Multi‐Functional Particle Detection with Embedded Optical Fibers in a Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Chip

This paper describes a polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic chip with embedded optical fibers for particle detection. It consists of a microchannel for sample delivery, two pairs of fibers for multi‐functional particle detection, and electrodes for high voltage supply to generate electrokinetic particle motion. A small size semiconductor laser and a Si‐PIN detector are used for optical detection. The detection system allows easy switch between two‐fiber detection mode and one‐fiber detection mode, and is capable of counting particles, measuring particle velocity, and identifying particle sizes in a single polydimethylsiloxane chip. The technique described here is potentially applicable to a range of particulate diagnostic systems.