Microfluidic Flow Cytometer - Lab on a chip cell sorting and analysis

This technology enables dynamic tuning of channels in chip based microfluidic devices. In a single PDMS chip, this technology enables improved sensitivity, and extended detection to a greater range of particles sizes than is typical of existing flow cytometers. The ability of the end user to adjust the size of the microchannels makes it possible for a single device to be tuned real time to accommodate samples with particle sizes from 1-100 micrometers. The platform is customizable to include sorting capabilities and the adjustable geometry makes it easy to recover from issues related clogging by simply expanding the channel.

The prototype uses a multi-layered PDMS architecture and integrates electrodes for impedance based volume sensing and micro-Coulter Counters. It has the following benefits:

• Tuneable sensing volumes over a wide range (picoliters to nanoliters) on a single device

• The highest sensitivity possible can be dynamically optimised by the user for the sample of interest.

• Extended detection down to 1µm diameter microspheres can be done, enabling detection of small cells such as E.Coli