Patent ID: 6942773

Claim:
A device for separating and detecting particles comprising: a capillary having a first end and a second end, the capillary filled with a buffer solution, the capillary having a coating that transforms the capillary into a light wave guide; an electrical source for applying a voltage across the capillary, the voltage causing the particles to travel from a first location within the capillary to a second location within the capillary; an excitation source for rastering an excitation beam onto the capillary along part or all of the length of the capillary, such that when a fluorescently labeled particle is positioned within the capillary, the fluorescently labeled particle emits light after excitation with the excitation beam; and a light detector positioned at one of the first or second ends of the capillary to collect fluorescent light emitted from the excited fluorescently labeled particles for determining the location of particles within the capillary based upon the location of the rastered excitation beam.