Silicon Based High Throughput Coulter Counter for Cells Sizing and Enumeration
Yu Chen,
Scientist,
Institute of Microelectronics (IME) A*STAR
A high-throughput Coulter counter for point-of-care (POC) applications has been developed, which measures the concentration and size distribution of cells in suspension at a single cell resolution.
A Coulter counter is a device used to analyze variation in electrical conductivity through a channel to enumerate and size particles suspended in electrolytes. We developed a high-throughput Coulter counter for point-of-care (POC) applications, which measures the concentration and size distribution of cells in suspension at a single cell resolution. We fabricated vertical through-holes on silicon, instead of conventional planar ones, to achieve a higher density of sensing channels for a high-throughput operation. Potentiometric measurement based on a three-electrode configuration was used to minimize the crosstalk from the multiple sensing channels. The through-hole array and potentiometric sensing increased throughput up to 2,000 cells/sec/channel in the prototype. The enhanced sensitivity by the AC gain extended the measurement range to 4~20 µm. The prototypes was evaluated using a mixture of microbeads (6, 10, 15 µm) as well as diverse cancer cells spiked in diluted blood. The measurement results were compared to the results obtained from FACS (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting) and validate the functionality of the device.
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