Patent ID: 8750652

Claim:
A microfluidic detection device, comprising: a) a planar waveguide; b) a microfluidic channel disposed on said planar waveguide; c) a light source which directs light through said planar waveguide; d) a labeled cell disposed in said microfluidic channel, wherein said labeled cell lies in an evanescent field extending from said planar waveguide; and e) a light detector disposed to receive light from said light source through said planar waveguide, wherein said evanescent field interacts with said labeled cell, wherein said light through said planar waveguide is altered according to a presence of said labeled cell in said microfluidic channel, wherein said labeled cell comprises a label selected from the group consisting of gold, iron, silver, tin, lead, magnesium, aluminum, selenium, platinum, mercury, erbium, terbium, nickel, cadmium, uranium, and composites salts or alloys thereof.