I/We Claim:
1. A system (102) for cell imaging, the system (102) comprising:
a microfluidic device (104) comprising a channel (406) defining a flow
5 path for a stream of cells, the stream of cells comprising healthy and unhealthy
cells, wherein the channel (406) comprises a constriction (410) at a section of
the flow path;
an imaging unit (108) coupled to the microfluidic device (104), the
imaging unit (108) comprising a light source (202) and an image capturing
10 device (204); and
a trigger flashing circuit (206) electrically coupled to the microfluidic
device (102) and the imaging unit (108), wherein the trigger flashing circuit (206)
is to:
generate an electrical signal when an unhealthy cell (408) within
15 the stream of cells is detected in the channel (406) of the microfluidic
device (104),
in response to the electrical signal, trigger the image capturing
device (204) and the light source (202), to capture an image of the
stream of cells for performing cell cytometry.
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2. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a microfluidic
pump (106) coupled to the microfluidic device (104) configured for injecting the
stream of cells into the channel (406).
25 3. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constriction (410) is a
mechanical barrier for obstructing the flow path of the unhealthy cell (408) within
the stream of cells based on shape deformity of the unhealthy cell (408).
4. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microfluidic device (104)
30 comprises one or more electrodes, such that the stream of cells passing
through the one or more electrodes interfere with an electrical field of the one
or more electrodes, causing a change in an electrical impedance.
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5. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the channel (406) is to allow
a single cell from the stream of cells to pass therethrough, at an instant.
5 6. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is to
generate current pulses of high amplitude and low duration in response to the
electrical signal.
7. The system (102) as claimed in claim 6, wherein in response to the electrical
10 signal, a current pulse of amplitude in a range of 3 to 4 Amperes for a time
duration of 5 to 10 µs is generated to trigger the imaging unit.
8. The system (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unhealthy cell exhibits
a restricted motion while passing through the constriction (410) in the
15 microfluidic device (104).
9. A method (500) for implementing cell imaging, the method comprising:
passing (504) a stream of cells comprising healthy and unhealthy cells
through a channel of a microfluidic device, the channel comprising a constriction
20 at a section of a flow path defined by the microfluidic device,
generating (506) an electrical signal based on detecting presence of an
unhealthy cell from the stream of cells passing through the constriction of the
channel; and
based on the electrical signal, capturing (508) an image of the stream of
25 cells for performing cell cytometry.
10. The method (500) as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a microfluidic
pump coupled to the microfluidic device configured for injecting the stream of
cells into the channel.
30 11. The method (500) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the constriction is a
mechanical barrier for obstructing path of the unhealthy cell within the stream
of cells based on shape deformity of the unhealthy cell.
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12. The method (500) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the microfluidic device
comprises one or more electrodes, such that the stream of cells passing
through the one or more electrodes interfere with an electrical field of the one
5 or more electrodes, causing a change in an electrical impedance.
13. The method (500) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the channel is to allow a
single cell from the stream of cells to pass therethrough, at an instant.
10 14. The method (500) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the imaging unit is to
generate current pulses of high amplitude and low duration in response to the
electrical signal.
15. The method (500) as claimed in claim 9, wherein in response to the
15 electrical signal, a current pulse of amplitude in a range of 3 to 4 Amperes for a
time duration of 5 to 10 µs is generated to trigger the imaging unit.