US 12,239,981 B2
Automatic microfluidic system for continuous and quantitive collection of droplets
Ho Cheung Shum, Hong Kong (HK); Lang Nan, Hong Kong (HK); and Yuk Heng Tang, Hong Kong (HK)
Assigned to THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, Hong Kong (HK)
Appl. No. 17/251,229
Filed by THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, Hong Kong (HK)
PCT Filed Jul. 10, 2019, PCT No. PCT/CN2019/095408
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 11, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/011193, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/696,419, filed on Jul. 11, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0260587 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 15/14 (2006.01); G01N 15/1492 (2024.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01); C12M 3/06 (2006.01); C12Q 1/6806 (2018.01); G01N 15/149 (2024.01)
CPC B01L 3/502746 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502738 (2013.01); B01L 3/502761 (2013.01); B01L 3/502784 (2013.01); G01N 15/147 (2013.01); G01N 15/1484 (2013.01); G01N 15/1492 (2024.01); G01N 21/64 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0864 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0874 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0424 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0487 (2013.01); C12M 23/16 (2013.01); C12Q 1/6806 (2013.01); G01N 2015/1481 (2013.01); G01N 15/149 (2024.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An integrated system, comprising:
a microfluidic device;
a multi-branch sorter configured to receive droplets from a microfluidic channel of the microfluidic device and drive subgroups of the droplets into respective different branch channels based on a value of a sorting signal applied to one or more sorting electrodes, the multi-branch sorter comprising:
an optical detection setup comprising a diode-pumped solid state (DPSS) laser source configured to direct a fluorescence emission on a detection area of the microfluidic channel; and
a high-speed camera coupled with a beam splitter and configured to perform fluorescence detection and optical imaging of droplets that arrive at the detection area based on the fluorescence emission, wherein the fluorescence detection controls the value of the sorting signal; and
independently controlled electro-pneumatic valves connected, via tubing, to the different branch channels, respectively, wherein the electro-pneumatic valves are configured to drive compressed air into the respective different branch channels that pump the subgroups of droplets into collection platforms associated with the respective different branch channels.