Patent ID: 7390387

Claim:
A method of sorting cells comprising: providing a fluid flow path for moving cells through a series of cell sorters in a first direction with an output of a preceding cell sorter of the series communicating with an input of a successive cell sorter of the series; separating, within each cell sorter, a first portion of the cells away from a second portion of the cells and toward the output of a respective cell sorter by applying a first temporally varying non-uniform electric field via a first electrode array to cause movement of the first portion of the cells in a second direction across the fluid flow path, the second direction having a component generally transverse to the first direction; wherein separating the first portion of the cells from the second portion of the cells further includes interposing the fluid flow path in each cell sorter between the first electrode array and a second electrode array that is vertically disposed relative to the first electrode array, and applying a second temporally varying non-uniform electric field from the second electrode array to maintain transport of the first portion and the second portion of cells along the fluid flow path in the first direction during movement of the first portion of cells across the fluid flow path in the second direction.