Optically integrated microfluidic cytometers for high throughput screening of photophysical properties of cells or particles

US8618510B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• The Regents of the University of Colorado · US
• University of Tennessee Research Foundation · US
• National Institute of Standards and Technology · US

Inventors

• Amy E. Palmer · Boulder, US
• Ralph Jimenez · Boulder, US
• Kevin Dean · Pontiac, US
• Jennifer Lubbeck · Boulder, US
• Lloyd M. Davis · Tullahoma, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 28, 2012
• Grant date: Dec 31, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 28, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2015/145
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Devices and methods for screening emissive properties of a cell, such as the resistance to photobleaching or other photophysical property. In one example, a device may include a microfluidic reservoir having at least an input channel for receiving the cell, a main channel fluidly coupled with the input channel, at least a first output channel and a second output channel, the first and second output channels fluidly coupled with the main channel; and a multibeam interrogation section generating a plurality of light beams impinging upon the main channel of the microfluidic reservoir. As a cell passes from the input channel through the main channel of the microfluidic reservoir, the cell is exposed to the plurality of light beams thereby generating emissions that are received by a signal processing section. A cell trapping section selectively diverts the cell to the second output channel if the cell contains desired emissive properties.