Microfluidics system, instrument, and cartridge including self-aligning optical fiber system and method
AssigneesNicoya Lifesciences Inc., Advanced Instrument Pte. Ltd.
InventorsKrishna Iyer, Eikky Lim Eng Kuan, Gordon H. Hall
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to microfluidics systems, instruments, and cartridges including self-aligning optical fiber systems and methods of use thereof. More specifically, the disclosure describes a microfluidics instrument including an optical detection system, microfluidics cartridge, and a self-aligning optical fiber system capable of coupling the microfluidics instrument and the microfluidics cartridge. Further, the disclosure provides methods of optical detection operations using a microfluidics system.
Claims35
A microfluidics system comprising:
- (a) a microfluidics instrument, wherein the microfluidics instrument includes an optical detection system;
- (b) a microfluidics cartridge;
- and
- (c) a self-aligning optical fiber system;
- wherein the self-aligning optical fiber system optically couples the microfluidics instrument and the microfluidics cartridge.
A method for performing an optical detection operation, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a microfluidics system, wherein the microfluidics system comprises a microfluidics instrument, a microfluidics cartridge and a plurality of optical detection channels, wherein:
- (i) the microfluidics instrument comprises an instrument fiber optics coupler;
- and
- (ii) the microfluidics cartridge comprises a cartridge fiber optics connector;
- (b) performing a first optical alignment step to align the instrument fiber optic coupler to the cartridge fiber optic connector;
- (c) performing a second optical alignment step to individually align each optical detection channel;
- and
- (d) performing an optical detection operation using the microfluidics system, microfluidics instrument and microfluidics cartridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.