Analysis and sorting of objects in flow

A method comprising:

• introducing a flow of a fluid into a plurality of microfluidic channels, wherein each microfluidic channel comprises an imaging region;
• recording a plurality of holographic diffraction images of one or more objects that pass through imaging regions of microfluidic channels included in the plurality of microfluidic channels;
• characterizing, in real-time, the one or more objects in the plurality of holographic diffraction images, wherein a characterization of each object accounts for at least one predetermined object-type signature;
• and
• based on the characterization of each object, using at least one of dielectrophoresis or an acoustic radiation force to direct the one or more objects into one of a plurality of outlets, wherein the plurality of microfluidic channels includes at least one of:
• a plurality of electrode elements electrically connected to an alternating current driving means, wherein the plurality of electrodes is configured to change a trajectory of the one or more objects using dielectrophoresis;
• or
• a plurality of ultrasonic transducers configured to change the trajectory of the one or more objects using the acoustic radiation force.

A device configured for sorting objects immersed in a flowing medium, the device comprising:

• a holographic imaging unit comprising one or more holographic imaging elements configured to provide a plurality of holographic diffraction images;
• a fluid handling unit comprising one or more microfluidic channels, wherein each microfluidic channel of the one or more microfluidic channels comprises (i) an imaging region for conducting the flowing medium along a corresponding holographic imaging element for imaging the objects immersed in the flowing medium, and (ii) a microfluidic switch arranged downstream of the imaging region for directing the objects to one or more outlets of a plurality of outlets;
• one or more electrodes, wherein each electrode is configured to generate a trigger signal based on a detected change in an electrical signal caused by at least one object immersed in the flowing medium, wherein the trigger signal is representative of a detected presence of the at least one object upstream of at least one of a particular imaging region of a particular microfluidic channel or a particular microfluidic switch of the particular microfluidic channel;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• (i) receive the plurality of holographic diffraction images from the holographic imaging unit;
• (ii) in response to the trigger signal and based on at least one holographic diffraction image of the plurality of holographic diffraction images, determine a real-time characterization of the at least one object that passes through the particular imaging region;
• and (iii) in response to the real-time characterization, control the particular microfluidic switch downstream of the particular imaging region,
• wherein the real-time characterization accounts for at least one predetermined object-type signature, wherein the particular microfluidic channel is included in the one or more microfluidic channels.