MULTILAYER DISPOSABLE CARTRIDGE FOR FERROFLUID-BASED ASSAYS AND METHOD OF USE

1 . A biological particle capture device, comprising:

a sample reservoir to receive a mixture of a plurality of target particles and a ferrofluidic solution;

a capture region formed on the cartridge;

a fluidic channel to communicate the mixture between the sample reservoir and the capture region, the fluidic channel configured to receive a magnetic ferrofluidic solution; and

at least one pneumatic valve to communicate a quantity of the mixture from the sample reservoir;

wherein the magnetic ferrofluidic solution is excitable in response to an externally applied electromagnetic field to affect the ferrofluidic solution in the mixture.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic ferrofluidic solution is excitable in response to an externally applied electromagnetic field to attract the ferrofluidic solution to a proximal region of the fluidic channel.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pneumatic valve is responsive to an external pressure to communicate the mixture from the reservoir to the fluidic channel.

4 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a secondary reservoir to receive a secondary solution.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sample reservoir further comprises a plurality of reservoir wells and wherein each well is configured to receive an independent mixture.

6 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a filter mesh positioned between the sample reservoir and the fluidic channel.

7 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising a controller to cause application of a magnetic field to the filter mesh to dynamically change a threshold filter particle size.

8 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a degasser region to remove gas from the one or more fluidic channels.

9 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of capture molecules proximate to the capture region to capture at least some of the plurality of target particles through proximity with the capture molecules.

10 . A method to sort biological particle in a cartridge, the method comprising:

communicating a mixture of a plurality of target particles and a ferrofluidic solution from a reservoir to a capture region through a fluidic channel;

activating the ferrofluidic solution inside the fluidic channel by applying an electromagnetic field;

substantially localizing a quantity of the ferrofluidic solution to a region influenced by the electromagnetic field while directing target particles toward the capture region; and

identifying target particles at the capture region;

wherein the ferrofluidic solution is activated in response to an externally applied electromagnetic field to affect the ferrofluidic solution in the mixture.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising communicating a quantity of the mixture from the reservoir to the fluidic channel using a pneumatic valve integrated into the fluidic channel.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the directing of target particles toward the capture regions comprises pneumatically moving the particles toward the capture region.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the pneumatic valve is responsive to an external pressure to communicate the mixture from the reservoir to the fluidic channel.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein applying the electromagnetic field comprises applying an external electromagnetic field to attract the ferrofluidic solution to a proximal region of the fluidic channel.

15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising introducing a dye to the reservoir.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising filtering the mixture through a filter to capture at least a first particle before communicating the mixture from the reservoir to the fluidic channel.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising electromagnetically tuning the filter to capture the at least first particle.

18 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising degassing the mixture.

19 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising positioning the cartridge proximal to an external excitation source to align an excitation source electrode with the fluidic channel to provide an externally applied electromagnetic force to the ferrofluidic solution positioned inside the fluidic channel.

20 . An integrated cartridge to separate particles from a mixture, the cartridge comprising:

a sample reservoir to receive a mixture of a plurality of target particles and a ferrofluidic solution;

a capture region formed on the cartridge;

a fluidic channel to communicate the mixture between the sample reservoir and the capture region;

a filter positioned between the sample reservoir and the fluidic channel, the filter having at least one aperture configured to retain particles larger than a threshold size; and

a fluidic pump to convey the mixture from the filter to the capture region.

21 . The cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the filter comprises an electromagnetic filter.

22 . The cartridge of claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic filter communicates with an external source to dynamically tune the at least one aperture size.

23 . The cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the fluidic pump comprises a movable diaphragm responsive to an external pressure and wherein the diaphragm is integrated with the cartridge.

24 . The cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the fluidic channel comprises a smooth surface to communicate the mixture.

25 . The cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the fluidic channel comprises a pattern to communicate the mixture.

26 . The cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the capture region further comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

27 . The cartridge of claim 20 , wherein the capture region further comprises an integrated electrode.