Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
  • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
  • B01L3/502761—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
  • G01N15/10—Investigating individual particles
  • G01N15/14—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
  • G01N15/1429—Signal processing
  • G01N15/1433—Signal processing using image recognition
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
  • G01N15/10—Investigating individual particles
  • G01N15/14—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
  • G01N15/1456—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry without spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle, e.g. processing of pulse signals
  • G01N15/1459—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry without spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle, e.g. processing of pulse signals the analysis being performed on a sample stream
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
  • B01L2200/02—Adapting objects or devices to another
  • B01L2200/026—Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
  • B01L2200/027—Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details for microfluidic devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2200/00—Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus
  • B01L2200/06—Fluid handling related problems
  • B01L2200/0636—Focussing flows, e.g. to laminate flows
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2300/00—Additional constructional details
  • B01L2300/08—Geometry, shape and general structure
  • B01L2300/0861—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
  • B01L2300/0864—Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L2400/00—Moving or stopping fluids
  • B01L2400/04—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means
  • B01L2400/0475—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure
  • B01L2400/0487—Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means specific mechanical means and fluid pressure fluid pressure, pneumatics
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/02—Burettes; Pipettes
  • B01L3/0289—Apparatus for withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid
  • B01L3/0293—Apparatus for withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid for liquids
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
  • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
  • B01L3/502769—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by multiphase flow arrangements
  • B01L3/502776—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by multiphase flow arrangements specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01L—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
  • B01L3/00—Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
  • B01L3/50—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes
  • B01L3/502—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures
  • B01L3/5027—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip
  • B01L3/502769—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by multiphase flow arrangements
  • B01L3/502784—Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip characterised by multiphase flow arrangements specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N15/00—Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials
  • G01N15/10—Investigating individual particles
  • G01N15/14—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
  • G01N15/149—Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties

Definitions

• the present invention relates to sorting particles in a laminar flow rrucrofluidic channel and, more particularly, optical cell detection from light scatter, fluorescent tag, or image anaiysis applied to sorting biological cells in an integrated microfl ⁇ idic device using an activated canti levered coaxial flow channel.
• Sorting cells has many purposes including further study of concentrated cell populations with similar features, such as stem cells or ceils with a particular genetic or chemical characteristic that can be marked with fluorescence or stain. Sorting is aiso an effective means of validating a detection scheme in which a human observation or other reference instrument can evaluate cells with a given detection scheme mechanism or marker.
• Another sorting technique is found in United States Patent 6,540,895 issued April 1 , 2003 r to Spence, et al. entitled, "Microfabricated Ceil Sorter for Chemical and Biological Materials,"
• a method for sorting celis into an appropriate branch cha ⁇ nei based on the presence or amount of a detectable signal such as an optical signal, with or without stimulation, such as exposure to light in order to promote fluorescence.
• a thin cantilever may be included within a branch point, such that it may be displaced towards one or the other wall of the main channel, typically by electrostatic attraction, thus closing off a selected branch channel.
• Sorting particles such as cells, in a microfiuidic channel takes advantage of the ability to use small fluid sample sizes of less than 1 /./L and allows the detection and subsequent separation of sample particles into one of a pl ⁇ raiity of possible pathways.
• the sorting mechanism remains contained and very close to the detection site, thus eliminating the need for long fiuidic paths that dilute samples requiring extra processing steps to further concentrate the sample for subsequent detection or analysis.
• Another advantage of a microfluidic approach is that sample carryover can be completely eliminated from hardware by providing low cost replacement fiuidic pathways for each sample processed. The complexity and uncertainty of cleaning fluidics between sample processing is an often overlooked system detail requiring often 5 to 20 times the fluid flushed through tubing to clean it as it takes to process a sample.
• a laminar fiow channel in a microfSuidic sorting system including a particle detection system, sorting control and coaxial cantilever injector.
• the use of the coaxial cantilever injector allows, for the first time, an ability to direct particles, including biological cells, into a selected one of a plurality of strata present in a laminar flow channel.
• the resultant sorted particles thus comprise an enriched sample for facilitating analysis of disease conditions including various cancers such as lung, colon, prostate, breast, cervical and ovarian cancers.
• the present invention provides an apparatus and method for sorting particles in a laminar flow microfluidic channel using an elongated cantilever element integrated info ihe microfSuidic device.
• a coaxial channel runs through the elongated cantilever element, where coaxial channel is sized to pass particles of a predetermined size.
• An actuator is coupled to the elongated cantilever element, for actuating said elongated cantilever element.
• FIG. 1 schematically shows an example block diagram of a system for sorting particles using an activated cantiievered coaxial flow channel as contemplated by one embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 schematically shows an example illustration of a side view of an integrated microfluidic device for sorting particles in a laminar flow path as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG, 3 schematically shows an example illustration of a sectional end view of an integrated microfluidic device in operation for sorting particles in a laminar flow path as contemplated by sn embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 schematically shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of a detection system as contemplated for use in the present invention.
• FJG. 5 schematica ⁇ y shows a flow diagram of an example embodiment of a sorting method as contemplated for use in the present invention.
• FIG. 6 schematically shows a block diagram of another example embodiment of the particle detection system as contemplated for use in the 5 present invention empioying a light scatter detection system
• the system of the present invention takes advantage of laminar flow conditions forced upon the nature of fluid flow at low Reynolds numbers.
• Laminar flow is defined as fiow with Reynolds numbers below 2000 : but for most microfSuidic applications, especially those using fluids with viscosity larger than water, Reynolds numbers below 20 are nearly always achieved.
• Low Reynolds number flow assures laminar or layered flow streams in channels. For fiow at low Reynolds numbers, movement of fluid orthogonal to 0 the flow direction occurs only when driven by forces other than flow-generated forces.
• Some possible disruptive forces include diffusion as driven by temperature and molecular weight of fluids, gravitational settling/buoyancy that is a function of weight or density of matter in flow stream, Bernoulli forces including differential pressures created by unequal flow on different sides of
• the present invention employs a cantilevered coaxial fiow injector device that can be bent on command to 0 deliver particles into a particular stratum of a laminar flow stream within a channel.
• Laminar fiow will preserve the location of the injected particle flow stream up to a split in flow path.
• the fluid path can be split into two or more pathways with symmetrical channel dimensions and material properties so that a near equal split of the flow path occurs, it is often advantageous to evacuate the paths of air Io prevent sroaS!
• actuating or bending the cantiSevered centered flow injection tube in a coaxialiy joined iami ⁇ ar flow path can direct a cell directed 5 to one of two or more channels.
• the limiting speed of actuation will depend upon the forces applied to cantilever and the natural spring constant of the material used in fabrication, viscous damping of the fluid in the channel, and distance the actuator must travel, In a typical microfluidic channel the deflection required will be less than 100 microns.
• a thixolropic or shear thinning solution such as an optical gel
• a thixolropic or shear thinning solution such as an optical gel
• Such solutions further expand the use of a sorter to very slow operation, as, for s 5 example sorting particles over a number of hours, without gravitational settling as a limitation.
• Ready-to-use thixotropic optical gels are selected for their optical properties and optica! gels having suitable clarity and refractive indices are commercially available
• a sorting system 100 inciudes a fluidic control system 10 configured to provide a sorting control signal 19, a pump control signal 20 and a vacuum control signal 22.
• a particle detection system 12 is electronically coupled to transmit imaging information
• a fluid flow drive system 5 receives control information from the pump control signal 20 and the vacuum control signal 22.
• An interface manifold 15 may also be coupled to the fluid flow drive system 5.
• An integrated microfiuidic device 101 may be mounted in the interface manifold 15. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the interface 0 manifold is not required for every design application of the invention, but may be useful in some applications.
• the integrated microfluidic device 101 advantageously includes a sample holding channel 30, a hydrodynar ⁇ ic focus ceil 37, an inspection zone 32 in communication with a sorting channel 36 including a canforementioned coaxial fiow injector 35 (as shown in detail, for example in FlG. 2) downstream of the sample holding channel 30.
• a sorting channel 36 including a canforementioned coaxial fiow injector 35 (as shown in detail, for example in FlG. 2) downstream of the sample holding channel 30.
• the inspection zone 32 is located to pass particles into position to be detected by the particle detection system 12. Where the particle detection system 12 includes a microscope, for example, the inspection zone 32 would be located in the field of view of the microscope optics.
• a sorting actuator 34 is located proximate the cantilevered coaxial flow injector 35. and coupled to receive the sorting control signal 19 from the fiuidic control system 10.
• the particle detection system 12 may be any detection system suitable for detecting distinguishing features inherent in or imparted to particles being processed.
• the particle detection system 12 may be an electrical sensing zone system, a Sight scatter detection system, a fluorescence based detection system, an optical image capture and processing system, a microscopy system, an optical tomography system or equivalents.
• the detection system may be external to the microfluidic device, integrated into the microfiuidic device or partially integrated into the microfluidic device.
• the fluid flow drive system 5 may advantageously include at least one fluid reservoir 26, at least one fluid pump 24 coupled to the at least one fluid reservoir 26 and at least one vacuum pump 28 coupled to the at least one fluid pump 24.
• the reservoir, vacuum pump and fluid pump may be of differing quantities, sizes and configurations depending on the application so long as they are configured suitably to transmit fluid drive pressure and vacuum pressure to provide laminar fiow conditions through the interface manifold to the integrated microfluidic device.
• the fluid flow drive system may advantageously transmit fluid drive using positive displacement or pressure and/or vacuum pressure to provide laminar flow conditions.
• the laminar fiow conditions comprise a plug flow
• the sample holding channel 30 contains a biological cell sample.
• the cells of interest may be directed by operation of the sorting actuator to the cell harvest channel 40 while other particles are directed to the waste channel 38.
• the apparatus and method of the invention provide a means for enriching a biological sample so as to facilitate downstream analysis of disease conditions such as cancer.
• the fiuidic control system 10 provides a responsive sorting control signal 19 to the sorting actuator 34 that in turn operates to actuate the cantitevered coaxial flow injector 35 to sort biological ceils into a selected one of the at least two output channels.
• the cantiievered coaxial flow injector 35 will be actuated to bend to deliver cells of interest into a selected strata of a laminar flow stream leading into the harvest cell channel.
• the integrated microfluidic device 101 may comprise a plurality of laminations typical in the construction of microfluidic devices.
• Various processes are known for producing complex microfSuidic systems including chemical wet etching, laser cutting, laminate laser cutting, micromolding, photopolymerization and equivalent methods and combinations of methods.
• the polymeric laminate process using a multiplicity of layers allows crossover of channels, as well as the potential to use different materials for different layers.
• Some materials useful for the fabrication of integrated microfluidic devices include silicon, glass, polymeric films, silicone elastomer, photoresist materials, hydrogeis, thermoplastics and equivalent known materials.
• FIG. 2 an example illustration of a side view of an integrated microfluidic device for sorting particles in a laminar flow path as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown.
• a cantiievered coaxial flow channel 200 incorporated into the cantiievered coaxial flow injector 35 allows injection of particles or cells into a laminar fiow sheath fluid which is split in flow as flow stream 1 A 1 . which continues down channel 40 and flow stream ! B ⁇ which continues down channel 38.
• the central channel 200 is ca ⁇ fiSevered and suspended into the sheath flow entering channels 218 and 209 from the left.
• a ferrous coating 235 or embedded ferrous materia! such as a nickel wire may be embedded into or otherwise applied to the walls of channel 200.
• materia! 235 may be a bimetallic bender or a piezo bending material to move the cantilevered channel up into flow stream 1 A' or down into flow stream 'B 1 .
• the cantilevered coaxial flow injector wherein the coaxial channel may have a diameter in the range of 100 microns to 1 mm
• the cantilevered coaxial flow injector may advantageously have a diameter in the range of 50 microns to 1 mm.
• FIG. Z 1 an example illustration of a side view of an integrated microfluidic device for sorting particles in a laminar flow path in an actuated state as contemplated by an embodiment of the present invention 0 is schematically shown
• a control signal in response to recognition of an object of interest, such as a biological cell 237, causes the first actuator 34 to be activated by an electrical signal at coil 208,
• the first sorting actuator 34 here an electromagnet, draws cant ⁇ evered channel 200 slightly upward in the channel by about 20-100
• next ceil 203 in the central channel 200 will then have to be directed to a selected channel as determined by the particle detection system 12 (FtG. 1 ) prior to sorting by the 0 cantilevered coaxial flow injector 35,
• the direction of the next cell 203 will occur by activating either the first actuator 34 or the second actuator 341 with coil 258 after ceil 237 has been ejected, but before the next cell 203 reaches the ejection point. Note that if an object of interest is not identified in the inspection area the second sorting actuator 341 would be activated causing the cantilevered coaxia! flow injector 35 to bend in the opposite direction thereby directing the uninteresting object into waste channel 38.
• the particie detection system 12 may advantageously comprise microscope optics 42 coupled to send image information to a camera 50.
• the camera 50 may advantageously comprise any conventional camera, a digital camera, or equivalent imaging sensor such as one employing charge coupled devices, color, infrared, ultraviolet and other similar sensors depending on the application and spectral frequency being imaged.
• the camera 50 transmits imaging information to an image processing system 51.
• the image processing system 51 may advantageously comprise a cell characterization system, a target recognition software program, a single or multidimensional image reconstruction software program or equivalent being run in a persona! computer, application specific integrated circuit or equivalent processor. Such software is capable of distinguishing features and characteristics of imaged particles.
• the image processing system makes a sorting determination based on the image information and transmits the determination to the fiuidic control system 10 that generates sorting control signals responsive to images processed in the software program.
• the fiuidic control system may advantageously incorporate a time delay generator 11 for determining the delay between the time that the particle is detected in the inspection zone and the time it reaches the tip 39.
• the timing mechanism may be a timer incorporated into the fiuidic control, or the integrated microfluidic device 101 or added as a separate set of sensors. Alternatively, the time delay may be calculated using known system parameters and the time of detection of a particle or equivalents.
• the integrated microfluidic device 101 is positioned so as to locate the inspection zone 32 within the field of view of the microscope optics 42.
• the fiuidic control 10 responsively sends a sorting control signal 19 to one of the sorting actuators 34, 341 (341 not shown here).
• the control signal 19 may represent plurality of analog or digital lines constructed in accordance with accepted engineering principles. That is, if the image processing recognizes a biological ceil, for example, the corresponding sorting control signal will actuate the sorting actuators to deflect the cantilever ejector tip 39 to send the ceil into the harvested ceil channel.
• the system as contemplated by the present invention may employ optical tomography for the detection system.
• optical tomography based systems including U) reconstruction algorithms are described in US Patent 6,522,775 « issued February 18, 2003 to Nelson and entitled, "Apparatus and Method for Imaging Small Objects in a Fiow Stream Using Optica! Tomography.” The full disclosure of US Patent 6,522,775 is incorporated herein by reference.
• the sorting method 300 includes the steps of: transporting particles in a laminar flow path within an integrated microfiuidic device at step 302, 0 detecting features of at least a portion of the plurality of particles in the iaminar fiow path at step 303, detecting the velocity of said particles with successive images or detections at step 304, generating detection information responsive to the detected features at 25 step 305, making a sorting determination for a selected particle based on the detected features at step 306, delaying until the particle is at the ejector tip at step 307 ; and directing the selected particle into a selected stratum of the iaminar 0 fiow path at step 308.
• the step 302 of transporting particles in a iaminar flow path may advantageously be carried out by operating the fiuidic control system to provide, a pump control signal and a vacuum control signal
• the step 303 of detecting features of particles in the laminar flow path may advantageously be carried out by capturing images 5 with the camera electronically coupled to the fluidic control system.
• Microscope optics may be coupled to send images to the camera when samples from a sample holding channel are hydrodynaroicaSly focused and transported through the microscope optics field of view and within the optics depth of field.
• the step 304 of directing the selected particle may
• the fluidic control system is operated to provide sorting control signals to the sorting actuator acting on the cantilevered coaxial flow injector in order to direct an object into a laminar flow path, which is split into one of at least two s 5 output channels.
• the step 307 of delaying until the particle is at the ejector tip may advantageously be according to a timed delay determined by measuring or predetermining the velocity of a particle or cell in the flow stream and the distance between the ejector tip and the inspection zone Thus, the detection of a particle in the inspection zone triggers the time delay.
• the 0 time deiay can be set in other parts of the detection or image processing systems, or combinations thereof.
• the particle detection system 12A may advantageously 5 comprise a light scatter detection system wherein Sight may be transmitted from a light source 142 through optics 144 to impinge on a cell 1 in inspection zone 32. Scattered Sight 155 from the object is transmitted through return optics 154 onto a Sight sensor 151 Sensing signals from the Sight sensor are processed by a feature detector 160 which makes a sorting determination 0 based on the scattered light intensity within a given angle of light collection. The feature detector outputs sorting information to the fSuidic switch contra! which respons ⁇ veiy actuates the sorting mechanism substantially as described with reference to FIG.1 through FIG, 6. By substituting sensors and Sight
• a similar detection system may be used to detect fluorescence or spectrally coded signals from the object where color or presence of spectrally coded biomarker are input into the decision to direct a particle or ceil into one 5 channel or another, in this example, cell 1.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Biochemistry (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Immunology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Clinical Laboratory Science (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Optical Measuring Cells (AREA)
• Investigating, Analyzing Materials By Fluorescence Or Luminescence (AREA)
• Automatic Analysis And Handling Materials Therefor (AREA)
• Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
• Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
• Separation Of Solids By Using Liquids Or Pneumatic Power (AREA)
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