Abstract: Embodiments of the microfluidic device may include of an array of microfluidic cell capture chambers, each functionalized with a different antibody to recognize a target antigen, and a network of code-multiplexed Coulter counters placed at strategic nodes across the device to quantify the fraction of cell population captured in each microfluidic chamber. For example, an apparatus may comprise a fluid inlet port divided into a plurality of separate microfluidic paths, each separate microfluidic path configured to transport a plurality of cells, the plurality of separate microfluidic paths, each comprising a plurality of microfluidic cell capture chambers, an outlet port to discharge a merged output of cells from the plurality of microfluidic cell capture chambers, and a plurality of sensors to detect cells passing into or out of a microfluidic cell capture chamber.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for sorting and analyzing cells and, more particularly, to systems and methods for sorting and analyzing cells using magnetophoresis in a microfluidic platform. Some embodiments of a microfluidic device comprise an inlet for receiving a plurality of magnetically-labeled cells, a flow chamber, a magnet positioned alongside the flow chamber, and a plurality of bins having a sensor for detecting the magnetically-labeled cells. In some embodiments, the magnetic flux of the magnet causes the magnetically-labeled cells to be deflected to a particular bin. The sensors of each bin can be used to calculate the surface antigen expression and/or size of the cells within a sample of magnetically-labeled cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods to integrate electrical sensors comprising parallel electrodes into microfluidic devices that are manufactured using soft lithography are disclosed herein. With minimal fabrication complexity, more uniform electric fields than conventional coplanar electrodes are produced. The methods disclosed are also more suitable for the construction of complex electrical sensor networks in microfluidic devices due to greater layout flexibility and provide improved sensitivity over conventional coplanar electrodes.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may include an inlet, an outlet, first and second channels arranged in parallel, a first sensor pair positioned along the first channel, and a second sensor pair positioned along the second channel. The first channel may include a first upstream zone, a first downstream zone, and a first constriction zone. The second channel may include a second upstream zone, a second downstream zone, and a second constriction zone. The first sensor pair may include a first entry sensor configured to detect a first cell flowing through the first upstream zone, and a first exit sensor configured to detect the first cell flowing through the first downstream zone. The second sensor pair may include a second entry sensor configured to detect a second cell flowing through the second upstream zone, and a second exit sensor configured to detect the second cell flowing through the second downstream zone.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic barrier device including: a plurality of outlets disposed on a surface; a plurality of inlets dispersed among the plurality of outlets and disposed on the surface; and at least one pump in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets and the plurality of inlets, the at least one pump configured to simultaneously pump an operating fluid out of the plurality of outlets and pull the operating fluid back through the plurality of inlets to create a hydrodynamic barrier on the surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a device comprising a first adhesive material; a substrate configured to move a fluid by capillary action, wherein the substrate has a first substrate side and a second substrate side opposite the first substrate side, further wherein the first substrate side is coupled to at least a portion of the first adhesive material; a second adhesive material, wherein the second adhesive material is coupled to at least a portion of the second substrate side; a first line of a non-delaminating ink and a second line of the non-delaminating ink disposed on the first substrate side, wherein the first line and the second line define a channel; and a third line of a delaminating ink extending between the first line and the second line disposed on the first substrate side, and other embodiments thereof. Further provided are methods of using the device as disclosed herein.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may include an inlet, an outlet, first and second channels arranged in parallel, a first sensor pair positioned along the first channel, and a second sensor pair positioned along the second channel. The first channel may include a first upstream zone, a first downstream zone, and a first constriction zone. The second channel may include a second upstream zone, a second downstream zone, and a second constriction zone. The first sensor pair may include a first entry sensor configured to detect a first cell flowing through the first upstream zone, and a first exit sensor configured to detect the first cell flowing through the first downstream zone. The second sensor pair may include a second entry sensor configured to detect a second cell flowing through the second upstream zone, and a second exit sensor configured to detect the second cell flowing through the second downstream zone.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may include an inlet, an outlet, first and second channels arranged in parallel, a first sensor pair positioned along the first channel, and a second sensor pair positioned along the second channel. The first channel may include a first upstream zone, a first downstream zone, and a first constriction zone. The second channel may include a second upstream zone, a second downstream zone, and a second constriction zone. The first sensor pair may include a first entry sensor configured to detect a first cell flowing through the first upstream zone, and a first exit sensor configured to detect the first cell flowing through the first downstream zone. The second sensor pair may include a second entry sensor configured to detect a second cell flowing through the second upstream zone, and a second exit sensor configured to detect the second cell flowing through the second downstream zone.

Abstract: An embodiment of the disclosed technology provides an isolation device for isolating clustered particles. The isolation device can include an inlet configured to receive a fluid and an outlet configured to output the fluid. The fluid can include a plurality of non-clustered particles and a plurality of clustered particles. The isolation device can include a plurality of microwells. Each microwell can have a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom surfacing having a meshed trapping region. The meshed trapping region can capture the plurality of clustered particles while allowing the non-clustered particles to pass. The outputted fluid can include the plurality of non-clustered particle and be substantially free of the plurality of clustered particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for decoding code-multiplexed Coulter signals are described herein. An example method can include receiving a code-multiplexed signal detected by a network of Coulter sensors, where the code-multiplexed signal includes a plurality of distinct Coulter signals, and inputting the code-multiplexed signal into a deep-learning network. The method can also include determining information indicative of at least one of a size, a speed, or a location of a particle detected by the network of Coulter sensors by using the deep-learning network to process the code-multiplexed signal. The method can further include storing the information indicative of at least one of the size, the speed, or the location of the particle detected by the network of Coulter sensors.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for particle analysis, such as immunophenotyping, includes a plurality of microfluidic channels for the passage of a particle-laden fluid flow, a plurality of dedicated impedance sensors for generating impedance signals relative to each microfluidic sensor. The impedance sensors are CODES Coulter sensors, each having a distinct coded sequence for generating mutually orthogonal signals. The system uses a multi-frequency excitation signal for driving the Coulter sensors, such that the Coulter sensors generate multi-frequency impedance signals. The system outputs the multi-frequency signals of the plurality of impedance sensors as a single multi-frequency multiplexed signal, which is subsequently separated into a plurality of single-frequency multiplexed signals, which are then demodulated into single-frequency component signals corresponding to each of the Coulter sensors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the microfluidic device may include of an array of microfluidic cell capture chambers, each functionalized with a different antibody to recognize a target antigen, and a network of code-multiplexed Coulter counters placed at strategic nodes across the device to quantify the fraction of cell population captured in each microfluidic chamber. For example, an apparatus may comprise a fluid inlet port divided into a plurality of separate microfluidic paths, each separate microfluidic path configured to transport a plurality of cells, the plurality of separate microfluidic paths, each comprising a plurality of microfluidic cell capture chambers, an outlet port to discharge a merged output of cells from the plurality of microfluidic cell capture chambers, and a plurality of sensors to detect cells passing into or out of a microfluidic cell capture chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods to integrate electrical sensors comprising parallel electrodes into microfluidic devices that are manufactured using soft lithography are disclosed herein. With minimal fabrication complexity, more uniform electric fields than conventional coplanar electrodes are produced. The methods disclosed are also more suitable for the construction of complex electrical sensor networks in microfluidic devices due to greater layout flexibility and provide improved sensitivity over conventional coplanar electrodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for decoding code-multiplexed Coulter signals are described herein. An example method can include receiving a code-multiplexed signal detected by a network of Coulter sensors, where the code-multiplexed signal includes a plurality of distinct Coulter signals, and inputting the code-multiplexed signal into a deep-learning network. The method can also include determining information indicative of at least one of a size, a speed, or a location of a particle detected by the network of Coulter sensors by using the deep-learning network to process the code-multiplexed signal. The method can further include storing the information indicative of at least one of the size, the speed, or the location of the particle detected by the network of Coulter sensors.

Abstract: A microfluidic device may include an inlet, an outlet, first and second channels arranged in parallel, a first sensor pair positioned along the first channel, and a second sensor pair positioned along the second channel. The first channel may include a first upstream zone, a first downstream zone, and a first constriction zone. The second channel may include a second upstream zone, a second downstream zone, and a second constriction zone. The first sensor pair may include a first entry sensor configured to detect a first cell flowing through the first upstream zone, and a first exit sensor configured to detect the first cell flowing through the first downstream zone. The second sensor pair may include a second entry sensor configured to detect a second cell flowing through the second upstream zone, and a second exit sensor configured to detect the second cell flowing through the second downstream zone.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes devices and methods for detecting rare cells in whole blood samples using a microfluidic device. Such devices include a housing with a microfluidic chamber having first and second microfluidic layers, each microfluidic layer having an array of microscale structure. Other disclosed devices also include a housing including a chemically functionalized hydrogel matrix and a pump connected to the housing. Disclosed methods include constructing, with an additive manufacturing device, a microfluidic device having a microfluidic chamber, removing, by a thermal release process, at least some of the sacrificial support material deposited by the additive manufacturing device, and chemically functionalizing at least a portion of the microfluidic chamber. Other disclosed methods include chemically functionalizing a hydrogel matrix and connecting the chemically functionalized hydrogel matrix to a pump.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for sorting and analyzing cells and, more particularly, to systems and methods for sorting and analyzing cells using magnetophoresis in a microfluidic platform. Some embodiments of a microfluidic device comprise an inlet for receiving a plurality of magnetically-labeled cells, a flow chamber, a magnet positioned alongside the flow chamber, and a plurality of bins having a sensor for detecting the magnetically-labeled cells. In some embodiments, the magnetic flux of the magnet causes the magnetically-labeled cells to be deflected to a particular bin. The sensors of each bin can be used to calculate the surface antigen expression and/or size of the cells within a sample of magnetically-labeled cells.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic barrier device including: a plurality of outlets disposed on a surface; a plurality of inlets dispersed among the plurality of outlets and disposed on the surface; and at least one pump in fluid communication with the plurality of outlets and the plurality of inlets, the at least one pump configured to simultaneously pump an operating fluid out of the plurality of outlets and pull the operating fluid back through the plurality of inlets to create a hydrodynamic barrier on the surface.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes devices and methods for detecting rare cells in whole blood samples using a microfluidic device. Such devices include a housing with a microfluidic chamber having first and second microfluidic layers, each microfluidic layer having an array of microscale structure. Other disclosed devices also include a housing including a chemically functionalized hydrogel matrix and a pump connected to the housing. Disclosed methods include constructing, with an additive manufacturing device, a microfluidic device having a microfluidic chamber, removing, by a thermal release process, at least some of the sacrificial support material deposited by the additive manufacturing device, and chemically functionalizing at least a portion of the microfluidic chamber. Other disclosed methods include chemically functionalizing a hydrogel matrix and connecting the chemically functionalized hydrogel matrix to a pump.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to microscopy cantilevers. Consistent with an example embodiment, aspects of the invention are directed to a cantilever having a body and a force sensor arrangement extending from an end of the body and including a tip near a free end of the force sensor arrangement. The force sensor arrangement exhibits a high temporal response to the tip's interaction with a sample, relative to the response of the cantilever. The force sensor arrangement's response is detected and used to characterize the sample.