (upper view) and a side view (lower view) of a conceptual diagram illustrating the principle of separating and purifying particulates when the particulates receiving a positive dielectrophoretic force are introduced into the device shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 shows a result in which Bacillus subtilis and polystyrene beads are actually separated and purified using V-shaped interdigitated electrodes as one example of a structure of the device for separating and purifying the particulates of which the structure is illustrated in FIG. 8 and of which the operation principals are illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.
FIG. 12 is a side view schematically showing one example of a device for continuously separating and purifying particulates by difference in frequency responsiveness of polarities of dielectrophoretic forces.
FIG. 13 is a side view schematically showing one example of a device for continuously exchanging a liquid in which particulates are suspended by a dielectrophoretic force.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
(System Structure of Device for Concentrating and Separating Cells)
FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a basic outline of a system structure of a device for concentrating and separating cells according to the present invention. For concentrating, arranging, and purifying cells in a sample liquid, the device includes a series of fine flow paths arranged two-dimensionally on a planar chip 10 and means for applying a force to the cells in the chip 10.
The device 1 for concentrating and separating cells is provided on the chip 10. The flow paths are provided in the chip 10 and an opening communicating to the flow paths are provided on an upper surface serving as a supply opening for samples and necessary buffer solutions (mediums). The flow paths may be formed by so-called injection molding, by which a plastic material such as PMMA is injected into a mold. Alternatively, the flow paths may be formed by connecting a plurality of glass substrates. The chip 10 has an overall size of 50×70×1 mm(t), but it is not limited thereto. To observe cells flowing through the flow paths or wells formed from grooves or through-holes on the inner surface of the chip 10 by a high-powered optical microscope, a 0.1 mm thick laminate film provided by thermal pressurization may be used when a PMMA plastic material is used. When a glass material is used, a 0.1 mm thickness glass provided by optical adhesion may be used. For example, using an objective lens having a numerical aperture of 1.4 and a magnification of 100, the cells flowing through the flow paths can be observed through the 0.1 mm thick laminate film. In the case where the plastic material is highly light-transmissive, such cells can be observed also from above the chip substrate 10. A cell assumed in the present invention ranges from a bacteria at the smallest to an animal cell such as a cancer cell at the largest. Accordingly, the cell size is typically in the range of approximately 0.5 μm to 30 μm, but it is not strictly limited thereto. As long as the present invention is effectively used, cells of any size may be used. To concentrate and separate cells continuously using the flow paths incorporated in one surface of the substrate, the first problem is the width of the flow path (cross-sectional dimension). The flow path is typically formed on one surface of the substrate in a space of approximately 10 to 100 μm in the thickness direction of the substrate substantially in a two-dimensional plane. Based on the size of the cell, the suitable size of the flow path is 5 to 10 μm for the bacteria, and 10 to 50 μm for the animal cell.
First, a sample liquid is introduced from a sample liquid inlet 20 into a cell concentration portion 30 on the chip 10 by a syringe pump or cell introducing means such as air pressure which does not generate a pulsatile flow. The sample liquid containing cells introduced into the cell concentration portion is delivered along a sample flow 100 toward a waste liquid outlet 50 downstream to be discharged. The cell concentration portion 30 includes means for continuously applying an external force to the cells to concentrate the cells toward a cell concentrate inlet 60 disposed on part of a side wall of the cell concentration portion 30. The cells are gradually concentrated along a concentrated cell flow 101 by the external force and a cell concentration liquid having high concentration 100 times or more higher than the concentration of the cells at the sample liquid inlet is introduced into the cell concentrate inlet 60.
As the external force to be applied to the cells, an ultrasonic radiation pressure, a gravitational force, an electrostatic force, or a dielectrophoretic force may be used. For example, when the ultrasonic radiation force is used, a traveling wave of an ultrasonic wave is generated in the direction orthogonal to the flow of the sample liquid and toward the cell concentrate inlet 60 so as to be generated the concentrated cell flow 101 by the radiation pressure of the ultrasonic wave. To introduce the ultrasonic wave, a PZT piezoelectric element may be attached to the surface of the chip 10. Alternatively, an interdigitated electrode array, which is disposed on a surface of a piezoelectric element to generate a surface acoustic wave in the cell concentration portion, may be attached to the surface of the cell concentration portion to introduce the ultrasonic wave into the cell concentration portion. When the gravitational force is used, the arrangement of the chip may be adjusted so that the gravitational force is applied in the direction orthogonal to the flow of the sample liquid and toward the cell concentrate inlet 60. Alternatively, the chip may be disposed on a rotary disk so that the direction of the radius of the disk is the same direction as the direction orthogonal to the flow of the sample liquid and toward the cell concentrate inlet 60. When the electrostatic force is used, an electrode may be disposed on the side wall of the cell concentration portion 30 so that the cells receive the external force toward the side wall. At this time, a positive or negative charge may be applied depending on the potential of the surface of the cell to which the external force is applied. However, when the electrostatic force is applied, bubbles are generated on the electrode in the case where the charge of the surface of the electrode applying a current exceeds a peroxygenated charge or a certain charge such as a peroxygenated charge. Accordingly, the applied voltage is extremely small and thus the length of the flow path in the cell concentration portion 30 needs to be flexibly adjusted depending on the type of the external force applied to the cells and the strength thereof. The flow path needs to be sufficiently long when the electrostatic force is applied as the external force. When the dielectrophoretic force is used as the external force, the electrode may be disposed in the cell concentration portion 30 so that the dielectrophoretic force is applied in the direction orthogonal to the flow of the sample liquid and toward the cell concentrate inlet 60.
Next, cells in the concentrated cell liquid introduced into the cell concentrate inlet 60 are arranged in line along the flow of the liquid in a cell arrangement portion 70. More specifically, the cell arrangement portion 70 includes means for generating the external force to attract the cells to the central portion of the flow path in the cell arrangement portion 70 by using the dielectrophoretic force or the ultrasonic radiation pressure in a standing wave mode. The cells arranged in line at the center are measured and the type of each cell is determined in a cell detection area 221 arranged before a cell separation portion 80 (see FIG. 7). Then, the cells are delivered into a purified cell outlet 90 or a waste liquid outlet 51, which are provided in two divided downstream areas, depending on the presence or absence of the external force applied in the direction orthogonal to the flow from the upstream to the downstream.
Since only one sample liquid inlet 20 is provided in this embodiment, the force of the syringe pump or the like for introducing the sample liquid through the inlet can be used as the drive force for generating a series of flows of the liquid from the sample liquid inlet 20 toward three outlets, i.e., the purified cell outlet 90 and the waste liquid outlets 50 and 51. However, to equalize liquid flows from one inlet, the pressure needs to be equally dispersed toward the three outlets and three liquid flows need to be equally generated. To discharge the liquid equally, flow path resistance adjustment portions 40 and 41 are provided before the outlets, respectively. The pressure differences generated by positions of the outlets are offset by the flow path resistance adjustment portions 40 and 41. Practically, the flow resistance in the chip is provided by adding an S-shaped flow path and extending the length of the entire flow path, or narrowing the width of the flow path.
Further, by providing the flow path resistance adjustment portions as described above, the cells can be separated and purified in a plurality of steps. More specifically, a second cell concentrate inlet and a second cell separation portion may be provided after the cell concentrate inlet 60 and the cell separation portion 80 without providing an outlet at the position of the waste liquid outlet 51, so that the cells are separated and purified repeatedly. Accordingly, a plurality of types of cells can be picked and purified independently at one time.
FIG. 2 shows one example of the structure of the concentration portion 30 when the dielectrophoretic force is used as the external force. A sample liquid containing cells introduced from a sample liquid inlet 1010 is delivered into a waste liquid outlet 1020 through concentration portion parallel flow paths 1050. An oblique interdigitated electrode 2010 for concentration is provided in the middle of the concentration portion parallel flow paths 1050 to have a predetermined angle relative to the direction of liquid flows so that the dielectrophoretic force can be applied in the direction of a branched flow path for sorting concentrated particulates. For example, by applying an AC electric field of 30 Vpp at 1 MHz to a pair of connection points 2020 and 2021 at ends of the oblique interdigitated electrodes for concentration, the cells are continuously concentrated through a concentration portion oblique flow path 1060 and delivered toward the branched flow path 1070 for sorting concentrated particulates. When the flow rate is high, for example, approximately 20 m/s, the external force can be sufficiently applied to the cells to concentrate the cells in the case where the voltage is increased to approximately 350 Vpp.
FIG. 3 shows one example of the structure of the cell arrangement portion when the dielectrophoretic force is used as the external force. The concentrated cell liquid introduced from the branched flow path 1070 for sorting concentrated particulates is delivered through the flow path in the cell arrangement portion. As shown in FIG. 3, electrodes (V-shaped interdigitated electrodes 2110 for convergence) are alternately arranged to have a wedge shape. By applying the voltage to connection points 2120 and 2121 of the V-shaped interdigitated electrodes 2110 for convergence, the external force can be applied to the cells toward the vertex of the wedge shape. Consequently, the cells are continuously concentrated at the vertex of the wedge shape. In this embodiment, the shape of the electrode arranged in the flow path is important. Since the electrode is an interdigitated electrode positioned obliquely toward the downstream side and is not flat to have an end of an acute angle and have an axis symmetry shape, the cells receiving the dielectrophoretic force are collected at the acute end of the electrode and arranged by the total force of the force by which the cells are delivered toward the downstream with the flow and the force which the cell receives toward the acute end whether the cells are attracted to or repelled from the dielectrophoretic force. In other words, by disposing the acute vertex of the electrode array at the position of the flow path where the cells are desired to be concentrated, the cells are collected at the acute end by the total force of the force by which the cells are delivered toward the downstream and the dielectrophoretic force in the direction toward the acute end. FIG. 4 shows one example of results when the cells are actually concentrated. An aluminum material is evaporated on a bottom surface of the substrate so that each wedge-shaped electrode having the width of 20 μm is provided by the interval of 20 μm to have the angle of 30 degrees relative to the liquid flow in the flow path having the width of 120 μm and the height (depth in the chip) of 12.5 μm. Polystyrene beads (the diameter of 2 μm) are dispersed in the solution of 0.5 mg/ml of BSA and 13.5% of sucrose and delivered at the flow rate of 1 mm/s. When the voltage is not applied, the particulates are delivered directly through the flow path. When the sine waves of 10 Vpp at 10 MHz are applied to the electrode, it can be observed that the polystyrene particulates are collected at the center of the flow path.
FIG. 5 shows the same composition as that in FIG. 4 except that a pair of electrodes 2130 and 2131 with whiskers are provided as the electrodes. FIG. 5 shows another example of the results in which the polystyrene beads are arranged in line by applying the AC electric field to the electrodes with whiskers. As obvious from FIG. 5, the particulates delivered from the upstream can be arranged in line after passing through the cell arrangement portion in the flow path.
In the technique for arranging the cells as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the position where the cells are arranged in the flow in the cell arrangement portion is important. When the position is close to the waste liquid flow path from the center in the flow, the arranged cells are delivered directly into the waste liquid outlet 51 while the external force is not applied. Only cells moved close to the purified cell flow path by receiving the external force are collected in the purified cell outlet 90. When the position is close to the purified cell flow path from the center in the flow, the arranged cells are delivered into the waste liquid outlet 51 while the external force is continuously applied. When the position is returned to the original position by stopping the external force, only cells returning to be close to the purified cell flow path are collected in the purified cell outlet 90. In the former case, the external force is applied only when a cell which is desired to be picked up is delivered. However, the electric external force is applied to the cell. In the latter case, the electric external force is not applied to the cell to be picked up. However, the external electric field is required to be always applied to cells to be discarded.
FIG. 6 shows one example of the cell separation portion when the dielectrophoretic force is applied to the cells as the external force. An electrode array having the same structure as the electrode used in the cell concentration portion shown in FIG. 2 is positioned to have a predetermined angle relative to the flow in the direction where the external force is desired to be applied. Accordingly, the cells arranged in line in the cell arrangement portion are arranged differently in another flow path on the downstream. By applying the AC electric field to connection points 2220 and 2221 at both ends of a pair of oblique electrodes 2210 for separation, the external force enough to separate the arranged cells delivered from the branched flow path 1070 for sorting concentrated particulates. In this embodiment, only a pair of electrodes, i.e., the minimum number of electrodes, are provided to minimize an area receiving the external force at one time so that the cells are operated in one-cell units by switching between the electrodes. This structure is different from that of the electrodes arranged for concentration as shown in FIG. 3.
(Example of Optical System)
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of an optical system in the cell detection area 221. A light source 225 for irradiating light to cells and a filter 226 are provided above a chip substrate 201 of a device for separating and cultivating cells. A detection system for the light irradiated to the cells is provided below the chip substrate 201. As obvious from FIG. 2, a cross-section of a flow path 218 from a cell detection area 221 to a cell separation area 222 is shown.
A cell flowing through the flow path 218 in the cell detection area 221 is irradiated by the light source 225 through the filter 226. An image of the cell irradiated with light is detected via an objective lens 244 and captured as fluorescence intensity data in a fluorescence detector 248 through a dichroic mirror 245, a filter 246, and a lens 247. The image of the cell is also captured as cell image data by a cell imaging camera 254 through a mirror 251, a filter 252, and a lens 253. The fluorescence intensity data obtained in the fluorescence detector 248 and the image data captured by the cell imaging camera 254 are transmitted to an information analyzer 260 including a computer which has an image processing function and determines the type of the cell so as to check the fluorescence intensity data and the image data against image data relating to a cell to be detected which is prepared in advance. When the captured data is determined to be the data of the cell to be picked up, the information analyzer 260 transmits a cell separation control signal 270. Then, a switch of the cell separation portion is turned on to apply the force to the cell in the cell separation portion 222. At this point, the moving velocity of cells flowing in the flow path (flow rate of buffer solution flowing in the flow path 204) is detected separately, so that the cell evaluated in the cell detection area 221 can receive the voltage when flowing through the cell separation area 247.
Here, the processing using an image and the processing using fluorescence or scattering light may be used in combination. Also, the image data captured by the camera 254 may be displayed on a computer monitor to be observed by a user. When there are a plurality of fluorescence to be observed, the filter 226 is adjusted appropriately to transmit a plurality of excitation light and irradiate to cells with light having a wavelength which is not the same as a wavelength of light for detecting subsequent fluorescence in the flow. A plurality of combinations of a dichroic mirror, a filter and a fluorescence detector can be used depending on the type of the florescence to be observed. With such a structure, the results from fluorescence observation in relation to images of the cells may be used as data.
The algorithm of the recognition and sorting of cells have the following features.
Next, the image processing method will be described. When the image-capturing rate is high, complicated image processing cannot be performed. Regarding the cell recognition, the cell moving velocity varies depending on each cell, and one cell may go past another cell as described above. Therefore, when each cell appears in an image frame for the first time, the cell is numbered. The same cell is managed with the same number until the cell disappears from the image frame. In other words, the movement of an image of each cell in a plurality of continuous frames is managed with the number. Under the conditions that cells present upstream side in one frame moves downstream in turn in successive frames and that the moving velocity of a numbered specific cell recognized in the image is within a certain range, a cell is linked between the frames. Thus, even if one cell goes past another cell, each cell can be traced with certainty.
In cell separation, only specific cells among the numbered cells need to be separated. The index for separation may be the information on the above-mentioned luminance center of gravity, area size, circumferential length, longer diameter, shorter diameter, or information obtained by fluorescence detection performed in addition to the image capturing. In any way, the cells detected in the cell detection area are separated in accordance with the numbers. More specifically, the moving velocity (V) of each numbered cell is calculated from the images taken at an interval of a predetermined time period. A voltage is applied to a cell of a target number over a time period of (L/V) to (L/V+T) during which the cell is between the electrodes, where L denotes the distance from the cell detection area to the cell separation area and T denotes time period for applying voltage. In this manner, the cells are electrically separated.
FIG. 8 shows one example of a technique for continuously purifying cells by difference between a repulsive force and an attracting force generated in cells against a dielectrophoretic force having a specified frequency. The important element at this point is that both of particulates having the repulsive force and particulates having the attracting force against the dielectrophoretic force of the specified frequency are collected at a vertex of an acute angle in an electrode having a V-shaped structure. However, the particulates having the repulsive force are not collected on a substrate on which the electrode is arranged and are collected on a substrate opposite to the substrate on which the electrode is arranged. The particulates having the attracting force are collected on the substrate on which the electrode is arranged. The structure of such a device will be explained below. FIG. 8 includes a plan view (upper view) and a side view (lower view) schematically showing one example of a device for continuously separating and purifying particulates by difference in polarities of the dielectrophoretic force. The device includes a thin-film electrode arranged on an electrode chip 3001 for generating the dielectrophoretic force, and a fine flow path arranged two-dimensionally which has three-dimensionally branched paths in a flow path chip 3101. An electrode chip 3001 and a flow path chip 3101 may be made of a transparent material such as a PMMA and a glass, so that particulates flowing in the flow path can be operated while being observed by an optical microscope. Alternatively, they may be made of an opaque material, so that particulates are operated without being observed. A sample liquid introduced from a sample liquid inlet 3102 is delivered through a dielectrophoretic force applying portion 3105 and is branched at a three-dimensional branched portion 3108 into an upper flow path 3106 and a lower flow path 3107 in the vertical direction of the flow path to be discharged through an upper flow path outlet 3103 and a lower flow path outlet 3104. An V-shaped interdigitated electrode 3003 is provided on a bottom surface of the dielectrophoretic force applying portion 3105 and is connected to an AC source via AC electrode connection points 3002 and 3002′.
FIGS. 9 and 10 show how particulates having the repulsive force against a specified frequency are actually moved. FIGS. 9 and 10 show one example of the movement. FIG. 9 (and FIG. 10) are conceptual diagrams illustrating the principle of separating and purifying particulates based on the difference in polarities of dielectrophoretic forces when the particulates receiving negative (positive) dielectrophoretic force are introduced into the device. Particulates 3201 (3202) introduced from the sample liquid inlet 3102 receive the repulsive force (attracting force) due to the dielectrophoretic force applied from the V-shaped interdigitated thin-film electrode 3003 when passing through the dielectrophoretic force applying portion 3105. Therefore, the particulates 3201 (3202) are concentrated at the center of the flow path in the planar direction and concentrated on an upper surface (lower surface) of the flow path in the vertical direction. Since the flow path is three-dimensionally branched at the three-dimensional branched portion 3108 in the vertical direction, the particulates are delivered only into the upper flow path 3106 (lower flow path 3107) and are not delivered into the lower flow path 3107 (upper flow path 3106). Thus, the particulates receiving the dielectrophoretic forces of different polarities can be exclusively separated and purified.
FIG. 11 shows one example of a result of separation and purification of particulates by difference in polarities of the dielectrophoretic forces. The upper drawing 3301 shows a lower layer portion of a device, which includes a sample liquid inlet 3311, a dielectrophoretic force applying portion 3312, V-shaped interdigitated electrodes 3313 and 3313′, and a lower flow path 3315. The lower drawing shows an upper layer portion of the device, which includes an upper flow path 3316. The flow path in a lower layer portion 3301 of the device is connected to the flow path in an upper layer portion 3302 of the device via a vertical flow path in a three-dimensional branched portion 3314. The dielectrophoretic force applying portion 3312, the lower flow path 3315, and the upper flow path 3316 are formed in a PDMS chip. Each of them has the width of 120 μm and the height (depth in the chip) of 10 μm. The vertical flow path in the three-dimensional branched portion 3314 has the diameter of 1 mm and the length of 1 mm. The V-shaped interdigitated electrodes 3313 and 3313′ are arranged by the interval of 20 μm to have the width of 20 μm and the angle of 30 degrees relative to the flow path by evaporating an aluminum material to a glass substrate. Bacillusu subtilis and polystyrene beads having the diameter of 1 μm are dispersed in the solution of 0.5 mg/ml of BSA and 13.5% of sucrose and injected through the sample liquid outlet 3311 at the flow rate of 1.6 mm/s. When the AC voltage of 20 Vpp at 1 MHz is applied to the V-shaped interdigitated electrodes 3313 and 3313′, both of the Bacillusu subtilis and polystyrene beads are collected at the center of the flow path in the planar direction (3321). It can be observed that the Bacillusu subtilis are delivered into the lower flow path 3315 (3322) by receiving the positive dielectrophoretic force, and the polystyrene beads are delivered into the upper flow path 3316 (3323) by receiving the negative dielectrophoretic force.
The examples shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 are merely used for explaining the principle of this technique. Practically, by connecting a plurality of units using this technique in line, the dielectrophoretic forces of two or more different frequencies are sequentially applied on samples. Thus, cells which react differently against the dielectrophoretic forces of different frequencies can be picked up and purified more precisely. FIG. 12 is a side view showing one example of a structure of a device for continuously separating particulates into a plurality of types and purifying them by difference in frequency responsiveness of polarities of the dielectrophoretic forces applying the particulates by combining a plurality of separation and purification devices shown in FIG. 8. The device includes a fine flow path arranged two-dimensionally on a planar chip having two three-dimensional branched flow paths, and two pair of thin-film electrodes for applying the dielectrophoretic force. A sample liquid introduced from a sample liquid inlet 4001 is branched into a first particulate outlet 4003 and a second dielectrophoretic force applying portion 4004 after passing through a first dielectrophoretic force applying portion 4002. Then, the sample liquid is branched into a second particulate outlet 4005 and a third particulate outlet 4006 after passing through the second dielectrophoretic force applying portion 4004. In the first dielectrophoretic force applying portion 4002, the particulates in the sample liquid receive the dielectrophoretic force from an AC electric field 4012 of a frequency f1 applying to a first V-shaped interdigitated electrode 4011. Particulates indicated by black circle marks 4021 and black square marks 4022 receive the negative dielectrophoretic force from the AC electric field 4012 of the frequency f1, and thus are collected on the upper surface of the flow path to be picked up from the first particulate outlet 4003. On the other hand, particulates indicated by white triangular marks 4023, black asterisks 4024, and black X marks 4025 receive the positive dielectrophoretic force from the AC electric field 4012 of the frequency f1, and thus are collected on the lower surface of the flow path in the first dielectrophoretic force applying portion 4005 to be delivered into the second dielectrophoretic force applying portion 4004. In the second dielectrophoretic force applying portion 4004, the particulates in the sample liquid receive the dielectrophoretic force from an AC electric field 4014 of a frequency f2 applying to a second V-shaped interdigitated electrode 4013. Since the particulates indicated by the white triangular marks 4023 receive the negative dielectrophoretic force from the AC electric field 4014 of the frequency f2, the particulates are collected on the upper surface of the flow path and picked up from the second particulate outlet 4005. On the other hand, since the particulates indicated by the black asterisks 4024 and black X marks 4025 receive the positive dielectrophoretic force from the AC electric field 4014 of the frequency f2, the particulates are collected on the lower surface of the flow path and picked up from the third particulate outlet 4006. Thus, particulates can be separated and purified from a suspended sample liquid of a plurality of types of particulates by the difference in frequency responsiveness in the polarities of the dielectrophoretic forces.
Also, for example, after a specific media such as stain solution is used, the media can be effectively removed by this technique. FIG. 13 is a side view schematically showing one example of a device for continuously exchanging a solvent in a sample liquid in which particulates are suspended by the dielectrophoretic force. The device includes a series of fine flow paths arranged on a planar chip which comprise two flow paths united on a chip surface in the vertical direction, a flow path including a dielectrophoretic force applying portion, and two flow paths branched in the vertical direction, and a thin-film electrode formed on a bottom surface of the flow path for applying the dielectrophoretic force. A sample liquid introduced from a sample liquid inlet 5001 flows together with an exchange solution introduced from an exchange solution inlet 5002 but does not mix with the exchange solution because the flow path has a fine structure. The sample liquid and the exchange solution are respectively divided into an upper laminar flow 5011 (indicated by slanting lines) and a lower laminar flow 5012 in the vertical direction of the flow path. After passing through a dielectrophoretic force applying portion 5003, the sample liquid and the exchange solution are discharged respectively, without being mixed, through a waste liquid outlet 5004 and a particulate re-suspended solution outlet 5005 which are branched in the vertical direction of the flow path. At this point, the particulates 5021 suspended in the sample liquid is delivered into the dielectrophoretic force applying portion 5003 while flowing through the upper laminar flow 5011. When an AC electric field 5007 of a specific frequency is applied to a V-shaped interdigitated electrode 5006 arranged on a bottom surface of the dielectrophoretic force applying portion 5003, the particulates 5021 flowing in the upper laminar flow 5011 are attracted to a bottom surface side of the flow path by receiving the dielectrophoretic force. Consequently, the particulates 5021 are moved into the lower laminar flow 5012 from the upper laminar flow 5011. By selecting such a frequency that a solute contained in the sample solution does not receive the positive dielectrophoretic force, only the particulates 5021 can be moved into the lower laminar flow 5012 without mixing the solute in the sample solution into the exchange solution. The particulates 5021 moved into the lower laminar flow 5012 can be picked up from the particulate re-suspended solution outlet 5004 and the sample liquid in the upper laminar flow 5011 from which the particulates 5021 are removed is discharged through the waste liquid outlet 5004.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention provides a cell separation system without cross-contamination, and is useful in the field of medicine, especially in the field of regeneration medicine. Also, the present invention is useful as a single-use device for concentrating and separating cells without contamination which does not require pre-treatment such as cell concentration and which can separate the cells stably.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
1: device for concentrating and separating cells; 10, 201: chip; 20: sample liquid inlet; 30: cell concentration portion; 40, 41: flow path resistance adjustment portion; 50: waste liquid outlet; 51: waste liquid outlet; 60: cell concentrate inlet; 70: cell arrangement portion; 80: cell separation portion; 90: purified cell outlet; 100: sample liquid flow; 101, 102: concentrated cell flow; 204, 218: flow path; 221: cell detection area; 222: cell separation area; 225: light source; 226, 246, 252: filter; 244: objective lens; 245: dichroic mirror; 251: mirror; 247, 253: lens; 248: fluorescence detector; 254: cell imaging camera; 260: information analyzer; 270: cell separation control signal; 1010: sample liquid inlet; 1020: waste liquid outlet; 1050: concentration portion parallel flow path; 1060: concentration portion oblique flow path; 1070: branched flow path for sorting concentrated particulates; 2010: oblique interdigitated electrode for concentration; 2020, 2021: connection point of interdigitated electrode for concentration; 2110: V-shaped interdigitated electrode for convergence; 2120, 2121: connection point of V-shaped interdigitated electrode for convergence; 2130, 2131: electrode; 2210: oblique electrode for selection; 2220, 2221: connection point of oblique electrode for selection; 3001: electrode chip; 3002, 3002′: connection point of AC source; 3003: V-shaped interdigitated electrode; 3101: flow path chip; 3102: sample liquid inlet; 3103: upper flow path outlet; 3104: lower flow path outlet; 3105: dielectrophoretic force applying portion; 3106: upper flow path; 3107: lower flow path; 3108: three-dimensional branched portion; 3201: particulate receiving negative dielectrophoretic force; 3202: particulate receiving positive dielectrophoretic force; 3301: lower layer portion of device; 3302: upper layer portion of device; 3311: sample liquid inlet; 3312: dielectrophoretic force applying portion; 3313, 3313′: V-shaped interdigitated electrode; 3314: three-dimensional branched portion; 3315: lower flow path; 3316: upper flow path; 3321: collection of Bacillusu subtilis and polystyrene beads at the center of flow path; 3322: flow of Bacillusu subtilis into lower flow path; 3323: flow of polystyrene beads into upper flow path; 4001: sample liquid inlet; 4002: first dielectrophoretic force applying portion; 4003: first particulate outlet; 4004: second dielectrophoretic force applying portion; 4005: second particulate outlet; 4006: third particulate outlet; 4011: first V-shaped interdigitated electrode; 4012: AC electric field of frequency f1; 4013: second V-shaped interdigitated electrode; 4014: AC electric field of frequency f2; 4021, 4022, 4023, 4024, 4025: particulate; 5001: sample liquid inlet; 5002: exchange solution inlet; 5003: dielectrophoretic force applying portion; 5004: waste liquid outlet; 5005: particulate re-suspended solution outlet; 5006: V-shaped interdigitated electrode; 5007: AC electric field; 5011: upper laminar flow; 5012: lower laminar flow; 5021: particulate
1. A cell separation chip, comprising:
a substrate;
a flow path formed on the substrate and configured to allow a sample liquid containing cells to flow down;
a cell concentration area provided in the flow path and configured to concentrate the cells; and
a cell separation area provided in the flow path and configured to separate the cells.
2. The cell separation chip according to claim 1, wherein
the flow path is branched downstream of the cell concentration area,
the sample liquid containing the cells passing through the cell concentration area is delivered into one of the branched flow paths, and
the cell separation area is provided in the one of the branched flow paths.
3. The cell separation chip according to claim 2, comprising a cell information detection area upstream of the cell separation area in the branched flow path, wherein
the cells are separated in the cell separation area based on information relating to the cells detected in the cell information detection area.
the branched flow path is further branched downstream of the cell separation area, and
the sample liquid containing the cells separated in the cell separation area is delivered into one of the further branched flow paths.
5. The cell separation chip according to claim 1, comprising a mechanism for applying an ultrasonic radiation pressure, a gravitational force, an electrostatic force, or a dielectrophoretic force to the cells in the cell concentration area.
6. The cell separation chip according to claim 5, wherein the mechanism includes an electrode disposed on a surface of the flow path in the cell concentration area.
7. The cell separation chip according to claim 6, wherein the electrode is an interdigitated electrode array.
8. The cell separation chip according to claim 7, wherein the interdigitated electrode array comprises an array of V-shaped electrodes, and a vertex of a V-shape of each V-shaped electrode is oriented toward a downstream of the flow path.
9. The cell separation chip according to claim 1, wherein the cell concentration area and the cell separation area are integrated in the flow path.
10. The cell separation chip according to claim 9, wherein the interdigitated electrode array comprising the array of V-shaped electrodes is arranged on one surface of the flow path in the integrated cell concentration area and cell separation area so that the vertex of the V-shape of each V-shaped electrode is oriented toward the downstream of the flow path.
11. The cell separation chip according to claim 10, wherein the flow path is branched downstream of the integrated cell concentration area and cell separation area, and the cells separated in a direction away from the electrodes or in a direction approaching the electrodes in the flow path are delivered into each branched flow path.
12. A device for concentrating and separating cells, comprising:
(a) a cell separation chip including
(i) a substrate,
(ii) a flow path formed on the substrate and configured to allow a sample liquid containing cells to flow down,
(iii) a cell concentration area provided in the flow path and configured to concentrate the cells,
(iv) a cell information detection area provided downstream of the cell concentration area in the flow path and configured to obtain information relating to the cells, and
(v) a cell separation area provided downstream of the cell information detection area in the flow path and configured to separate the cells;
(b) a mechanism configured to apply an ultrasonic radiation pressure, a gravitational force, an electrostatic force, or a dielectrophoretic force to the cells in the cell concentration area;
(c) a cell information detector including an optical system and a cell image processing unit configured to obtain information relating to the cells passing through the cell information detection area; and
(d) a mechanism configured to apply a voltage to apply an external force to the cells in the cell separation area based on the information relating to the cells obtained by the cell information detector.
13. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 12, wherein the mechanism described in (b) includes an electrode arranged on a surface of the flow path in the cell concentration area.
14. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 13, wherein the electrode is an interdigitated electrode array.
15. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 14, wherein the interdigitated electrode array comprises an array of V-shaped electrodes, and a vertex of a V-shape of each V-shaped electrode is oriented toward a downstream of the flow path.
16. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 12, comprising:
a first flow path provided on one surface of the substrate and configured to allow a liquid containing cells to flow down;
an introduction inlet configured to introduce the liquid into the first flow path;
a mechanism configured to concentrate the cells flowing down in the first flow path;
a waste liquid outlet arranged at one end of the first flow path and configured to discharge a waste liquid remaining after the cells are concentrated;
a second flow path connected to the first flow path and configured to branch the liquid containing the concentrated cells;
a mechanism configured to arrange the cells in a straight line in the second flow path while flowing the concentrated cells;
a cell information detector configured to detect a state of each cell in a predetermined area in the second flow path after arranging the cells;
a cell separator provided downstream of the cell information detector in the second flow path and configured to allow the cells to flow down into one of two branched flow paths further downstream of the second flow path in accordance with information relating to the detected cell; and
two liquid tanks provided downstream of the two branched flow paths and configured to hold a buffer liquid containing the cells flowing through the branched flow paths.
17. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 16, wherein the substrate is a plastic substrate formed by injection molding with a die, and the flow path is formed of a groove formed on one surface of the plastic substrate and a laminate film covering the groove.
18. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 16, wherein the information relating to the cell detected in the cell information detection area is obtained from information relating to an image of the cell.
19. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 16, wherein an ultrasonic radiation pressure, a dielectrophoretic force, or a dielectrophoretic force generated using an electrode array having a repeated structure of interdigitated electrodes having an acute end oriented toward a central portion downstream of the second flow path where the cells are desired to be concentrated, is used as the mechanism configured to arrange the cells.
20. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 16, wherein a pair of interdigitated electrodes are provided in the second flow path through which the cells are delivered with a buffer liquid as the cell separating means, and
the cells are divided into either one of two branched flow paths in the cell separation area depending on whether an alternating current is delivered between the two electrodes or not.
21. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 16, wherein one introduction inlet for introducing the liquid is provided in the first flow path and three or more waste liquid outlets are provided in the first flow path and the second flow path, and a flow path serving as an adjustment portion for adjusting a pressure is added immediately before the three or more waste liquid outlets to equalize a pressure as a drive force for moving the liquid introduced from the introduction inlet at the three or more outlets.
(iii) a cell concentration area and a cell separation area integrated in the flow path, and
(iv) an interdigitated electrode array comprising an array of V-shaped electrodes arranged on one surface in the flow path in the integrated cell concentration area and cell separation area so that a vertex of a V-shape of each V-shaped electrode is oriented toward a downstream of the flow path; and
(b) a mechanism configured to apply an AC electric field of a predetermined frequency to apply a dielectrophoretic force of a predetermined frequency depending on the cells to be separated to the interdigitated electrode array.
23. The device for concentrating and purifying cells according to claim 22, wherein the predetermined frequency of the AC electric field is varied.
24. The device for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 22, wherein the flow path for the cell separation chip is branched downstream of the integrated cell concentration area and cell separation area, and the cells separated in a direction away from the electrodes or in a direction approaching the electrodes in the flow path are delivered into each branched flow path.
25. A device for concentrating and separating cells, comprising a plurality of the devices for concentrating and separating cells according to claim 24, wherein at least one of the branched flow paths is connected to an upstream end of a flow path configured to allow the sample liquid containing the cells in another device for concentrating and separating cells to flow down, and
the plurality of devices for concentrating and separating cells are arranged in tandem so that the liquid containing the cells flowing through the at least one of the branched flow paths is further concentrated and separated in the other device for concentrating and separating cells.
US13/138,785 2009-03-31 2010-03-31 Device for concentrating and separating cells Active 2031-02-21 US9109197B2 (en)
JP2009086076 2009-03-31
JP209-086076 2009-03-31
JP2009-086076 2009-03-31
JP2010039371A JP2010252785A (en) 2009-03-31 2010-02-24 Device for concentrating and separating cell
PCT/JP2010/055793 WO2010113994A1 (en) 2009-03-31 2010-03-31 Device for concentrating and separating cells
US13/138,785 Active 2031-02-21 US9109197B2 (en) 2009-03-31 2010-03-31 Device for concentrating and separating cells
US20130029407A1 (en) * 2010-02-24 2013-01-31 Kanagawa Academy Of Science And Technology Cell analyzer
CN104130936A (en) * 2014-08-14 2014-11-05 江苏瑞明生物科技有限公司 Oscillation type single cell separator
US20150041012A1 (en) * 2013-08-07 2015-02-12 Korea Institute Of Science And Technology Device for controlling particles
CN104583386A (en) * 2012-08-20 2015-04-29 泰尔茂比司特公司 Concentrating components of fluid circulated through cell growth chamber
CN104968417A (en) * 2012-08-01 2015-10-07 宾夕法尼亚州立大学研究基金会 High efficiency separation and manipulation of particles and cells
US20150330887A1 (en) * 2012-12-28 2015-11-19 Korea University Research And Business Foundation Apparatus and method for microparticle separation based on microfluidic chromatography using surface acoustic wave
US9228183B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2016-01-05 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustophoretic separation technology using multi-dimensional standing waves
US9340435B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2016-05-17 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Separation of multi-component fluid through ultrasonic acoustophoresis
US9410256B2 (en) 2009-11-16 2016-08-09 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Ultrasound and acoustophoresis for water purification
US9416344B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2016-08-16 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Bioreactor using acoustic standing waves
US9422328B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2016-08-23 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustic bioreactor processes
US9457302B2 (en) 2014-05-08 2016-10-04 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustophoretic device with piezoelectric transducer array
US9550134B2 (en) 2015-05-20 2017-01-24 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustic manipulation of particles in standing wave fields
US9623348B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2017-04-18 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Reflector for an acoustophoretic device
US9663756B1 (en) 2016-02-25 2017-05-30 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustic separation of cellular supporting materials from cultured cells
US9670477B2 (en) 2015-04-29 2017-06-06 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustophoretic device for angled wave particle deflection
US9675906B2 (en) 2014-09-30 2017-06-13 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustophoretic clarification of particle-laden non-flowing fluids
US9695063B2 (en) 2010-08-23 2017-07-04 Flodesign Sonics, Inc Combined acoustic micro filtration and phononic crystal membrane particle separation
EP3060905A4 (en) * 2013-10-25 2017-08-02 Monash University Virtual deterministic lateral displacement for particle separation using surface acoustic waves
US9725690B2 (en) 2013-06-24 2017-08-08 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Fluid dynamic sonic separator
US9725710B2 (en) 2014-01-08 2017-08-08 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustophoresis device with dual acoustophoretic chamber
US9745569B2 (en) 2013-09-13 2017-08-29 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. System for generating high concentration factors for low cell density suspensions
US9745548B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2017-08-29 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustic perfusion devices
US9744483B2 (en) 2014-07-02 2017-08-29 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Large scale acoustic separation device
US9752114B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2017-09-05 Flodesign Sonics, Inc Bioreactor using acoustic standing waves
EP3100783A4 (en) * 2014-01-31 2017-09-27 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Flow channel plate
US9796607B2 (en) 2010-06-16 2017-10-24 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Phononic crystal desalination system and methods of use
US9796956B2 (en) 2013-11-06 2017-10-24 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Multi-stage acoustophoresis device
US9827511B2 (en) 2014-07-02 2017-11-28 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustophoretic device with uniform fluid flow
US9950282B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2018-04-24 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Electronic configuration and control for acoustic standing wave generation
US10040011B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2018-08-07 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustophoretic multi-component separation technology platform
US10052431B2 (en) 2014-06-09 2018-08-21 Ascent Bio-Nano Technologies, Inc. System for manipulation and sorting of particles
US10071383B2 (en) 2010-08-23 2018-09-11 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. High-volume fast separation of multi-phase components in fluid suspensions
US10106770B2 (en) 2015-03-24 2018-10-23 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Methods and apparatus for particle aggregation using acoustic standing waves
US10161926B2 (en) 2015-06-11 2018-12-25 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Acoustic methods for separation of cells and pathogens
US10322949B2 (en) 2012-03-15 2019-06-18 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. Transducer and reflector configurations for an acoustophoretic device
WO2015035246A1 (en) 2013-09-05 2015-03-12 Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Multidimensional hydrodynamic focusing chamber
WO2015076251A1 (en) * 2013-11-21 2015-05-28 国立大学法人東京大学 Apparatus for selecting and removing cell, and method for selecting and removing cell
WO2017035287A1 (en) * 2015-08-27 2017-03-02 President And Fellows Of Harvard College Acoustic wave sorting
GB201706947D0 (en) * 2017-05-02 2017-06-14 Cytosight Ltd Fluid sample enrichment system
US20060139638A1 (en) * 2003-02-05 2006-06-29 Evotec Technologies Gmbh Multiparametric cell identification and sorting method and associated device
US20060177815A1 (en) * 2004-11-29 2006-08-10 The Regents Of The University Of California Dielectrophoretic particle sorter
US20080283401A1 (en) * 2007-05-18 2008-11-20 Washington, University Of Time-varying flows for microfluidic particle separation
DE4034697C2 (en) 1990-10-31 1992-09-03 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung Ev, 8000 Muenchen, De
CA2245514C (en) 1996-01-31 2006-05-23 Board Of Regents, The University Of Texas System Fractionation using dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation
GB9615775D0 (en) 1996-07-26 1996-09-04 British Tech Group Apparatus and method for characterising particles using dielectrophoresis
US6673225B1 (en) 1998-05-29 2004-01-06 Industrial Research Limited Method and apparatus for concentrating and/or positioning particles or cells
JP4093740B2 (en) 2001-09-27 2008-06-04 独立行政法人科学技術振興機構 Particulate separation microchip and particulate sorting apparatus
JP3898103B2 (en) * 2002-08-26 2007-03-28 独立行政法人科学技術振興機構 Cell sorting
JP4420900B2 (en) 2003-05-19 2010-02-24 独立行政法人科学技術振興機構 Cell sorter
JP2009262107A (en) 2008-04-28 2009-11-12 Takaharu Enjoji Dielectrophoretic electrode, dielectrophoretic cell and collector for dielectric fine particle using the same
US20060152708A1 (en) * 2003-02-05 2006-07-13 Torsten Muller Multiparametric detection in a fluidic microsystem
US9023294B2 (en) * 2010-02-24 2015-05-05 Kanagawa Academy Of Science And Technology Cell analyzer
US9606086B2 (en) 2012-08-01 2017-03-28 The Penn State Research Foundation High-efficiency separation and manipulation of particles and cells in microfluidic device using surface acoustic waves at an oblique angle
US10082455B2 (en) * 2012-12-28 2018-09-25 Korea University Research And Business Foundation Apparatus and method for microparticle separation based on microfluidic chromatography using surface acoustic wave
US9702507B2 (en) * 2013-08-07 2017-07-11 Korea Institute Of Science And Technology Device for controlling particles
US10308928B2 (en) 2013-09-13 2019-06-04 Flodesign Sonics, Inc. System for generating high concentration factors for low cell density suspensions
CN104130936B (en) * 2014-08-14 2016-01-27 江苏瑞明生物科技有限公司 Oscillation type single cell separator
US6540895B1 (en) 2003-04-01 Microfabricated cell sorter for chemical and biological materials
US6849423B2 (en) 2005-02-01 Focused acoustics for detection and sorting of fluid volumes
US20080176211A1 (en) 2008-07-24 Microfabricated Cell Sorter
EP1344817A1 (en) 2003-09-17 Apparatus for microscopic observation of long-term culture of single cell
CN101609088B (en) 2013-06-12 Micro-fluidic chip and flow sending method in micro-fluidic chip
Radisic et al. 2006 Micro-and nanotechnology in cell separation
US20070243523A1 (en) 2007-10-18 Methods and Apparatus for the Manipulation of Particle Suspensions and Testing Thereof
US7312085B2 (en) 2007-12-25 Microfluidic particle-analysis systems
US7472794B2 (en) 2009-01-06 Cell sorting device and method of manufacturing the same
AU2003224817B2 (en) 2008-11-06 Microfluidic particle-analysis systems
EP2440941B1 (en) 2017-05-31 Sheath flow devices and methods
CN1860363B (en) 2011-12-28 A method and apparatus for using an optical switch to the microfluidic channel network cell sorting
EP1348116B1 (en) 2015-09-02 Focused acoustic ejection cell sorting system and method
US6251615B1 (en) 2001-06-26 Cell analysis methods
US20060060767A1 (en) 2006-03-23 Methods and apparatus for use of optical forces for identification, characterization and/or sorting of particles
Huh et al. 2005 Microfluidics for flow cytometric analysis of cells and particles
US20070207548A1 (en) 2007-09-06 Microflow System for Particle Separation and Analysis
US6744038B2 (en) 2004-06-01 Methods of separating particles using an optical gradient
US8986944B2 (en) 2015-03-24 Methods and compositions for separating rare cells from fluid samples
CA2684612C (en) 2017-01-17 Cell sorting system and methods
US8467040B2 (en) 2013-06-18 Method and apparatus for sorting cells
JP5055351B2 (en) 2012-10-24 Cantilevered coaxial flow injection apparatus and method for classifying particles
JP4093740B2 (en) 2008-06-04 Particulate separation microchip and particulate sorting apparatus
US6784420B2 (en) 2004-08-31 Method of separating particles using an optical gradient
US6833542B2 (en) 2004-12-21 Method for sorting particles
Owner name: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO MEDICAL AND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:YASUDA, KENJI;MASAHITO, HAYASHI;HATTORI, AKIHIRO;SIGNING DATES FROM 20111025 TO 20111102;REEL/FRAME:027406/0448
Owner name: KANAGAWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, JAPAN
Owner name: ON-CHIP CELLOMICS CONSORTIUM CO., LTD., JAPAN
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ON-CHIP CELLOMICS CONSORTIUM;REEL/FRAME:035939/0695
Owner name: KANAGAWA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHN
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KANAGAWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY;REEL/FRAME:043331/0301
2019-04-08 FEPP Fee payment procedure
Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY


Physio.co.uk provides a full range of services to address your clinical therapy needs. This includes occupational therapy services, which specifically address the issues of overcoming a physical limitation when interacting with the environment around you. This could include simple daily activities like dressing, cooking and shopping, or be related to your duties in a work environment.
Physio.co.uk provides a private occupational therapy service in Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Merseyside. Our specialist occupational therapists have experience providing a wide variety of services to individuals with many different conditions. We aim to provide an effective occupational therapy service to respond quickly to client's needs and allow them the best opportunity to realise their potential.
A diverse service with no waiting lists, Physio.co.uk allow individuals to reach their goals, return to activities of daily living and improve the quality of their lives.
With home and clinic based assessment and treatment sessions available our occupational therapists assist a huge variety of individuals including children, adolescents, adults and the elderly.
The Manchester OT website provides information on our broad range of services and how individuals, organisations, charities, solicitors, case managers and businesses can benefit from our comprehensive occupational therapy assessments and reports.
For more information on how occupational health physiotherapy can help treat your conditions, or to book an appointment with Physio.co.uk, please contact us via email at office@physio.co.uk or call us on 0330 088 7800.


Lincoln College has completed the latest step in its project to expand city-centre student accommodation, acquiring the highly coveted property of 120-121 High Street.
The 19th century grade II listed building, located on the corner of High Street and Alfred Street, is currently occupied by NatWest and Coutts bank. Both businesses are expected to remain open and operational, whilst a 8,100sqft extension to the rear of the building is redeveloped as accommodation for Lincoln students.
The conversion of the property will create 15 modern apartments with a further storey being added to the property providing two additional penthouse apartments.