Systems and methods of identifying and/or tracking particles in a droplet, wherein the particle can be a cell
US10267726B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 26, 2016 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/1765
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In accordance with embodiments herein, microfluidics systems and methods are described for identifying and/or tracking particles in a droplet. For example, the particle may be a bead, a cell, or any other type of particle. For example, embodiments herein are useful in distinguishing cells from other particles. The microfluidics systems and methods provide the capability to image a large area (e.g., a few square millimeters) within a digital fluidics chamber using interference microscopy, wherein the image of the interference pattern is acquired, instead of an image of the micrometric object itself. The interference pattern results from the incoming light that interferes with the light scattered by the object. In the case of micrometric objects (e.g., cells, bacteria, etc.), the acquired interference pattern may typically be about 100 jum in diameter so that the area can be imaged using a lens-free imaging configuration or using a low magnification lens.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.