Discrete planar electrode dielectrophoresis systems

Microelectronic based particle processing systems can significantly contribute to advances in a variety of scientific and medical research areas. The ability to characterize and manipulate individual or related groups of particles finds application in areas including chemical processing, imaging, micro system assembly and biological sciences. Planar electrode dielectrophoresis seeks to exploit batch fabrication and MEMS technologies to yield reliable and cost effective particle manipulators. Combinations of these units integrated into self contained particle processing systems will operate on particles in ways reminiscent of how a CPU manipulates digital data. For example, elemental blocks resembling memory, shift registers and A/D converters can be envisioned. Such particle processors may be useful in applications such as blood processing, genetics, tar-sand extraction, thin-film deposition, micro-pore membrane formation and MEMS assembly.