Time-division multiplexed resistive pulse sensor on a microfluidic chip

Due to its simplicity and robustness, resistive pulse sensors have been widely used to detect, measure, and analyze particles at length scales ranging from nanometers to micrometers. While multiple pore-based resistive pulse sensors are preferred to increase the analysis throughput and to overcome the clogging issues, the scalability is often limited. Here we reported a microfluidic time-division multiplexing accessing (TDMA) single-end resistive pulse sensor, in which particles can be analyzed through a scalable number of microfluidic channels. This multiplexed approach is effective in measuring the particle size and concentration, in analyzing the particle arriving dynamics, and in discriminating mixed populations. It also provides a robust mechanism to overcome the clogging issue, allowing the analysis to continue even when some of the pores are clogged.