Apparatus And Methods For Analyzing The Output Of Microfluidic Devices

Abstract

Microfluidic devices for analyzing droplets are disclosed. A described microfluidic device includes a substrate and a microfluidic channel formed on the substrate. The microfluidic channel includes passages where each passage has a mask pattern configured to modulate a signal of a droplet passing through that passage, such that droplets passing through the passages produce signals. The microfluidic device also includes a detector configured to detect the signals. Methods of analyzing droplets with a microfluidic device having a microfluidic channel formed on a substrate are disclosed. A described method includes passing droplets through the passages, modulating signals from the droplets using mask patterns formed on the passages; and detecting the signals.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A microfluidic device, comprising:
 a microfluidic channel comprising a plurality of passages, each of the plurality of passages having a mask pattern configured to modulate a signal of a respective droplet passing through that passage, such that droplets passing through the plurality of passages produce a plurality of signals; and   a lens-free detector configured to detect the plurality of signals.   
     
     
         3 . The microfluidic device of  claim 2 , wherein the lens-free detector is a photodetector that concurrently detects the plurality of signals. 
     
     
         4 . The microfluidic device of  claim 2 , wherein the microfluidic channel is configured to receive an excitation light that illuminates the droplets passing through the plurality of passages. 
     
     
         5 . The microfluidic device of  claim 4 , wherein the excitation light is configured to illuminate the droplets passing through the plurality of passages using two or more different wavelengths. 
     
     
         6 . The microfluidic device of  claim 5 , wherein the two or more different wavelengths are modulated out of phase from one another. 
     
     
         7 . The microfluidic device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of signals comprise a fluorescence signal, a magnetic field signal, a dielectric signal, or an ultrasound signal. 
     
     
         8 . The microfluidic device of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of signals comprise the fluorescence signal. 
     
     
         9 . The microfluidic device of  claim 2 , wherein the mask pattern of each of the plurality of passages comprises one or more signal emitting portions and one or more signal dampening portions. 
     
     
         10 . The microfluidic device of  claim 2 , wherein the mask pattern is different for each of the plurality of passages. 
     
     
         11 . The microfluidic device of  claim 2 , wherein the droplets comprise one or more analytes from the group consisting of emulsifications, beads, cells, pathogens, DNA, RNA, nucleic acids, pollutants, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method of analyzing a plurality of droplets with a microfluidic device having a microfluidic channel comprising a plurality of passages, the method comprising:
 passing the plurality of droplets through the plurality of passages;   illuminating the droplets passing through the plurality of passages using an excitation light to produce a plurality of signals;   modulating each of the plurality of signals using a mask pattern formed on the plurality of passages; and   detecting the modulated plurality of signals using a lens-free detector.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising correlating each of the plurality of signals to a corresponding mask pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lens-free detector is a photodetector that concurrently detects the plurality of signals. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the excitation light is configured to illuminate the droplets passing through the plurality of passages using two or more different wavelengths. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the two or more different wavelengths are modulated out of phase from one another. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of signals comprise a fluorescence signal, a magnetic field signal, a dielectric signal, or an ultrasound signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of signals comprise the fluorescence signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mask pattern of each of the plurality of passages comprises one or more signal emitting portions and one or more signal dampening portions. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mask pattern is different for each of the plurality of passages. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the droplets comprise one or more analytes from the group consisting of emulsifications, beads, cells, pathogens, DNA, RNA, nucleic acids, pollutants, and combinations thereof.