A biological sorting apparatus is disclosed, which includes a light-induced dielectrophoretic chip, a supporting platform, an injecting unit and a projection module. The light-induced dielectrophoretic chip is configured to generate an internal electric field to perform sorting on a fluid including first microparticles and second micropartides. The supporting platform is utilized to support the light-induced dielectrophoretic chip thereon and has an opening. The injecting unit is configured to inject the fluid into the light-induced dielectrophoretic chip. The projection module is disposed below the supporting platform and is configured to project a light pattern onto a projection area of the light-induced dielectrophoretic chip through the opening of the supporting platform, such that the light-induced dielectrophoretic chip produces a light-induced effect to change the internal electric field, thereby sorting out the first microparticles and the second microparticles.

A method for enriching a heterogeneous population of cells includes loading one or more sample chambers containing DEP electrodes therein with a solution containing the heterogeneous population of cells, wherein the heterogeneous population of cells comprises a first subpopulation of cells having a first crossover frequency and a second subpopulation of cells having a second, higher crossover frequency. An AC electrical field is applied to the DEP electrodes, wherein the AC electrical field has an applied frequency that is between the crossover frequency of the first subpopulation of cells and the second subpopulation of cells, wherein the first subpopulation of cells are substantially killed by the applied electrical field and the second subpopulation of cells are substantially not killed by the applied electrical field.

Provided herein are systems and method for measuring cell stiffness. In particular, provided herein are microelectrode configuration and systems for measuring platelet deformation and stiffness.

A method for performing contactless ODEP for separation of CTCs is provided with the steps of obtaining patients' blood with rare cell suspected CTCs; adding at least one fluorescent antibody binding to CTCs into the blood; staining the blood; injecting the stained blood with fluorescent dye into an ODEP device and then performing fluorescent image identification; trapping the CTCs with at least one fluorescent antibody in the ODEP device by creating an image pattern and then generating an ODEP force; Separating the trapped CTCs from other non-CTCs cells; absorbing the trapped CTCs; and obtaining a high purity of CTCs. An apparatus for performing contactless ODEP for separation of CTCs is also provided.

Provided herein are systems and method for measuring cell stiffness. In particular, provided herein are microelectrode configuration and systems for measuring platelet deformation and stiffness.

Apparatuses and methods for selectively transmitting objects of interest from a first reservoir to a second reservoir are disclosed. The apparatuses include electromagnetic focusing apparatuses configured to interact with objects of interest to induce a change in a property of the objects of interest so as to increase or decrease the probability that the objects of interest pass through a throat diffusively coupling the first reservoir and the second reservoir.

An analyte selection device can include: a body defining a fluid channel having a channel inlet and channel outlet; a bipolar electrode (BPE) between the inlet and outlet; one of an anode or cathode electrically coupled with the BPE on a channel inlet side of the BPE and the other of the anode or cathode electrically coupled with the BPE on a channel outlet side of the BPE; and an electronic system operably coupled with the anode and cathode so as to polarize the BPE. The fluid channel can have any shape or dimension. The channel inlet and channel outlet can be longitudinal or lateral with respect to the longitudinal axis of the channel. The BPE can be any metallic member, such as a flat plate on a wall or mesh as a barrier BPE. The anode and cathode can be located at a position that polarizes the BPE.

Methods and apparatus for detecting, quantifying, enriching, and/or separating bacterial species in fluid sample are provided. The fluid sample is provided as input to a microfluidic passage of a microfluidic device, wherein the microfluidic device comprises at least one electrode disposed adjacent to the microfluidic passage. The at least one electrode is activated to capture bacteria in the sample using dielectrophoresis, wherein the capture efficiency of bacteria is at least 99%.

A apparatus for performing contactless ODEP for separation of CTCs comprises an ODEP device including a first conductive glass and a second conductive glass, the first conductive glass includes a transverse main channel and a longitudinal micro channel perpendicular to the main channel and joining the main channel at a cell separation zone; the first conductive glass includes a first hole and a second hole aligned with two ends of the main channel respectively, and a third hole aligned with one end of the micro channel that is distal to the cell separation zone; a sample receiving member disposed on and aligned with the first hole; an exhaust discharge member disposed on and aligned with the second hole; a target collection member disposed on and aligned with the third hole; and a controller including an optical projection device and an image fetch device.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a device for manipulating a substance, the device comprising at least three series of interdigitated electrode pairs, wherein each electrode of each pair is connected to an electrode in an adjacent pair in the respective series by an electrical path, and a dielectric layer disposed on the at least three series of interdigitated electrode pairs, the dielectric layer comprising one or more sub layers. The at least three series of interdigitated electrode pairs are selectively and independently energisable to produce an electric field at a top surface of the dielectric layer so that a substance on the top surface may be manipulated by the electric field. The device further comprises one or more groups of the interdigitated electrode pairs, each group having a longitudinal axis, wherein in each group the respective interdigitated electrode pairs are arranged along the respective longitudinal axis such that along the respective longitudinal axis no two adjacent pairs are from a single one of the at least three series, and no pair is adjacent to two other pairs from a single one of the at least three series.