From Microdroplets to Microfluidics: Selective Emulsion Separation in Microfluidic Devices

The contents of microdroplets can be extracted on-chip and incorporated by electrocoalescence into a continuous microfluidic stream. Individual droplets can be selected based on their contents. As a proof of principle, a fluorescence detection system was used to collect droplets containing low levels of a fluorescent dye (see picture of droplets passing through the device) as well as single fluorescent beads.