A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises a bubble valve for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.

Claims

12 · 1 independent · depth 2

12 granted claims

›1.independentA particle sorting system, comprising:na duct for conveying a stream of particles, comprising an inlet, and a plurality of outlets including a first o…+11

›2.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises one of a piezoelectric actuator, a stepper motor, an electromagnetic actuator, …d2

›3.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a side channel in communication with the duct, a sealed chamber positioned adja…d2

›4.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the buffer comprises a chamber in communication with the duct, and wherein the stream forms a meniscus…d2

›5.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the buffer has a movable wall.d2

›6.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to measure a velocity of the particle.d2

›7.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the pressure pulse is applied across the duct.d2

›8.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the pressure pulse does not halt or disrupt flow volume through the plurality of outlets.d2

›9.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the buffer is in fluid communication with the duct upstream of the plurality of outlets.d2

›10.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a non-flow-through chamber in fluid communication with the duct.d2

›11.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the buffer comprises a non-flow-through chamber in fluid communication with the duct.d2

›12.↳ 1The particle sorting system of claim 1, wherein the buffer is positioned across from a propagation direction of the pressure pulse.d2

Classifications

2 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section B — Performing operations; transporting

B01L3/00

Section G — Physics

G01N15/14

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Pendency

5.2 y

1,882 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

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1 RCE

Examiner

Melanie Y Brown

art unit 1677 · TC 1600

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Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

16 Sep 2002

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 60411058	16 Sep 2002
related publication	US 20110005978 A1	13 Jan 2011

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