MICROFLUIDIC SORTING APPARATUS WITH OPTICAL TWEEZERS

摘要

The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus for sorting particles and to a corresponding method. In this case, the term particles denotes living cells, cell parts or beads with diameters of a few 100 nanometres to a few micrometres. In order to specify a sorting apparatus for sorting particles and an associated sorting method which overcomes the disadvantages of the known systems and makes it possible to develop a flexible, fast and cost-effective system, the sorting apparatus comprises a miniaturized flow cell having a channel through which a sample solution containing the particles to be sorted flows in a laminar manner during operation. At least one optical detection unit for determining a geometric position of the particles to be sorted and for optically classifying the particles to be sorted is also provided. A pair of optical tweezers which can be deflected via a mirror or an acousto-optical deflector is provided for the purpose of sequentially sorting the classified particles by deliberately moving the particle from the detected position into a predetermined target position in the laminar sample solution flow.