dielektrophoretische characterization of microorganisms and other particles.

摘要

Dielectrophoretic collection rates of microorganisms or other animate or inanimate dielectrically polarisable particles in suspension in a fluid are established by flowing the suspension past electrodes (17, 18) energised to produce a non-uniform alternating electric field in the suspension, terminating the energisation of the electrodes after a predetermined time to release particles collected from the suspension, and, downstream of the electrodes, measuring the pulse of released particles as a measure of the rate of particle collection during energisation of the electrodes. Repeated measurements at different field frequencies enable a collection-rate spectrum to be established and the particles under examination to be characterised or identified by reference to known spectra of known particles.