MICROMECHANICAL PHOTOTHERMAL ANALYSER OF MICROFLUIDIC SAMPLES

摘要

The present invention relates to a micromechanical photothermal analyser of microfluidic samples comprising an oblong micro-channel extending longitudinally from a support element, the micro-channel is made from at least two materials with different thermal expansion coefficients, wherein the materials are arranged relatively to each other so that heating of the micro-channel results in a bending of the micro-channel, the first material has a first thermal expansion coefficient and is made from an light-specific transparent penetrable material so that when exposed to ultraviolet, visible, or infrared light, the specific light radiates into the channel through said light transparent material, the second material has a second thermal expansion coefficient being different from the first thermal expansion coefficient. The micromechanical photothermal analyser also comprises an irradiation source being adapted to controlled radiate ultraviolet, visible, or infrared light towards and through the transparent micro-channel, and a deflection detector being adapted to detect the amount of deflection of the micro-channel. The wavelength-deflection plot provides a spectrum of an analyte inside the oblong microchannel. To characterize the analyte the plot is compared with the standard database of spectroscopy.