Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for fractionation using conventional dielectrophoresis and field flow fractionation

US5993630A · kind A · utility

152Cited by
7References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 1996
Grant dateNov 30, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2030/0065
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a novel apparatus and novel methods for the separtion, characterization, and manipulation of matter. In particular, the invention combines the use of frequency-dependent dielectric and conductive properties of particulate matter and solubilized matter with the properties of the suspending and transporting medium to discriminate and separate such matter. The apparatus includes a chamber having at least one electrode element and at least one inlet and one output port into which cells are introduced and removed from the chamber. Matter carried through the chamber in a fluid stream is then displaced within the fluid by a dielectrophoretic (DEP) force caused by the energized electrode. Following displacement within the fluid, matter travels through the chamber at velocities according to the velocity profile of the chamber. After the matter has transitted through the chamber, it exits at the opposite end of the chamber at a characteristic position. Methods according to the invention involve using the apparatus for discriminating and separating matter for research, diagnosis of a condition, and therapeutic purposes. Examples of such methods may includ…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.