Patent ID: 7745221

Claim:
An integrated structure for microfluidic analysis and sorting comprising: a cartridge, the cartridge comprising an optical window, a plurality of reservoirs, including at least: a sample reservoir, a fluid reservoir, a waste reservoir, and a target collection reservoir, a chip, the chip including at least: a sample inlet channel, the cell inlet channel being fluidically coupled to the sample reservoir, one or more fluid inlet channels, the fluid inlet channels being fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir, a detection region, a branched sorting region, and at least two outlet channels including at least a waste channel and a target channel, waste channel being fluidically coupled to the waste reservoir and the target channel being coupled to the target collection reservoir, the chip being disposed adjacent the optical window, and a lid, the lid including at least: a pneumatic pressure port, the port having an inlet and being coupled to at least one of the sample reservoir and the fluid reservoir, and a filter disposed between the inlet of the pneumatic pressure port and at least one of the sample reservoir and the fluid reservoir, a detector adapted to detect cells of a given state and to generate a signal in response thereto, and a lateral force switch coupled to the detector and actuatable in response to the signal, the lateral force switch comprising a laser spot configured to be translated down the length of the detection region at an angle relative to a flow stream through the detection region; whereby when a cell of a given state is detected, the lateral force switch is activated to sweep the laser spot alongside the cell as it flows to provide a lateral force on the cell so as to move the cell such that it selectively exits into the one of the at least two outlet channels.