Benchtop Technologies for Circulating Tumor Cells Separation Based on Biophysical Properties

Figure 6

Illustration of ApoStream device. The elution buffer is introduced at the upstream end of the flow chamber with a computer-controlled gear pump. The blood sample is injected with a high precision syringe pump at a low flow rate into the bottom of the flow chamber to reduce the cell levitation and to ensure that cells stay within effective DEP field. Under DEP field, the DEP forces will attract cancer cells toward the electrodes on the chamber floors and vice versa to others cells. Cancer cells will withdraw through the collection port which is located close to the chamber floor. Meanwhile, other blood cells will be levitated and flow into the waste container via a second outlet port (reprinted with the permission from [25], copyright 2012, AIP Publishing LLC).