Patent ID: 8270781

Claim:
A device comprising: a fluidic channel capable of conducting a fluid containing at least one particle; a source of electromagnetic radiation arranged to provide the electromagnetic radiation into the fluidic channel to interact with the at least one particle contained within the fluid as the fluid is conducted by the fluidic channel, wherein the electromagnetic radiation is light, the source includes at least one additional optical channel that communicates the light to the fluidic channel, and the at least one additional optical channel includes first and second additional optical channels that are aligned with one another and with a substantially linear section of the fluidic channel, and wherein the first and second additional optical channels extend away from one another and from the fluidic channel at respective opposite ends of the substantially linear section of the fluidic channel; and a first plurality of optical channels, wherein each optical channel of the plurality of optical channels includes an end that is positioned along the fluidic channel without crossing the fluidic channel, and wherein one or more of the first plurality of optical channels receive at least some of the electromagnetic radiation after the electromagnetic radiation has interacted with the at least one particle.