Patent ID: 8076127

Claim:
A microflow apparatus comprising: a body having a randomized flow path which comprises an inlet, an outlet, and a microchannel arrangement extending between said inlet and outlet to form a collection region, the flow path designed to support a fluid flow rate of 0.01 to 100 mm/second, wherein: said microchannel arrangement includes a plurality of transverse separator posts arranged in a random and irregular pattern, wherein said random and irregular pattern has the characteristics of 1) the posts having at least three different cross-sectional sizes in the range of about 70 to about 130 microns in diameter being integral with a base surface of said microchannel and projecting therefrom, 2) random arrangement of relative spacing of the posts, and 3) the combination of spacing among the posts and different cross-sectional sizes of posts resulting in the posts occupying about 15% to about 25% of the total volume of the collection region, the randomized flow path is configured for cell capture, and when in operation said microchannel is connected to a pump to support the continuous flow of liquid sample at a flow rate of 0.01 to 100 mm/second.