Method and system for microfluidic particle orientation and/or sorting

1. A system for sorting particles in a microfluidic system comprising:

at least one channel suitable for fluid flow within the channel comprising at least one input source and at least two output sources, and a plurality of stages arranged along the channel;

an orientation stage following, and in fluid communication with, the at least one input source, the orientation stage comprising at least one optical waveguide arranged and configured to expose particles to radiation pressure to cause at least a majority of the particles to adopt a particular orientation in the fluid flow;

a detection stage following, and in fluid communication with, the orientation stage, the detection stage comprising an optical detector configured to detect at least one difference or discriminate between particles in the fluid flow past the detection stage, and

a switching stage comprising a plurality of optical waveguides arranged such that particles flow past each optical waveguide in the plurality, said optical waveguides arranged and configured to expose particles to radiation pressure to cause a change in direction of movement of selected particles in the fluid flow to sort the particles into one of the at least two output sources based on input from the detection stage, and a controller.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical waveguides are connected to a laser or lasers.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the waveguides extend across the channel or abut the channel of the microfluidic system.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the controller is arranged to activate the radiation pressure from the optical waveguides.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the radiation pressure deflects a particle from a flow on one side, across a flow boundary or boundaries, and into a flow towards a selected output.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the optical detector is arranged to detect or discriminate particles by a fluorescence-based detection technique.

7. A system according to claim 1 further comprising before the orientation stage, a focusing stage, in fluid communication with the at least one input source, the focusing stage comprising an apparatus to provide a hydrodynamic pressure force, a radiation pressure force, or a combination thereof, to focus the particles to a particular location within the fluid.

8. A method of sorting particles in a microfluidic system, comprising,

forcing particles to adopt a particular orientation in fluid flow within at least one channel of the microfluidic system by contacting the particles with a radiation force produced by at least one optical waveguide;

following orientation, detecting at least one difference, or discriminating between, particles in the fluid flow; and

causing a change in the direction of movement of selected particles in the fluid flow to sort the particles based on the at least one difference or discrimination detected, wherein the change in direction is caused by contacting the particles with a radiation force produced by a plurality of optical waveguides.

9. A method according to claim 8 to wherein the particles are sperm.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the sperm are sorted by sex.

11. A system according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of optical waveguides abut the channel from above, below or along the side walls of the channel.

12. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a cooling stage capable of cooling the fluid and particles within the fluid.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one channel has a width of about 10 μm to about 500 μm.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one channel has a depth of about 5 μm to about 500 μm.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein the particles are sperm.