Microfluidic tools for cellular research and diagnostics have traditionally been hampered by cumbersome optical requirements that complicate hardware design and operation. We have developed ultra-fast optical direct writing techniques with which we have fabricated and successfully integrated optical components directly into microfluidic platforms. This scheme elminates scaling issues associated with free space optics and enables on-chip optical signal processing at the same scale and density as microfluidic channels, themselves. We have applied this technology to the development of biomedical diagnostic and cell sorting platforms that utilize compact, low-cost devices. I shall present a comprehensive overview of technique and device development as well as demonstration applications for optically integrated microfluidic devices. My focus for applications of this technology has largely been upon on-chip hematology diagnostics and flow cytometry, which represent one area of emphasis in my projected research agenda.

One may read more about the work summarized in this poster in the following references:

R.W. Applegate, Jr., J. Squier, T. Vestad, J. Oakey, D.W.M. Marr, “Optical Trapping, Manipulation and Sorting of Cells and Colloids in Microfluidic Systems With Diode Laser Bars”, Optics Express, 12, 4390-4398, 2004.

R.W. Applegate, Jr., J. Squier, T. Vestad, J. Oakey, D.W.M. Marr, P. Bado, M.A. Dugan, A.A. Said, “Microfluidic Sorting System Based On Optical Waveguide Integration and Diode Laser Bar Trapping”, Lab on a Chip, 6, 422-426, 2006.

Applegate, R.A., Jr., Schafer, D.N., Amir, W., Squier, J., Oakey, J., Vestad, T., Marr, D.W.M., “Optically Integrated Microfluidic Systems for Cellular Characterization and Manipulation”, J. Opt A: Pure Appl. Opt, 9, S122, 2007.

Applegate, R.A., Jr., Squier, J., Vestad, T., Oakey, J., Marr, D.W.M., “Fiber Focused diode bar trapping for microfluidic flow manipulation”, Applied Physics Letters, 92, 013904, 2008.