Microfluidic isolation of tumor cells or other rare cells from whole blood or other liquids

US10429376B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE · US

Inventors

• Steven A. Soper · Baton Rouge, US
• Michael C. Murphy · Baton Rouge, US
• June Feng · Duluth, US
• Robin L. McCarley · Prairieville, US
• André A. Adams · Thorn, NL

Key dates

• Filing date: May 13, 2009
• Grant date: Oct 1, 2019
• Expiry date: Jul 13, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2015/1006
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Microdevices are disclosed to efficiently, accurately, and rapidly isolate and enumerate rare cells, such as circulating tumor cells, from liquids such as whole blood. The system employs multiple parallel meandering channels having a width on the order of 1-2 cell diameters. The microdevices can be produced at low-cost, may readily be automated, and in many instances may be used without pre-processing of the sample. They may be used to isolate and enumerate rare cells, including for example the detection and diagnosis of cancers, cancer staging, or evaluating the effectiveness of a therapeutic intervention, or detecting pathogenic bacteria. The device may optionally be used to nondestructively capture and later to release target cells.