Rare Cell Purification System sorts viable human cells at high speeds with greater than 95% purity, and is funded as part of a Darpa project to create an artificial human immune system on a chip
Innovative Micro Technology (IMT) says it has passed several key milestones and demonstrated integrated operation with its Rare Cell Purification System (RCPS), including sorting viable human cells at high speeds with greater than 95% purity.
The RCPS is based on microelectromechanical systems (Mems) technology which, in its final configuration, will have parallel channels providing ample speed for clinical use.
Using fluorescence detection to identify the proper cells, ultra-high-speed Mems valves switch flow from waste to sort and vice versa in 15 microseconds.
Anticipated applications include cancer treatment, nuclear and chemical warfare risk abatement, and disease control.
The RCPS is currently funded by the Darpa Defense Sciences Office as an integral part of the Darpa project to create an artificial human immune system on a chip.
The high speed sorter will allow population of the chip-scale system with very specific types of immune cells.
The payoff will be a very rapid, chip-scale device to screen new vaccines against biological warfare agents and emerging pathogens.
According to John Foster, IMT's CEO, "Using Mems technology, we can significantly improve cell purification processing.
"We are excited about our achievements thus far and are now accelerating our work to produce working systems for field trials by our partners.
"This is our next step toward commercialising this enabling technology for treating patients with cell therapy".
John Harley, IMT's programme manager for the RCPS, added: "The extremely high speed of our system is not the only advantage it brings to cell purification.
"The fact that the entire fluid path is sterile and completely disposable makes it very attractive for clinical applications.
"The RCPS we are developing is a robust chip-based system that can dramatically reduce the cost of cell therapy while increasing its availability.
"We see vast potential for this technology in defence, homeland security, healthcare and general biomedical applications".
Innovative Micro Technology (IMT) was formed in 2000, specifically to produce Mems (micro-electromechanical systems) devices.
IMT's overriding goal is to partner with companies to develop products based on Mems technology.
Its 12,000m2 facility contains a 2800m2 clean room/fab, said to be the largest and best-equipped independent Mems fab in the world.
The company was built for high-volume manufacturing, and provides full foundry services from design through production.
IMT currently has over 100 employees and more than 20 customers in diverse applications, including drug discovery, drug delivery, biomedical implants and cell purifiers, microfluidics, inertial navigation, printing, various sensors, night vision, IR emitters, telephone/DSL switching, RF devices, power management, and several others.
