A method for stretching a plurality of sample isolates, including: trapping the plurality of sample isolates away from a wall of at least one microfluidic channel of a microfluidic flow system; generating a microfluidic flow to stretch the plurality of trapped sample isolates; determining deformation characteristics of the plurality of stretched samples isolates based on one or more frames from an image processing system; and outputting information corresponding to the deformation characteristics.

A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises actuators and chambers for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.

The invention is related to a device and method for analysing and controlling cell motility. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there if provided a microfluidic device for analyzing and controlling the motility of a cell, the device comprising: (a) a first inlet for introducing a cell sample; (b) an outlet for discharging the cell sample; (c) a microfluidic channel in fluid communication with and intermediate the first inlet and outlet; (d) a first pump coupled to the first inlet for pumping the cell sample in the microfluidic channel; and (d) an observation area within a portion of the microfluidic channel for analysing and controlling the motility of the cell, wherein the first pump generates a shear stress in the observation area, the shear stress generates a shearotactical signal for driving movement of the cell.

An apparatus to provide multi-beam imaging of particles includes a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) configured to generate a plurality of light beams that converge with each other to form a measurement volume within a particle field. The plurality of the VCSELs are configured to provide uniformity in a background illumination of the measurement volume. An imaging optics is coupled to at least one of the plurality of VCSELs. A digital camera is coupled to the imaging optics to obtain a shadow image of a particle passing through the measurement volume at a focal plane of the digital camera. A processor is coupled to the digital camera.

An optical proximity sensor includes a first vertical cavity surface-emitting laser configured for self-mixing interferometry to determine distance to and/or velocity of an object. The optical proximity sensor also includes a second vertical cavity surface-emitting laser configured for self-mixing interferometry to determine whether any variation in a fixed distance has occurred. The optical proximity sensor leverages output from the second vertical cavity surface-emitting laser to calibrate output from the second vertical cavity surface-emitting laser to eliminate and/or mitigate environmental effects, such as temperature changes.

The invention relates to a method for determining the absolute value of the flow velocity (v) of a particle-transporting medium. At least two measurement laser beams (L_i) with linearly independent, non-orthogonal measurement directions (b_i) are emitted. The measurement laser beams (L_i) scattered at particles are detected and one measurement signal (m_i) is generated in each case for each measurement laser beam (L_i). The measurement signals (m_i) are evaluated, wherein absolute values of velocity components (v_i) are ascertained as projections of the flow velocity (v) on the respective measurement directions (b_i), wherein a solid angle region is ascertained for the prevalent direction of the flow velocity (v) and signs assigned to this solid angle region are chosen for the individual velocity components (v_i), and wherein the absolute value of the flow velocity (v) is determined using the ascertained absolute values of the velocity components (v_i) and using the chosen signs for the velocity components (v_i).

A device includes an input chamber, an attractant chamber, a migration channel arranged in fluid communication between an outlet of the input chamber and inlet of the attractant chamber, a baffle arranged in fluid communication between the outlet of the input chamber and the migration channel or within the migration channel, and an exit channel in fluid communication with the migration channel at a point beyond the baffle and before the migration channel enters the inlet of the attractant chamber. The baffle is configured to inhibit movement of a first type of cell through the baffle to a greater extent than the baffle inhibits movement of a second type of cell through the baffle.

A method for determining operating conditions of a particle detector that includes a multimode Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) includes providing an electrical drive current to the multimode VCSEL such that a laser beam is emitted by the multimode VCSEL and varying the electrical drive current within a predefined range of electrical drive currents. The method further includes determining, as a function of the electrical drive current, an intensity signal of an optical wave within a laser cavity of the multimode VCSEL, determining, as a function of the electrical drive current, a noise measure of the intensity signal, determining a range of electrical drive currents for which the noise measure is below a predefined threshold noise measure value, and determining operating conditions of the particle detector by choosing an electrical drive current for particle detection out of the determined low noise range of electrical drive currents.

The present invention relates to a method for measuring circulating cells in superficial body fluids by means of high-frequency-based device. The method can be used for detecting circulating cells in the fluids of an individual without the necessity of extracting a sample of the individual, being useful as a diagnostic tool and for monitoring the effectiveness of a treatment administered to an individual suffering from a viral, protozoal, fungal and/or bacterial disease.

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for providing asymmetric oscillations to a container. The container may include a fluid, a particle, and/or a gas. A vibration driver attached to the container provides asymmetric oscillations. A controller connected to the vibration driver controls an amplitude, frequency, and shape of the asymmetric oscillations. An amplifier amplifies the asymmetric oscillations in response to the controller. A sensor disposed on the vibration driver provides feedback to the controller.