Phase-resolved optical Doppler tomography for imaging flow dynamics in microfluidic channels

Phase-resolved optical Doppler tomography (ODT), an imaging technique based on low coherence interferometry, is presented as a tool to perform high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of fluidic flow in microchannels with high velocity sensitivity. To demonstrate ODT as a tool, electro-osmotic flow (EOF) was investigated, observing cross-sectional images of bidirectional flow within a microfluidic channel and pulsating flow when driven by a pulsed electrical field. ODT demonstrates great promise as a tool for studying the effects of microchannel surface modifications on biological sample flow and optimizing microfluidic device design. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.