Numerical Analysis and Optimization of Insulator-based Dielectrophoresis Devices for Cell Sorter Applications

Insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) is an innovative approach in which the nonuniform electric field needed to drive dielectrophoresis (DEP) is produced by insulators, avoiding problems associated with the use of electrodes. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the iDEP devices, demonstrate the function of it by numerical calculation, and optimize the parameters of iDEP microdevices. In this study, the electrical field generated by iDEP microdevice is calculated by Matlab software using finite element analysis (FEA) method. Based on this, the dielectrophoretic force experienced by cells in the microdevice are calculated. Furthermore, we optimize the parameters of iDEP microdevice such as dielectric shape, dielectric size, dielectric intervals, the size of microchannel and etc. At last, we give a set of optimum parameters.