Frederick J Becker

US Patent:

6437551, Aug 20, 2002

Filed:

Nov 1, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/704355

Inventors:

Peter Krulevitch - Pleasanton CA
Harold D. Ackler - Sunnyvale CA
Frederick Becker - Houston TX
Bernhard E. Boser - Berkeley CA
Adam B. Eldredge - Austin TX
Christopher K. Fuller - Livermore CA
Peter R. C. Gascoyne - Bellaire TX
Julie K. Hamilton - Tracy CA
Stefan P. Swierkowski - Livermore CA
Xiao-Bo Wang - San Diego CA

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Oakland CA

International Classification:

G01N 2700

US Classification:

324 711, 324649, 436518

Abstract:

A microfabricated instrument for detecting and identifying cells and other particles based on alternating current (AC) impedance measurements. The microfabricated AC impedance sensor includes two critical elements: 1) a microfluidic chip, preferably of glass substrates, having at least one microchannel therein and with electrodes patterned on both substrates, and 2) electrical circuits that connect to the electrodes on the microfluidic chip and detect signals associated with particles traveling down the microchannels. These circuits enable multiple AC impedance measurements of individual particles at high throughput rates with sufficient resolution to identify different particle and cell types as appropriate for environmental detection and clinical diagnostic applications.