Multipurpose programmable cell isolator

Metastasis – in which detached cancer cells travel via the blood stream to distant tissues and organs where they lodge and grow as metastatic deposits into a new microenvironment – is the primary cause of cancer death. Tumor cells that are detectable in the blood stream have significant clinical value but are extremely rare. Highly sensitive enrichment technology is required for detection.

San Jose, California-based QX System Inc. was established to build breakthrough products and services in biomedical devices with related reagents, and to provide applicable professional services for cancer research and diagnostics. The company’s long-term goal is to design and manufacture a full spectrum of automatic methods to support cell research and clinical practice.

The company’s CI-101 Cell Isolator is a programmable multipurpose instrument for rare cell separation and cell sorting, such as circulating tumor cell (CTC) isolation, fetal cell separation, rare cell capturing, microorganism detection, and stem cell collection.

The isolator supports both micro beads (1µm to 5µm) and nano-beads (50nm to 200nm) cell separation, and is highly adaptable for advanced research, particularly in immunology, biotech research, and therapeutic development.

Isolating such rare and small cells demands accurate and repeatable robotic material handling, a feature supported on the Cl-101 by All Motion’s EZ4AXIS controller. The robotic subsystem makes the CI-101 a fully automatic device that provides ultra-high sensitivity for the detection of rare tumor cells and offers simple steps for purification of tumor cells from various tumor tissues.

Cell isolation can apply to samples of blood, bone marrow, biopsy, and tumor tissue chunks. Isolated cells are very pure and alive. With its sensitivity and purity of isolated target cells, CI-101 will play an important role in the detection of rare tumor cells for cancer early diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.
 

Robotic subsystem operation

The CI-101 Cell Isolator incorporates a miniature, robotic, 3-axis subsystem that provides the accuracy necessary when handling delicate samples. Because the CI-101 is a desktop unit, engineers at QX System had to find a controller that fit easily into a compact space.

The AllMotion EZ4AXIS 4-axis controller and driver combination saved more space in the design than was required. At 57mm x 57mm x 15mm, the EZ4AXIS is one of the smallest controller/drivers on the market. Its power drivers incorporate dual encoders that offer accuracy of 0.02mm and a resolution of 0.005mm. Each axis moves smoothly at a speed of 10mm/sec, an important action when handling liquid samples.

The QX System design team was pleased with the way the controller integrated with other components of the system. The flexibility of the controller made interfacing easier. Each independent axis functions through a 1A (2A peak) PWM chopper driver. Optional heat sinks are available for high power applications.
 

Integrated features

The fully intelligent EZ4AXIS accurately controls four fully independent stepper motors at up to 59,000 microsteps per second. Operating from 9V to 30V, the controller regulates to any motor voltage via software. Commands can be issued from any serial terminal program such as HyperTerminal, or from the company’s EZStepper Windows application. Communications also can come through RS232, RS485, or USB-based sources. Commands are designed to be intuitive and user-friendly.

Stand-alone operations are supported through an on-board EEPROM – no connection to a PC is required.

The CI-101 is programmed to execute a preset string of commands upon initial power up, including programmable acceleration ramps and speeds, as well as nested loops and execution halt pending a switch closure.

The EZ4AXIS works with most any stepper motor 3" in diameter or smaller. Starter kits enable a first-time user to make a stepper motor move intelligently in less than half an hour.

AllMotion
www.allmotion.com

QX System
www.qx-sys.com