Patent ID: 7155082

Claim:
A switchable microfluidic optical waveguide, comprising: a microfluidic structure comprising: a core inlet channel; at least two downstream inlet channels downstream of a core inlet, including first and second cladding channels, intersecting with said core inlet channel; at least first and second outlet channels coupled to said core inlet channel and downstream of said downstream inlet channels; an optical source providing an optical signal aligned with said core inlet channel; a waveguiding fluid supplied to said core inlet at an inlet flow rate; a cladding fluid supplied to each of said cladding channels wherein said waveguiding fluid and cladding fluid form an optical waveguide operable to transmit said optical signal, said cladding fluid supplied to said first cladding channel at a first cladding flow rate and to said second cladding channel at a second cladding flow rate; and wherein said first and second cladding flow rates are selectable to switch said optical waveguide between at least said first and second output channels.