Patent ID: 8834794
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: B01L,C12M,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A microfluidic device for capturing, and counting the number of, one specific type of cell in a mixture of cells submerged in a liquid medium, said device comprising: an array of interdigitated electrodes located on ceiling of said microfluidic device, an array of interdigitated electrodes located on floor of said microfluidic device, and; a plurality of freestanding conductive nanoneedles grown on equal intervals on micromachined surfaces of each of said arrays of interdigitated electrodes such that said micromachined surfaces of said interdigitated electrodes on ceiling and floor of said microfluidic device face toward each other, wherein said freestanding conductive nanoneedles are treated so that the surface of said nanoneedles demonstrate selective adhesion towards said specific type of cell in said mixture of cells, wherein, the area on said interdigiteted electrodes not covered by said nanoneedles is electrically insulated, and the distance between said nanoneedles is slightly greater than the largest diameter of any cells within said mixture of cells.