Microfluidic cell

1. A method for at least one of separating and accumulating polarizable bioparticles, the method comprising:

using a microfluidic cell, including:

an interdigital electrode system composed of two electrode groups having interdigitated electrodes;

a micromixer having microchannels and microelevations; and

a flat electrode situated on a side of a cell opposite from the side on which the interdigital electrode system and the micromixer are situated;

wherein the interdigital electrode system and the micromixer are situated on a same side of the cell;

performing an accumulation phase, wherein a high-frequency alternating voltage is applied to the electrodes of the interdigital electrode system during the accumulation phase

calming a flow of bioparticles in a region of the interdigital electrode system using the micromixer;

inhibiting a washing out of the bioparticles in the region of the interdigital electrode system using the micromixer; and

performing at least one of the following: (i) a lysis phase, wherein a low-frequency alternating voltage is applied to the interdigital electrodes, and (ii) a removal phase, wherein a low-frequency or square wave voltage is applied between the interdigital electrode system and the flat electrode;

wherein the lysis phase and the removal phase are performed simultaneously by applying the low-frequency alternating voltage.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein electrodes of the interdigital electrode system are situated in the microchannels and form a combined interdigital electrode-micromixer system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes of at least one of the interdigital electrode system, the microchannels, the microelevations are configured and situated in parallel.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes of at least one of the interdigital electrode system, the microchannels, the microelevations are configured and situated at an angle (α) of ≧20° to ≦70° with respect to a flow direction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrodes of at least one of the interdigital electrode system, the microchannels, the microelevations are configured and situated in one of a zigzag shape and in a parallel slash mark [/] pattern shape.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the micromixer is made of an insulating material.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the flat electrode essentially corresponds to the surface area of the combined interdigital electrode-micromixer system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cell includes at least one of (i) at least one further interdigital electrode system composed of two electrode groups having interdigitated electrodes, and (ii) a further micromixer having microchannels and microelevations.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following is satisfied:

the combined interdigital electrode-micromixer system has a length of ≧10 mm to ≦60 mm,

the combined interdigital electrode-micromixer system has a width of ≧3 mm to ≦30 mm,

the combined interdigital electrode-micromixer system has an area of ≧30 mm 2 to ≦1800 mm 2 ,

the microchannels and/or the microelevations have a length of ≧3 mm to ≦30 mm,

the distance between two microchannels is between ≧30 μm and ≦500 μm,

the microchannels have a width of ≧30 μm to ≦800 μm,

the microelevations have a width of ≧30 μm to ≦500 μm,

the microelevations have a height of ≧10 μm to ≦400 μm,

the microchannels have a depth of ≧10 μm to ≦400 μm,

the electrodes of the interdigital electrode system have a length of ≧3 mm to ≦30 mm,

the electrodes of the interdigital electrode system have a width of ≧10 μm to ≦500 μm,

the electrodes of the interdigital electrode system have a height of ≧0.1 μm to ≦50 μm,

the electrodes of the interdigital electrode system have a distance to one another of ≧10 μm to ≦500 μm,

the cell has a length,

the cell has a width of ≧3 mm to ≦40 mm,

the cell has a height of ≧20 μm to ≦1000 μm,

the flat electrode has a length of ≧10 mm to ≦100 mm,

the flat electrode has a width of ≧3 mm to ≦50 mm,

the flat electrode has a height of ≧0.1 μm to ≦50 μm, and

the flat electrode has an area of ≧30 mm 2 to ≦1800 mm 2 .

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing the lysis phase, wherein the low-frequency alternating voltage is applied to the electrodes of the interdigital electrode system during the lysis phase.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing the removal phase, wherein the electrodes of the interdigital electrode system are connected to ground, and wherein one of the low-frequency alternating voltage and a square wave voltage having a positive offset is applied to a flat electrode during the removal phase, the flat electrode situated on a side of the cell opposite from the side on which the interdigital electrode system and the micromixer are situated.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic cell is a flow cell for at least one of dielectrophoretic separation, accumulation, and lysis of polarizable bioparticles.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic cell is a flow cell for at least one of dielectrophoretic separation, accumulation, and lysis of polarizable bioparticles, which includes at least one of bacteria, cells and viruses.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein an alternating voltage is applied to the electrodes in the interdigital electrode system.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the high-frequency alternating voltage is applied during the accumulation phase such that adjacent electrodes in the interdigital electrode system have opposite polarities.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flat electrode has a continuous and uninterrupted planar surface.