Methods, compositions, and automated systems for separating rare cells from fluid samples
US6949355B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 10, 2002 |
| Grant date | Sep 27, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2015/0681
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention recognizes that diagnosis and prognosis of many conditions can depend on the enrichment of rare cells from a complex fluid sample. In particular, the enrichment of fetal cells from maternal samples, such as maternal blood samples, can greatly aid in the detection of fetal abnormalities or a variety of genetic conditions. In addition, the present invention recognizes that the enrichment of rare malignant cells from patient samples, can aid in diagnosis, prognosis, and development of therapeutic modalities for patients.A first aspect of the present invention is a microfabricated filter for filtering a fluid sample. A microfabricated filter of the present invention comprises at least one tapered pore, and preferably comprises at least two tapered pores whose variation in size is 20% or less. The present invention also includes a method of enriching rare cells of a fluid sample using a microfabricated filter of the present invention.Another aspect of the invention is solutions for the selective sedimentation of red blood cells (RBCs) from a blood sample comprising a red blood cell aggregating agent and at least one specific binding member that selectively binds RB…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.