Microfluidic devices and methods for using the devices

Abstract

A microfluidic device comprises electrically conductive lower portions, transparent to an incident optical beam; first upper portions electrically conductive and configured to receive an electrical signal; shielding portions opaque to the incident optical beam and arranged between the first upper portions and the lower portions, the shielding portions having one or more through openings; one or more compartments containing a filler means and markers dispersed in filler means. Each compartment comprises at least one lower chamber and at least one upper chamber in fluid communication with each other via said one or more through openings. Each lower chamber extends between a respective through opening and the lower portions and each upper chamber extends between at least one respective through opening and the first upper portions. The markers are electrically charged and are configured to move between an upper chamber and one or more lower chambers in variable amounts according to the intensity of the electric signal applied to one or more upper portions and to emit an optical emission beam when illuminated in the lower chamber by the incident optical beam.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.