Patent ID: 7527977
Filing Date: 2009-05-05
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A protein detection system, comprising: a microfluidic channel disposed on a substrate body, said microfluidic channel comprising a plurality of connected channel regions, wherein each of said channel regions comprises a uniform rectangular cross-section, a longitudinal axis, and first and second side walls each aligned substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, wherein at least first and second channel regions intersect at a first intersection plane passing through an intersection between said respective first side walls and said respective second side walls of said at least first and second channel regions, wherein a normal to said first intersection plane is oriented at a first angle, θ means for establishing a first average permeability, wherein a fluid flowing from said first channel region into said second channel region and comprising a flux that is substantially uniform in said first channel region, remains substantially uniform in said second channel region; an electrical power supply and electrodes disposed at first and second ends of said microfluidic channel; a cover transparent to at least some wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation covering said microfluidic channel; a single mode optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding disposed on said cover, said optical fiber further comprising an optical cavity spanning said microfluidic channel, said optical cavity comprising partially transmissive means disposed on either side of said microfluidic channel, said optical fiber is tapered or thinned to remove some or all of said cladding along a length of said optical cavity; a laser source optically coupled into said optical fiber; and means for measuring the decay time of said optical cavity.