Patent ID: 8440093
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: B01L,C03C,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting entities of a selected entity type in a microfabricated structure, wherein the entity type is selected from bacterial cells, mammalian cells, and viral particles, the method comprising: (a) providing a microfabricated structure including a flow channel, and a deflectable elastomeric membrane; wherein the flow channel comprises a detection volume having selected physical dimensions with a selected width; (b) applying an electric field across the detection volume; (c) flowing a fluid containing a plurality of entities of the selected entity type through the detection volume at a selected flow rate; (d) measuring a change in current and/or voltage of said applied electric field resulting from one of the entities in the fluid passing through and past the detection volume; and (e) correlating said change(s) with the presence of an entity of the selected entity type within the flow channel, wherein the method comprises selecting a microfabricated structure having the physical dimensions and width of the detection volume specified in step (a), in conjunction with a flow rate of the fluid through the detection volume specified in step (c), such that the combination of said physical dimensions and width of the flow channel and said flow rate result in only one entity of the selected entity type passing through the detection volume at a time.