Micro Flow Cytometry Chip Device Integrated with Tunable Microlens for Circulating Tumor Cells Detection and Counting Applications

This paper reports a micromachine-based micro flow cytometry chip device integrated with a tunable liquid-filled microlens structure for optical detection, in which is capable of fluorescence detection for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detection applications. By utilizing two sets of micro-piezoelectric pump device, cell samples can be aligned and focused to flow through the sensing area, and enhanced the accuracy and sensitivity of samples detection. The integrated chip device can be used to detect tumor cells labelled with specific fluorescent dyes successfully, and the optical signals can be enhanced accordingly by utilizing the tunable liquid-filled microlens within specific liquid pressure. (C) 2010 The Japan Society of Applied Physics