Devices for Detecting or Filtering Tumor Cells

Abstract

Among others, the present invention provides apparatus comprising two micro-devices each fabricated by the method comprising: the first step of depositing a first material onto a substrate; the second step of depositing a second material onto the first material and then patterning the second material with a microelectronic technology or process; and repeating the second step at least once with a material that can be the same as or different from the first or second material. The micro-devices can pierce through the membrane of a circulating tumor cell and can move in different direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising two micro-devices each fabricated by the method comprising:
 the first step of depositing a first material onto a substrate;   the second step of depositing a second material onto the first material and then patterning the second material with a microelectronic technology or process; and   repeating the second step at least once with a material that can be the same as or different from the first or second material,   wherein the micro-devices can pierce through the membrane of a circulating tumor cell and can move in different directions.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the micro-devices can measure at least a mechanical property, an electrical property, or an electro-magnetic property of the circulating tumor cell or cell membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the electric property comprises surface charge, surface potential, resting potential, electrical current, electrical field distribution, surface charge distribution, cell electronic properties, cell surface electronic properties, electrical conductivity, resistivity or resistance, dynamic changes in electronic properties, dynamic changes in cell electronic properties, dynamic changes in cell surface electronic properties, dynamic changes in surface electronic properties, electronic properties of cell membranes, dynamic changes in electronic properties of membrane surface, dynamic changes in electronic properties of cell membranes, electrical dipole, electrical quadruple, oscillation in electrical signal, electrical current, capacitance, three-dimensional electrical or charge cloud distribution, electrical properties at telomere of DNA and chromosome, capacitance, or impedance. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the oscillation in electoral signal comprises oscillation in ions, puling electrical filed, pulsing surface charge, or pulsing voltage. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the electric property comprises electrical current, membrane potential, electrical conductivity, resistance, or ion concentration. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fabricated micro-devices are physically or electrically coupled or integrated. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is integrated on a single device or assembled on a single board. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tumor cell is from prostate cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, cervical cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, kidney cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, ovarian cancer, skin cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, or uterine cancer.