Particle separation systems and methods
Magnetic levitation particle separation systems and methods for use with multi-channel flow cells. The system may include a core for receiving and holding the flow cell, with upper and lower clamps for securing the flow cell and positioning it relative to an array of magnets. The system is configured to image particle separation in processing channels of the flow cell, and to regulate the flow cell's temperature. The core may be removable as a single unit, facilitating reconfiguration of the system.
1 . A multi-channel flow cell device, comprising:
(a) a substrate;
(b) a plurality of fluidic separation channels formed in the substrate, in which:
(i) each fluidic channel comprises a magnetic processing channel in fluidic communication with an inlet and at least two outputs,
(ii) each magnetic processing channel comprises at least one divider vertically separating a portion of the magnetic processing channel into at least an upper part and a lower part, the upper part in fluidic communication with one of the outputs and the lower part in fluidic communication with another of the at least two outputs,
(iii) each magnetic processing channel further comprises at least one imaging surface extending along a length of the magnetic processing channel, the imaging surface configured to allow imaging of particles in the magnetic processing channel; and
a plurality of openings extending through the substrate, wherein each opening extends between two adjacent magnetic processing channels, the openings configured for optical access to the at least one imaging surface of each magnetic processing channel;
wherein the substrate and the plurality of fluidic separation channels formed in the substrate are configured as a multi-channel flow cell cartridge.
2 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 1 , wherein each magnetic processing channel comprises two opposing imaging surfaces extending along the magnetic processing channel.
3 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of channel beams formed in the substrate, the channel beams extending between an inlet end and an outlet end of the flow cell cartridge, the channel beams each comprising one magnetic processing channel, wherein each channel beam is spaced apart from adjacent channel beams.
4 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 2 , wherein the substrate further comprises side walls extending away from the fluidic channels, the side walls each comprising a sidewall opening configured for optical access to one of the imaging surfaces.
5 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 2 , further comprising a magnetic apparatus for processing particles comprising:
(a) a holder configured to receive and hold the flow cell cartridge;
(b) an array of magnets, the array of magnets configured to apply magnetic field gradients to each magnetic processing channel when the flow cell cartridge is received and held by the holder, the array of magnets positioned at least one of above and below each magnetic processing channel when the flow cell cartridge is received and held by the holder; and
(c) an imager configured to image vertical separation of particles in the magnetic processing channels while the flow cell cartridge is received and held by the holder and while the array of magnets is positioned at least one of above and below the magnetic processing channels.
6 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 5 , wherein the imager is configured to image particles in each magnetic processing channel via a folded optical path comprising:
(i) a path portion that extends between a magnet positioned directly above and a magnet positioned directly below one magnetic processing channel, and
(ii) a second a second portion that extends through an opening in the holder between two adjacent magnets of the magnet array.
7 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 5 , wherein the imager comprises an optical periscope, the system configured to move the periscope to a position adjacent and scan along one magnetic processing channel while the flow cell cartridge is received and held by the holder and while the array of magnets is positioned above and below each magnetic processing channel of the flow cell cartridge.
8 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 5 , wherein the holder comprises a core unit that is configured to regulate a temperature of the magnetic processing channels of the flow cell cartridge, wherein the core unit comprises a plurality of temperature conductive surfaces that are located such that, when the flow cell cartridge is received and held by the core unit, the temperature conductive surfaces contact the magnetic processing channels.
9 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 5 , wherein the temperature conductive surfaces comprise end surfaces of pillars formed of a temperature conductive material, each pillar holding a magnet of the magnet array.
10 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 9 , wherein the core unit further comprises air channels extending along the pillars from the cooling assembly towards the pillar end surfaces, the air channels configured to cool the pillars and the flow cell cartridge via convective air flow.
11 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 8 , wherein the core unit comprises a flow cell cartridge holder, a fluidic connector assembly configured to fluidically connect the flow cell cartridge to a pump sub-system, the magnet array, and a cooling assembly.
12 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 11 , further comprising a second core unit having a second flow cell cartridge holder, a second fluidic connector assembly, a second magnet array, and a second cooling assembly, in which the second magnet array has a configuration that is different from the magnet array of the other core unit; and in which the magnetic apparatus for processing particles is configured to alternatively receive and operate both core units.
13 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 5 , wherein the magnetic apparatus for processing particles comprises a magnetic levitation particle separation system.
14 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 13 , wherein the magnetic apparatus for processing particles comprises a minimum particle separation capacity in a single separation run of at least about 1 million particles per magnetic processing channel.
15 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 13 , wherein the magnetic apparatus for processing particles comprises a minimum particle separation capacity in a single separation run of at least about 5 million particles.
16 . A multi-channel flow cell device, comprising:
(a) a substrate;
(b) a plurality of co-planar fluidic separation channels formed in the substrate, in which:
(i) each fluidic channel comprises a magnetic levitation processing channel in fluidic communication with an inlet and at least two outputs,
(ii) each processing channel comprises at least one divider vertically separating a portion of the processing channel into at least an upper part and a lower part, the upper part in fluidic communication with one of the outputs and the lower part in fluidic communication with the other of the outputs,
(iii) each processing channel further comprises opposing side imaging surfaces extending along a length of the processing channel, the imaging surfaces configured to allow imaging of magnetic levitation of particles in the processing channel;
the multi-channel flow cell device further comprising a plurality of openings extending through the substrate, wherein each opening extends between two adjacent processing channels, the openings configured for optical access to the imaging surfaces;
wherein the substrate and the plurality of fluidic separation channels formed in the substrate are configured as a multi-channel flow cell cartridge.
17 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 16 , wherein each processing channel extends through a spaced-apart channel beam, each channel beam comprising at least one alignment tab.
18 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a magnetic apparatus for processing particles comprising: (i) a holder configured to receive and hold the flow cell cartridge; (ii) an array of magnets, the array of magnets configured to apply magnetic field gradients to the processing channels when the flow cell cartridge is received and held by the holder, the array of magnets positioned at least one of above and below the processing channels when the flow cell cartridge is received and held by the holder; and (iii) an imager configured to image vertical separation of particles in the processing channels while the flow cell cartridge is received and held by the holder and while the array of magnets is positioned at least one of above and below the processing channels.
19 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a minimum particle separation capacity in a single separation run of at least about 5 million particles.
20 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a minimum particle separation capacity in a single separation run of at least about 5 million particles, the particles having a characteristic dimension between 1 and 5 microns.
21 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a minimum particle separation capacity in a single separation run of at least about 5 million spherical particles, the particles having an average diameter of at least about 3 microns.
22 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a minimum comprises a minimum particle separation capacity in a single separation run of at least about 20 million particles per processing channel.
23 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a minimum particle separation capacity in a single separation run of at least about 20 million particles per processing channel, the particles having a characteristic dimension between 1 and 5 microns.
24 . The multi-channel flow cell device of claim 18 , wherein the device comprises a minimum particle separation capacity in a single separation run of at least about 20 million spherical particles per processing channel, the particles having an average size of at least about 5 microns.