Composite-microlens-array-enabled microfluidic sorting

We propose a simple, reliable and cost-effective method for microfluidic sorting of microparticles using an optical potential landscape projected by a composite microlens array (MLA). The MLA enables a high power efficient approach to forming composite shape and size of the projected pattern. Sorting particles by size is demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.