NEFU-China
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NEFU-China iDEC TeamNortheast Forestry University

OPEN INSTRUMENTATION / TOTAL CONTROL V7.0 PERF

NEFU-China
Open Microfluidic Platform

An integrated open-source platform for fluorescence detection and dielectrophoretic droplet sorting.

Download for Windows Build Guide Source Code

Release 0.8.4 · Windows + PYNQ-Z2

Project overview showing the droplet workflow, optical and control architecture, spectra and representative detection results.
Figure 1. Integrated droplet workflow, optical architecture and representative project measurements.

01 / THE PLATFORM

What we built

A modular microfluidic platform that brings observation, fluorescence detection, gate control and syringe-pump operation into a shared experimental workspace.

  1. Droplet generation
  2. Fluorescence detection
  3. Photon counting
  4. Threshold decision
  5. PYNQ gating
  6. DEP sorting

Imaging

Camera observation, recording and snapshots for chip alignment and droplet monitoring.

Photon counting

CH297 acquisition with live counts and adjustable detection thresholds.

Gate control

PYNQ-based output control with threshold hysteresis and a defined LOW state.

Fluid delivery

Syringe-pump settings and operation alongside the optical and detection controls.

02 / HARDWARE

Optical assembly

Hardware files
Side view of the assembled optical system, with the chip stage above the objective and the camera above the chip.
Side view. The chip stage, objective and camera share the optical axis.
Top view of the optical breadboard assembly with its connected camera and detection branches.
Top view. Modular optical branches mount on a common breadboard.
Bill of materialsElectrical connectionsEngineering figures

03 / SOFTWARE

Total Control V7.0 PERF

Explore the source

One Windows workspace for the camera, PMT, PYNQ and pump. The release includes prebuilt applications, the C# solution and the matching Python control service.

English V7.0 PERF workstation in standby with camera, photon counting, PYNQ gating and syringe-pump modules.
The V7.0 PERF workspace in standby, with all four control modules visible.Windows setup

04 / DEMONSTRATION

Experimental demonstration

Selected examples
Selected microscopy recording of droplets in the microchannel.
Camera module observing a sequence of droplets approaching a microfluidic junction.
Camera observation at the microfluidic junction.
Representative photon-count traces and net photon-count comparison for eGFP and uninduced samples.
Representative photon-count traces and net counts for eGFP and uninduced samples.

05 / BUILD IT YOURSELF

From components to a working platform

The build guide brings the parts list, optical assembly, electrical connections and commissioning sequence into one practical reference.

Read the Build Guide

Windows: .NET Framework 4.8+ and the camera and CH297 vendor components. Board: PYNQ-Z2 with the matching control service.

  1. Assemble the platform

    Use the BOM, optical layout and wiring instructions to prepare the bench, fluidics and electrical connections.

  2. Install and configure

    Extract the Windows release, install the device components and configure the PC and PYNQ connections.

  3. Commission each module

    Check the camera, photon counter, gate output and pump individually. Keep the DEP amplifier disabled during digital checks.

  4. Operate from the workstation

    Start 02_RUN_TOTAL_CONTROL_V7_0.cmd and follow the guide for alignment, fluid priming and integrated operation.

06 / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Acknowledgements

Technical support

We thank Haining High-Tech Research Institute, Tianjin University, Dalian University of Technology and TMAXTREE for technical support.

Special thanks to Zhixiong Song, engineer at Haining High-Tech Research Institute.

Haining High-Tech Research Institute Tianjin University Dalian University of Technology TMAXTREE

Equipment and materials

We acknowledge equipment and materials sourced from Xi'an Jiaotong University, FluidicLab and Oeabt.

Special thanks to Kaitong Dang, a graduate student at Xi'an Jiaotong University.

Xi'an Jiaotong University FluidicLab Oeabt

Academic exchange

We thank Haining High-Tech Research Institute, Taiyuan University of Technology and Sichuan University for academic exchange and collaboration.

Haining High-Tech Research Institute Taiyuan University of Technology Sichuan University