Handling of biological cells using fluid integrated circuit

Studies are made of methods of cell handling using dielectrophoretic (DEP) force in a novel device called a fluid-integrated-circuit (FIC), where all cell-handling components are integrated onto one substrate with a photolithography technique. Cell passages and driving electrodes can be fabricated in arbitrary two-dimensional shape, allowing great flexibility in its design. Through an analytical study it was found that a careful tailoring of a field pattern is essential in realizing cell motions. Methods for detailed field analysis are developed and used to design cell-handling components. One is the FIC cell shift register, a device in which cells are stored and electrostatically transported one-by-one, just as bits are shifted in TTL shift registers. The other is the FIC cell deflector, where the cell fed from the inlet can be dielectrophoretically deflected to either of the bifurcating branches.<>