# US 2021/0239593 A1 · Ultra-High Throughput Detection Of Fluorescent Droplets Using Time Domain Encoded Optofludics

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- Number: US 2021/0239593 A1
- Document ID: US20210239593A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/017,966
- Filed: 2020-09-11
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-24
- Assignees: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
- Applicants: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
- Inventors: David A. Issadore; Venkata Yelleswarapu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210239593A1

## CPC

- G01N 15/1434: Optical arrangements
- B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces}
- B01L 3/502784: {specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics}
- C12M 1/00: Apparatus for enzymology or microbiology
- G01N 15/14: Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
- G01N 15/1425: {using an analyser being characterised by its control arrangement}
- G01N 15/1429: Signal processing
- G01N 15/1433: using image recognition
- G01N 15/1436: {the optical arrangement forming an integrated apparatus with the sample container, e.g. a flow cell}
- G01N 15/1459: {the analysis being performed on a sample stream}
- G01N 21/00: Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light (G01N3/00 - G01N19/00 take precedence)
- G01N 21/645: {Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters}
- G06V 10/141: Control of illumination
- G06V 20/69: Microscopic objects, e.g. biological cells or cellular parts
- B01L 2200/0673: Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
- G01N 2015/0053: {in liquids, e.g. trouble}
- G01N 2015/1006: {for cytology}
- G01N 2015/144: {Imaging characterised by its optical setup}
- G01N 2021/1757: {Time modulation of light being essential to the method of light modification, e.g. using single detector}
- G01N 2021/1765: {Method using an image detector and processing of image signal}
- G01N 2021/177: {Detector of the video camera type}
- G01N 2201/0221: Portable; cableless; compact; hand-held
- G01N 2201/0625: Modulated LED
- G01N 2201/0696: Pulsed
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS}
- G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING

## Abstract

A high-throughput optofluidic device for detecting fluorescent droplets is disclosed. The device uses time-domain encoded optofluidics to detect a high rate of droplets passing through parallel microfluidic channels. A light source modulated with a minimally correlating maximum length sequences is used to illuminate the droplets as they pass through the microfluidic device. By correlating the resulting signal with the expected pattern, each pattern formed by passing droplets can be resolved to identify individual droplets.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-20. (canceled)

### Claim 21

A device comprising:
a light source configured to illuminate a plurality of droplets passing through a microfluidic channel;
a controller configured to flash the light source in a time-domain modulated sequence; and
a photo sensor configured to capture an image of the microfluidic channel.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The device of claim 21, wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode (LED).

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The device of claim 21, wherein the photo sensor is a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) photo sensor.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The device of claim 23, wherein the CMOS photo sensor is part of a DSLR camera, a point-and-shoot camera, a cellular phone camera, or a medium format camera.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The device of claim 23, wherein the CMOS photo sensor is at least 1/3.2″ diagonal.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The device of claim 21, wherein the time-domain modulated sequence has a duration, d, wherein the image has an exposure time, t, and wherein t is greater than or equal to d.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The device of claim 21, wherein the time-domain modulated sequence is a pseudorandom sequence.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The device of claim 21, wherein the time-domain modulated sequence is a minimally correlating maximum length sequence.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The device of claim 28, wherein the maximum length sequence is 1/30 sec or less.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The device of claim 29, wherein the maximum length sequence is 1/60 sec or less.

### Claim 31 (depends on 21)

The device of claim 21, wherein the photo sensor is configured to capture a video of the microfluidic channel.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The device of claim 31, wherein the video has a frame rate of at least 30 fps.