Compact optical detection system for a microfluidic device
First Claim
1. A dry-focus microfluidic device, comprising:
- a first substrate;
a plurality of channels formed in the first substrate, wherein at least one channel is a microfluidic channel;
a plurality of optical alignment marks formed in the first substrate spaced apart from the plurality of channels, each alignment mark having a curved wall; and
a second substrate bonded to the first substrate such that the channels are covered and the alignment marks are closed;
wherein at least one channel is positioned between at least two alignment marks.
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Abstract
An optical detection system for a microfluidic device and a dry-focus microfluidic device compatible with the compact optical detection system are described. The system includes an LED; means for collimating light emitted by the LED; an aspherical, fused-silica objective lens; means for directing the collimated light through the objective onto a microfluidic device; and means for detecting a fluorescent signal emitted from the microfluidic device. The working distance between the objective and the device allows light from an external LED or laser to be brought in along a diagonal path to illuminate the microfluidic device. The dry-focus microfluidic device includes multiple channels and multiple closed optical alignment marks having curved walls. At least one of the channels is positioned between at least two of the marks. The marks are illuminated for alignment and focusing purposes by light brought in on a diagonal path from an external white LED.
120 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dry-focus microfluidic device, comprising:
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a first substrate; a plurality of channels formed in the first substrate, wherein at least one channel is a microfluidic channel; a plurality of optical alignment marks formed in the first substrate spaced apart from the plurality of channels, each alignment mark having a curved wall; and a second substrate bonded to the first substrate such that the channels are covered and the alignment marks are closed; wherein at least one channel is positioned between at least two alignment marks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An optical detection system for a microfluidic device, comprising:
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a microfluidic device comprising; a first substrate; a plurality of channels formed in the first substrate, wherein at least one channel is a microfluidic channel; a plurality of optical alignment marks formed in the first substrate spaced apart from the plurality of channels, each alignment mark having a curved wall; a second substrate bonded to the first substrate such that the channels are covered and the alignment marks are closed; wherein at least one channel is positioned between at least two alignment marks; a light-emitting diode; means for collimating light emitted by the light-emitting diode; an aspherical, fused-silica objective lens; means for directing the collimated light through the objective lens onto the microfluidic device; and means for detecting a fluorescent signal emitted from the microfluidic device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for aligning and focusing an optical detection system, comprising:
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providing a microfluidic device having a plurality of optical alignment marks and a plurality of channels etched into a substrate, wherein at least one of the channels is a microfluidic channel; positioning the device relative to optics of the optical detection system such that the bottoms of the optical alignment marks are nearer to the optics than are the tops of the marks; bringing light from an external white LED in at an oblique angle to illuminate the optical alignment marks; setting data collection for the optical detection system to a line mode wherein the system scans in a line during detection; aligning the optical detection system using light reflected from the optical alignment marks; focusing the optical detection system using light reflected from the optical alignment marks; and combining data collected in line mode regarding the optical alignment marks with data resident in the optical detection system regarding spacing of the optical alignment marks relative to the channels to position the optical detection system to sense fluorescent signals from the channels. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification