Laser Controlled Cavitation Deformation in Red Blood Cells

In this research work, we studied µTAS (µ total analysis system) method to measure the deformability of red blood cells .We took  the sample of RBCs(red blood cells) in a micro fluidic based chamber, then  allowed  low intensity laser of infra red region, mostly at wavelength 1064 nm, to fall on the sample. This generated a cavitation bubble in the fluid because of evaporation mechanism involved. We tightly hold the slides containing blood sample so that the displacement of RBCs (red blood cells) stay confined in the viewing area of the microscope. Firstly the deformation due to expansion of cavitation bubble was sighted and then came the restoring of shape of RBCs (red blood cells) which was possible due to a focused and pulsed laser. The RBCs restored their shape after some time and was viewed with the help of a video recorded by a high- speed camera. In this way the plastic character and elastic properties of RBCs (red blood cells) was measured.