MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE HAVING A FLOW CHANNEL WITHIN A GAIN MEDIUM

• US 20110008817A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Durack, Gary P.
• Application Number:
  US12/830,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20110008817A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/29
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1484 microstructural devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to microfluidic devices incorporating a gain medium, such as a laser gain medium, and methods for their use. Certain embodiments make use of mirrors integrated into the microfluidic device substrate. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A microfluidic device, comprising:

a substrate;

a flow channel formed in said substrate for transport of a liquid sample; and

a gain medium formed in said substrate;

wherein electromagnetic radiation traversing said gain medium also traverses a portion of said flow channel.

2. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein said gain medium comprises a laser gain medium and said electromagnetic radiation comprises light.

3. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein a first portion of said gain medium is disposed on a first side of said flow channel and a second portion of said gain medium is disposed on a second side of said flow channel.

4. The microfluidic device of claim 1, wherein a portion of said gain medium surrounds a portion of said flow channel.

5. The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first minor formed in said substrate and disposed on a first side of said gain medium; and

a second mirror formed in said substrate and disposed on a second side of said gain medium

6. The microfluidic device of claim 5, where said first and second mirrors are arranged such that an optical cavity is formed where the electromagnetic radiation contained in the optical cavity interacts with the flow channel.

7. The microfluidic device of claim 6, wherein said optical cavity comprises an optical resonator.

8. The microfluidic device of claim 5, wherein said first and second mirrors comprise minors selected from the group consisting of:

convex, concave, planar, compound surfaces, and combinations thereof.

9. The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a source of sheath fluid coupled to said flow channel; and

a source of analyte sample coupled to said flow channel.

10. The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sorted sample channel formed in said substrate;

a waste channel formed in said substrate;

a flow diverter having a flow diverter input coupled to said flow channel, a first flow diverter outlet coupled to said sorted sample channel, and a second flow diverter outlet coupled to said waste channel.

11. The microfluidic device of claim 10, wherein said flow diverter is selected from the group consisting of:

piezoelectric devices, air bubble insertion means, and magnetically actuated fluid deflectors.

12. The microfluidic device of claim 1, further comprising an output port coupled to said flow channel.

13. A microfluidic device, comprising:

a substrate;

a flow channel formed in said substrate for transport of a liquid sample;

a gain medium formed in said substrate;

a first mirror formed in said substrate and disposed on a first side of said gain medium; and

a second minor formed in said substrate and disposed on a second side of said gain medium;

wherein electromagnetic radiation reflected between said first and second mirrors traverses said gain medium and also traverses a portion of said flow channel.

14. The microfluidic device of claim 13, wherein said first and second minors comprise minors selected from the group consisting of:

convex, concave, planar, compound surfaces, and combinations thereof.

15. The microfluidic device of claim 13, wherein said gain medium comprises a laser gain medium and said electromagnetic radiation comprises light.

16. The microfluidic device of claim 13, wherein a first portion of said gain medium is disposed on a first side of said flow channel and a second portion of said gain medium is disposed on a second side of said flow channel.

17. The microfluidic device of claim 13, wherein a portion of said gain medium surrounds a portion of said flow channel.

18. The microfluidic device of claim 13, further comprising:

a source of sheath fluid coupled to said flow channel; and

a source of analyte sample coupled to said flow channel.

19. The microfluidic device of claim 13, further comprising:

a sorted sample channel formed in said substrate;

a waste channel formed in said substrate;

a flow diverter having a flow diverter input coupled to said flow channel, a first flow diverter outlet coupled to said sorted sample channel, and a second flow diverter outlet coupled to said waste channel.

20. The microfluidic device of claim 19, wherein said flow diverter is selected from the group consisting of:

piezoelectric devices, air bubble insertion means, and magnetically actuated fluid deflectors.

21. The microfluidic device of claim 13, further comprising an output port coupled to said flow channel.

22. A method of detecting particles in a sample, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a microfluidic device, said microfluidic device comprising;

a substrate;

a flow channel formed in said substrate for transport of a liquid sample; and

a gain medium formed in said substrate;

wherein light traversing said gain medium also traverses a portion of said flow channel;

b) flowing said sample through said flow channel;

c) illuminating said sample with electromagnetic radiation passing through said gain medium and said flow channel and scattering scattered light from said particles;

d) performing a cytometry analysis using said scattered light;

e) determining a change in radiation output from said gain medium; and

f) determining the presence of a particle in the sample based upon said cytometry analysis and said change in radiation output from said gain medium.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein step (e) comprises monitoring time dependent changes in the radiation output from said gain medium.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein time dependent changes in the radiation output from said gain medium is selected from the group consisting of:

intensity, wavelength, linewidth, or polarization.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said gain medium comprises a laser gain medium and said electromagnetic radiation comprises light.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

g) sorting said sample based upon the determination made at step (f).

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

g) directing said sample to a first destination if said determination made at step (f) indicates that a particle is present; and

h) directing said sample to a second destination if said determination made at step (f) indicates that no particle is present.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

g) diverting flow in said flow channel based upon the determination made at step (f).

29. The method of claim 28, wherein step (g) comprises an action selected from the group consisting of:

actuating a piezoelectric device, inserting an air bubble into said respective flow channel, and magnetically actuating a fluid deflector.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein said sample comprises biological cells.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

g) sterilizing the microfluidic device; and

h) disposing of the microfluidic device.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein said scattering is selected from the group consisting of:

fluorescent emission, Raman scatter, phosphorescence, and luminescence.

33. A method of detecting particles in a sample, the method comprising the steps of:

a) flowing a sample through a flow channel;

b) passing electromagnetic radiation through a gain medium;

c) illuminating said sample with said electromagnetic radiation passed through said gain medium and scattering scattered light from said particles;

d) performing a cytometry analysis using said scattered light;

e) determining a change in radiation output from said gain medium; and

f) determining the presence of a particle in the sample based upon said cytometry analysis and said change in radiation output from said gain medium.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein step (e) comprises monitoring time dependent changes in the radiation output from said gain medium.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein time dependent changes in the radiation output from said gain medium is selected from the group consisting of:

intensity, wavelength, linewidth, or polarization.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said gain medium comprises a laser gain medium and said electromagnetic radiation comprises light.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of:

g) sorting said sample based upon the determination made at step (f).

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

g) directing said sample to a first destination if said determination made at step (f) indicates that a particle is present; and

h) directing said sample to a second destination if said determination made at step (f) indicates that no particle is present.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of:

g) diverting flow in said flow channel based upon the determination made at step (f).

40. The method of claim 39, wherein step (g) comprises an action selected from the group consisting of:

actuating a piezoelectric device, inserting an air bubble into said respective flow channel, and magnetically actuating a fluid deflector.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein said particles comprise biological cells.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein said flow channel is in a microfluidic device, the method further comprising the steps of:

g) sterilizing the microfluidic device; and

h) disposing of the microfluidic device.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein said scattering is selected from the group consisting of:

fluorescent emission, Raman scatter, phosphorescence, and luminescence.