Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterilizing and destroying a syringe needle includes a rotating needle carriage that receives a needle in a loading position. The needle carriage includes a port sized to accept a pen-type hypodermic syringe and an insert to downsize the port for accepting a conventional hypodermic syringe. The needle carriage is rotated downwardly to a cut-off position. At the cut-off position, two opposing contact blades pinch the needle, which electrically connects the positive and negative terminals of a battery. Current flows through the contact blades to shear the needle. The sheared portion of the needle then falls into a waste compartment in the bottom of the apparatus. When the syringe is removed from the needle carriage, the needle carriage rotates upwardly and returns to the loading position.

Abstract: Apparatus and Methods are provided for a microfabricated fluorescence activated cell sorter based on a switch for rapid, active control of cell routing through a microfluidic channel network. This sorter enables low-stress, highly efficient sorting of populations of small numbers of cells (i.e., 1000-100,000 cells). The invention includes packaging of the microfluidic channel network in a self-contained plastic cartridge that enables microfluidic channel network to macro-scale instrument interconnect, in a sterile, disposable format. Optical and/or fluidic switching forces are used alone or in combination to effect switching.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterilizing and destroying a syringe needle includes a rotating needle carriage that receives a needle in a loading position. The needle carriage includes a port sized to accept a pen-type hypodermic syringe and an insert to downsize the port for accepting a conventional hypodermic syringe. The needle carriage is rotated downwardly to a cut-off position. At the cut-off position, two opposing contact blades pinch the needle, which electrically connects the positive and negative terminals of a battery. Current flows through the contact blades to shear the needle. The sheared portion of the needle then falls into a waste compartment in the bottom of the apparatus. When the syringe is removed from the needle carriage, the needle carriage rotates upwardly and returns to the loading position.

Abstract: A method for electronically stabilizing hybridization of nucleic acids bound at a test site of a microelectronic device is described. First and second negatively charged nucleic acids are provided, the second nucleic acid being bound to the test site. A zwitterionic buffer having a conductance of less than 100 mS/cm is applied to the microelectronic device. A current is applied to the test site to positively bias the test site, such that the first negatively charged nucleic acid is transported to the positively biased test site having the bound the second negatively charged nucleic acid. At the test site, the first and second negatively charged nucleic acids hybridize. The zwitterionic buffer acquires a net positive charge under influence of the current, such that the positively charged zwitterionic buffer stabilizes the hybridization by reducing the repulsion between the first and second negatively charged nucleic acids.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers. In one aspect, a particle may be characterized by determining its optophoretic constant or signature. For example, a diseased cell has a different optophoretic constant from a healthy cell, thereby providing information, or the basis for sorting. In the event of physical sorting, various forces may be used for separation, including fluidic forces, such as through the use of laminar flow, or optical forces, or mechanical forces, such as through adhesion.

Abstract: A method for sorting a particle of interest from a plurality of particles includes the steps of determining an absorption maxima of the particle of interest, providing a light source for generating a beam of coherent light at a wavelength correlating to the absorption maxima, providing a plurality of particles on a support surface, and imparting relative motion between the beam of coherent light and the plurality of particles so as to cause differential movement between the particle of interest and the plurality of particles. The particle of interest is then collected.

Abstract: An electronic device for performing active biological operations includes an optically confining region including a support substrate having a via and a chip disposed in a facing arrangement with the support substrate, the chip including an array of electrodes disposed thereon. An optically accessible top member is disposed in a facing arrangement with the support substrate opposite the chip. The device further includes a source of illumination and an edge illumination layer having an input adapted to receive illumination from the source, and a terminal edge that outputs the illumination, the edge illumination layer being disposed adjacent to the support substrate. Illumination from the terminal edge of the illumination layer is directed into the optically confining region.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers. In one aspect, a method is provided for interacting an optical gradient field in three dimensions with a particle by interfering two beams to generate a plurality of planar fronts, providing a plurality of particles in a medium, and moving the planar fronts relative to the particles, whereby the particles are separated at least in part based upon the dielectric constant of the particles.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers. The invention includes methods for separating particles in a medium where the particles having differing dielectric constants by providing a medium having a dielectric constant between the dielectric constants of the particles, subjecting the particles in the media to an optical gradient field, and separating the particles.

Abstract: An electronic device for performing biological operations includes a support substrate and an array of microlocations disposed on the substrate. The array of microlocations include electronically addressable electrodes. A first collection electrode is disposed on the substrate and adjacent to a first side of the array of microlocations. A second collection electrode is disposed on the substrate and adjacent to a second side of the array of microlocations, the second side of the array being opposite of the first side such that the array of microlocations is disposed between the first and second collection electrodes. A flow cell is supported on the substrate. Preferably, the combined area of the collection electrodes is a substantial fraction, preferably at least 50% of the area of the footprint of the flow cell.

Abstract: A device for characterizing a cell or particle includes a channel having an inlet and an outlet, the channel containing a moving fluid therein for carrying the cell or particle from the inlet to the outlet. The device includes a detector for detecting the presence of a cell or particle along portion of the channel, the detector including a first detecting position, a second detecting position, and a third detecting position. The device further includes a light source providing an optical gradient disposed within the channel and between the second and third detecting positions. A control system is coupled to the detector to receive and process detected signals from the detector. During operation, the amount of time that a cell or particle takes to flow through a first distance (i.e., its time-of-flight) is measured. The cell or particle is then flowed past a second, downstream distance in the presence of an optical gradient and its time-of-flight is measured.

Abstract: A self-addressable, self-assembling microelectronic device is designed and fabricated to actively carry out and control multi-step and multiplex molecular biological reactions in microscopic formats. These reactions include nucleic acid hybridizations, antibody/antigen reactions, diagnostics, and biopolymer synthesis. The device can be fabricated using both microlithographic and micro-machining techniques. The device can electronically control the transport and attachment of specific binding entities to specific microlocations. The specific binding entities include molecular biological molecules such as nucleic acids and polypeptides. The device can subsequently control the transport and reaction of analytes or reactants at the addressed specific microlocations. The device is able to concentrate analytes and reactants, remove non-specifically bound molecules, provide stringency control for DNA hybridization reactions, and improve the detection of analytes. The device can be electronically replicated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the needle portion of a hypodermic syringe and simultaneously sterilizing and destroying the needle portion of a hypodermic syringe, thereby eliminating the risk of infection by microorganisms that may be present in or on the needle. When a syringe is inserted into the apparatus, the needle is heated to a temperature sufficient to melt or at least soften the needle, and sufficient to inactivate any virus, bacteria, yeast, or other microorganism remaining on or within the needle. The needle also is cur at the location of melting so that the needle is removed from the remaining portion of the syringe. The heating and cutting elements are part of a disposable cartridge, which also contains the cut-off needle portions.

Abstract: A self-addressable, self-assembling microelectronic device is designed and fabricated to actively carry out and control multi-step and multiplex molecular biological reactions in microscopic formats. These reactions include nucleic acid hybridizations, antibody/antigen reactions, diagnostics, and biopolymer synthesis. The device can be fabricated using both microlithographic and micro-machining techniques. The device can electronically control the transport and attachment of specific binding entities to specific microlocations. The specific binding entities include molecular biological molecules such as nucleic acids and polypeptides. The device can subsequently control the transport and reaction of analytes or reactants at the addressed specific microlocations. The device is able to concentrate analytes and reactants, remove non-specifically bound molecules, provide stringency control for DNA hybridization reactions, and improve the detection of analytes. The device can be electronically replicated.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers. In one aspect, a particle may be characterized by determining its optophoretic constant or signature. For example, a diseased cell has a different optophoretic constant from a healthy cell, thereby providing information, or the basis for sorting. In the event of physical sorting, various forces may be used for separation, including fluidic forces, such as through the use of laminar flow, or optical forces, or mechanical forces, such as through adhesion.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers. The invention includes methods for separating particles in a medium where the particles having differing dielectric constants by providing a medium having a dielectric constant between the dielectric constants of the particles, subjecting the particles in the media to an optical gradient field, and separating the particles.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers. In one aspect, a method is provided for analysis or separation of a plurality of particles by selecting a wavelength for illumination based upon an analysis of absorption spectra, illuminating the particles with the selected wavelength, considering response of particles to multiple wavelengths, selecting wavelengths based on one or more desired parameters, and illuminating the population to obtain optimized differential motion.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for interacting light with particles, including but not limited to biological matter such as cells, in unique and highly useful ways. Optophoresis consists of subjecting particles to various optical forces, especially optical gradient forces, and more particularly moving optical gradient forces, so as to obtain useful results. In biology, this technology represents a practical approach to probing the inner workings of a living cell, preferably without any dyes, labels or other markers. In one aspect, a method is provided for separating particles having different dielectric constants by separating the particles in a medium having a dielectric constant chosen to enhance the sensitivity of the discrimination between the particles, and changing the medium to one having a dielectric constant which causes faster separation between the particles.