Contactless DEP microfluidic chip for rare cell isolation and
This technology is a miniaturized, all-in-one lab chip that sorts specific cells from a biological sample, concentrates them, and then runs a diagnostic test on them — all in one continuous flow process. It uses a technique called contactless dielectrophoresis, which applies electric fields through a thin membrane to push and trap cells based on their electrical properties without direct electrode contact, avoiding sample contamination. The sorted cells then flow into a concentrator that uses a hydrogel and porous wall to pack them tightly before delivering them to a serpentine test channel where a biochemical assay is run. The entire workflow — separation, concentration, and detection — happens on a single chip without manual handling steps between stages.
What you could build
A single-use microfluidic cartridge for point-of-care or laboratory diagnostics that isolates rare or target cell populations (e.g., circulating tumor cells, pathogens, immune cells) from blood or other fluids and delivers an on-chip assay result. Buyers would be clinical diagnostics companies, cancer screening platform developers, and research tool suppliers serving academic and pharmaceutical labs.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia's biomedical device and life sciences corridor — particularly companies near Roanoke (where Virginia Tech biomedical engineering is based) and the Northern Virginia/DC health tech cluster — would be plausible partners or licensees.
Readiness: Prototype likely
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Temple DOUGLAS, Philip Melvin GRAYBILL, Rafael DAVALOS
- Granted
- September 3, 2024
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 12076719
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.