A system for deforming and analyzing a plurality of particles carried in a sample volume, the system comprising: a substrate defining an inlet, configured to receive the sample volume, an outlet, and a fluidic pathway fluidically coupled to the inlet and the outlet and comprising: an upstream focusing region fluidically coupled to the inlet and configured to preferentially align the plurality of particles along one or more fluid streamlines; a bifurcation (124") coupled to an output of the upstream focusing region, wherein the bifurcation (124") comprises a first branch channel (121") and a second branch channel (122"), and wherein substantially all particles of the plurality of particles are diverted into the first branch (121"), while the second branch (122") is substantially free of particles; a deformation region (140") formed at an intersection between the first branch channel (121"), the second branch channel (122") and two outlet channels, wherein the first branch channel (121") and the second branch channel are oriented in substantially opposite directions, wherein fluid flow within the first branch channel (121") and the second branch channel (122") is configured to induce extension of one or more particles in the plurality of particles within the deformation region (140"). a substrate defining an inlet, configured to receive the sample volume, an outlet, and a fluidic pathway fluidically coupled to the inlet and the outlet and comprising: an upstream focusing region fluidically coupled to the inlet and configured to preferentially align the plurality of particles along one or more fluid streamlines; a bifurcation (124") coupled to an output of the upstream focusing region, wherein the bifurcation (124") comprises a first branch channel (121") and a second branch channel (122"), and wherein substantially all particles of the plurality of particles are diverted into the first branch (121"), while the second branch (122") is substantially free of particles; a deformation region (140") formed at an intersection between the first branch channel (121"), the second branch channel (122") and two outlet channels, wherein the first branch channel (121") and the second branch channel are oriented in substantially opposite directions, wherein fluid flow within the first branch channel (121") and the second branch channel (122") is configured to induce extension of one or more particles in the plurality of particles within the deformation region (140"). an upstream focusing region fluidically coupled to the inlet and configured to preferentially align the plurality of particles along one or more fluid streamlines; a bifurcation (124") coupled to an output of the upstream focusing region, wherein the bifurcation (124") comprises a first branch channel (121") and a second branch channel (122"), and wherein substantially all particles of the plurality of particles are diverted into the first branch (121"), while the second branch (122") is substantially free of particles; a deformation region (140") formed at an intersection between the first branch channel (121"), the second branch channel (122") and two outlet channels, wherein the first branch channel (121") and the second branch channel are oriented in substantially opposite directions, wherein fluid flow within the first branch channel (121") and the second branch channel (122") is configured to induce extension of one or more particles in the plurality of particles within the deformation region (140").