Fishing for rare cells in blood samples

A multi-stage microfluidic device separated tumour or leukaemic cells spiked into blood with high efficiency.  A filtration stage removed cell aggregates and debris.  Then a carefully designed microfluidic channel generated hydrodynamic forces which focussed the larger cancer cells into the channel centre; smaller blood cells were separated off.  The central fluid component entered a third steric hindrance region which further purified the rare cells by their size and mechanical properties. 

High-throughput rare cell separation from blood samples using steric hindrance and inertial microfluidics; S. Chen et al, Lab on a Chip; DOI: 10.1039/c3lc51384j

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2014/lc/c3lc51384j#!divAbstract