Light-Powered Microfluidic Cell Separator and Imager

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的最终目标是创建一种光动力微流体设备，该设备能够进行细胞分选和诊断，并由廉价的光源驱动-芯片上的医学实验室。整个设备将是完全便携式的，使得能够在几乎任何位置执行复杂的医疗诊断，即，独立于环境。该提案的目的是对制造这些芯片的新方法进行探索性研究，并研究通过独特的制造工艺实现的激发和检测的新概念。此外，还引入了全新的方法，无需机械扫描光束。迄今为止，使用光阱为控制流体流动并执行细胞分离的泵和阀门提供动力的光学驱动微流体通道需要对一束（或多束）进行机械光栅扫描。必须对这些光束进行机械光栅扫描严重限制了设备的可扩展性。我们提出了新的方法，这将使它成为可能的光学动力机械泵和阀门-没有必要移动一个单一的光束。值得注意的是，这种新技术的可扩展性没有限制。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The ultimate goal of this research is the creation of a light-powered, microfluidic device that is capable of cell sorting and diagnosis and is driven by an inexpensive light source - a medical laboratory on a chip. The entire device would be completely portable enabling sophisticated medical diagnosis to be performed at virtually any location, i.e., independent of environment. The intent of this proposal is to do exploratory research into novel new methods of manufacturing these chips, and to investigate new concepts in excitation and detection made possible through the unique fabrication process. In addition, entirely new methods that eliminate the need for mechanically scanning optical beams are introduced. To date, optically actuated microfluidic channels that use optical traps to power the pumps and valves that control fluid flow and perform the cell separation require mechanical rastering of a beam (or beams). Having to mechanically raster these beams severely limits the scalability of the device. We propose new methods that will make it possible to optically power mechanical pumps and valves - without the necessity of moving a single beam. Significantly, there is no limit to the scalability of this new technique.