Patent ID: 7160425

Claim:
A biodevice comprising: an array of operative stations with each respective operative station configured for performing an operation on cells; and a transporter configured for transporting cells during a transport time period, the transporter in fluid communication with at least one of the respective operative stations and independent of and separate from the at least one respective operative station, the transporter comprising: a motion-inducing apparatus configured to induce transportation of the cells along a transport path of the biodevice between the respective operative stations of the biodevice, the apparatus comprising an electrode arrangement configured to apply a non-uniform electric field to the cells; and a transport control unit coupled to the motion-inducing apparatus to control transportation of the cells and providing control signals to the motion-inducing apparatus during the transport time period to: induce a primary motion of the cells to drive transportation of the cells along the transport path; and induce a secondary motion of the cells to discourage aggregation of the cells during transportation of the cells on the transport path without performing, via the at least one respective operative station, an operation on the cells.