IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO IMAGING MICRODROPLETS IN A MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE

An apparatus comprising a microfluidic device comprising a microfluidic space configured to contain a plurality of microdroplets; a first light source for illuminating the microfluidic device; a voltage source for supplying a voltage to the microfluidic device in order to generate an electric field across the microfluidic space; a first modulator configured to generate a waveform signal to modulate the electric field applied across the microfluidic space, wherein the first modulator is configured to switch between an active state, in which the electric field is applied across the microfluidic space to hold the plurality of microdroplets; and a non-active state, in which the electric field is not applied across the microfluidic space; and an optical imaging device for generating an image of at least a subset of the microdroplets; wherein the first modulator is further configured to, directly or indirectly, control the first light source such that at least a portion of the light is provided across the microfluidic device during the active state; and wherein the first modulator is further configured to control the optical imaging device such that the image of at least a subset of the microdroplets is generated during the non-active state.