Patent ID: 8414755

Claim:
A microfluidic separation device comprising: a. a sample channel, wherein said sample channel comprises a first sample channel region and a second sample channel region, wherein a cross-section of said first sample channel region is smaller than a cross-section of said second sample channel region; b. a detection region comprising a first detection region and a second detection region, wherein a cross-section of said first detection region is larger than a cross-section of said second detection region and said second sample channel region is connected to said first detection region; c. an illuminating electric field; d. Raman-scattering nanoparticles, wherein said Raman-scattering nanoparticles comprise surface plasmon resonances for detection when illuminated by said illuminating electric field, wherein said surface plasmon resonances create an enhanced local electric field along specific directions, wherein said enhanced local electric field results in an enhanced Raman response; and e. a Raman nanoparticle input channel disposed to input said Raman-scattering nanoparticles into said second sample channel region, wherein said Raman-scattering nanoparticles are larger than said cross-section of said first sample channel region and larger than said cross-section of said second detection region, wherein said Raman-scattering nanoparticles are disposed to collect in said first detection region to form region of densely packed said Raman-scattering nanoparticles.