Optofluidic microscope device

Abstract

An optofluidic microscope device is disclosed. The device includes a fluid channel having a surface and an object such as a bacterium or virus may flow through the fluid channel. Light transmissive regions of different sizes may be used to image the object.

1 . An optofluidic microscope device comprising:
 a body comprising a fluid channel having a surface;   light transmissive regions in the body, wherein the light transmissive regions have different dimensions;   an illumination source adapted to provide illumination through the light transmissive regions; and   an optical detector adapted to receive light from the illumination source through the light transmissive regions.   
     
     
         2 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the surface is the bottom of a fluid channel. 
     
     
         3 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the light transmissive regions are holes, and wherein the different dimensions are different diameters. 
     
     
         4 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the optical detector comprises a charge coupled device. 
     
     
         5 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the optical detector includes a plurality of discrete light detecting elements, wherein the light detecting elements respectively correspond to the light transmissive regions. 
     
     
         6 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the fluid channel has a bottom with a width of less than about 1 micron. 
     
     
         7 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the light transmissive regions comprise an optically transparent material. 
     
     
         8 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the array of holes extends from a first side of the surface to a second side of the surface. 
     
     
         9 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the array of light transmissive regions is a first array of light transmissive regions and the optical device comprises a second array of light transmissive regions, wherein the second array of light transmissive regions form a reference point. 
     
     
         10 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the surface is part of a bottom wall, and wherein optical detector is attached to the bottom wall. 
     
     
         11 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the array of light transmissive regions forms a slanted line. 
     
     
         12 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein illumination source provides white light. 
     
     
         13 . The optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using the optofluidic microscope device of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
 flowing a fluid comprising an object through the fluid channel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the light transmissive regions have circular radial cross-sections. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the light transmissive regions comprise holes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the light transmissive regions are holes with a high index of refraction material in the holes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the object is a cell. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 detecting a transmission spectrum using the light passing through the light transmissive regions.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 determining a shape of the object using the transmission spectrum.