Optically integrated microfluidic systems for cellular characterization and manipulation

Expanding interest in microfluidic techniques for biomedical applications has driven the recent need for micro-integrated optics capable of both traditional characterization and emerging optical manipulation techniques. We discuss here how ultrafast laser micromachining can be used to create optical waveguides directly within microfluidic systems. We then utilize this fabrication approach to create a unique microfluidic platform for optical characterization and sorting of cells and particles. This new platform employs optically fabricated waveguides to scatter and refract light from individual particles, allowing accurate in situ size detection and sorting within a microfluidic channel.