Patent ID: 8804105
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: B01L,G01N

Abstract:
1. An interrogation apparatus, comprising: structure configured and arranged to interact with a removable microfluidic cassette to obtain an optically-based signal related to optical particle characterization of a plurality of particles carried by a fluid that can be urged to move through a channel in said cassette, said optically-based signal being extracted from a optical-interrogation location disposed along said channel; structure configured and arranged to interact with said removable cassette to obtain an electrically-based signal related to at least one of: a display element on which a result from processing one or more of said optically-based signal and said electrically-based signal may be shown; said cassette comprising: a cap layer disposed to form a fluid-resistant cover on one side of a channel segment, at least a portion of said cap layer being substantially transparent in a through-the-thickness direction; a sample-receiving orifice disposed in fluid communication with said channel segment; a vent disposed in fluid communication with said channel segment at a location disposed downstream of said sample-receiving orifice; and an interrogation layer disposed to form a fluid-resistant cover on the other side of said channel segment, at least a portion of said interrogation layer being substantially transparent in a through-the-thickness direction, wherein: said interrogation layer carries a plurality of surface electrodes disposed to contact fluid carried inside a channel comprising said channel segment; and a portion of said cap layer, said channel, and said interrogation layer cooperate to form a substantially transparent window through the thickness of said cassette at said optical-interrogation location.