This technology is a device for visualizing the shape and internal transport phenomena of microfluidic chips.
The usefulness of microfluidic device-based assays is limited by the detection methods, which are typically not amenable to high-throughput applications. Expensive bulk imaging microscopes are required for visualizing real-time mass transport phenomena in microfluidic systems. There is a need for affordable, high-throughput imaging systems that would allow for the large-scale evaluation of microfluidic assays.
This technology integrates optical imaging with microfluidic devices to achieve high temporal and spatial resolution imaging of microfluidic transport. The transparent microfluidic chip is illuminated with a light-emitting diode and an optical detector comprising a charge-coupled device (CCD) chip and microlens arrays is placed on top of it. This portable imaging device allows for ultrahigh-throughput (~1500 samples per hour per module) analysis of microfluidic chips at a low cost.
This technology has been used for visualizing and evaluating fluorescence-based microfluidic radiation biodosimetry chips.
Daniel Attinger, Ph.D.
IR M07-047
Licensing Contact: Satish Rao