Microfabricated AC impedance sensor

US6437551B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Peter Krulevitch · Pleasanton, US
• Harold Ackler · Boise, US
• Frederick F. Becker · Houston, US
• Bernhard Boser · Berkeley, US
• Adam B. Eldredge · Austin, US
• Christopher K. Fuller · Livermore, US
• Peter Gascoyne · Bellaire, US
• Julie Hamilton · Tracy, US
• Stefan P. Swierkowski · Livermore, US
• Xiao-Bo Wang · Houston, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 1, 2000
• Grant date: Aug 20, 2002
• Expiry date: Nov 3, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2015/139
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A microfabricated instrument for detecting and identifying cells and other particles based on alternating current (AC) impedance measurements. The microfabricated AC impedance sensor includes two critical elements: 1) a microfluidic chip, preferably of glass substrates, having at least one microchannel therein and with electrodes patterned on both substrates, and 2) electrical circuits that connect to the electrodes on the microfluidic chip and detect signals associated with particles traveling down the microchannels. These circuits enable multiple AC impedance measurements of individual particles at high throughput rates with sufficient resolution to identify different particle and cell types as appropriate for environmental detection and clinical diagnostic applications.