Micro Sorters with 3D Focusing and Continuous Sorting

Abstract

Dielectrophoretic (DEP) flow sorters for continuously selecting particles (cells) of interest from a mixture of many samples were designed and studied. DEP forces created by non-uniform electric fields are used as confining forces to three-dimensionally focus bio-particles into a single particle stream, as well as deflection forces to continuously sort the bio-particles in the micro sorter. The key mechanism of the flow sorters that can focus and sort particles against fluid flows is demonstrated numerically and experimentally.