Figure 1.

Design of the parallel vortex-actuated cell sorter (VACS chip). Top left to right: a microchannel layer was cast in PDMS using a two-layer mould (Channel 1–2 layers); vias were cut in the PDMS using a biopsy tool (inlet and positive outlet) and laser ablation machine (negative outlets). Bottom left to right: a first sputtered layer of titanium on a glass substrate served as both the resistor material and an adhesion layer for the second layer of tracks. The complete chip was produced by alignment and bonding of the PDMS and glass chips.