Figure 2.

Theoretic analysis of a floating spherical cell encapsulated in a funnel-shaped confining channel. (a) Simplified geometrical representation of a single cell encapsulated in a confining channel. D_contact: diameter of cell contact area, W_deformed: width of a deformed cell, D_deformed: diameter of a deformed cell, and D_cell: diameter of an undeformed cell. (b) Free body diagram showing a cell settling inside a confining channel at a penetration length of L under a horizontal drag force F_drag. W_in: channel inlet width, W_out: channel outlet width, θ: angle of tapered channel relative to the channel length direction, L_channel: channel total length, F_tearing: tearing force acting on the cell, F_compress: compressive force acting on the cell by channel wall.