Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080230386 | Sample Processing Droplet Actuator, System and Method - Sample processing droplet actuators, systems and methods are provided. According to one embodiment, a stamping device including a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first plate including a path or network of control electrodes for transporting droplets on a surface thereof; (b) a second plate mounted in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the first plate providing an interior volume between the plates, the second plate including one or more stamping ports for transporting some portion or all of a droplet from the interior volume to an exterior location; (c) a port for introducing fluid into the interior volume between the plates; and (d) a path or network of reference electrodes corresponding to the path or network of control electrodes. Associated systems and methods including the stamping device are also provided. | 09-25-2008 |
20080281471 | Droplet Actuator Analyzer with Cartridge - A droplet actuator with cartridge is provided. According to one embodiment, a sample analyzer is provided and includes an analyzer unit comprising electronic or optical receiving means, a cartridge comprising self-contained droplet handling capabilities, and a wherein the cartridge is coupled to the analyzer unit by a means which aligns electronic and/or optical outputs from the cartridge with electronic or optical receiving means on the analyzer unit. According to another embodiment, a sample analyzer is provided and includes a sample analyzer comprising a cartridge coupled thereto and a means of electrical interface and/or optical interface between the cartridge and the analyzer, whereby electrical signals and/or optical signals may be transmitted from the cartridge to the analyzer. | 11-13-2008 |
20090263834 | Droplet Actuator Devices and Methods for Immunoassays and Washing - Droplet actuator devices and methods for immunoassays and washing are provided. According to one embodiment, a method of providing a droplet in contact with a surface of a super paramagnetic bead with a reduced concentration of a substance is provided and includes: (a) providing a super paramagnetic bead in contact with a droplet comprising a starting concentration and starting quantity of the substance and having a starting volume; (b) conducting one or more droplet operations to merge a wash droplet with the droplet provided in step (a) to yield a combined droplet; and (c) conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the combined droplet to yield a set of droplets. The set of droplets includes: (i) a droplet in contact with the super paramagnetic bead having a decreased concentration of the substance relative to the starting concentration; and (ii) a droplet which is separated from the super paramagnetic bead. | 10-22-2009 |
20090280476 | Droplet-based affinity assay device and system - The present invention relates to a droplet-based affinity assay device and system. According to one embodiment, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes an antibody immobilized on a surface. According to another embodiment, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes a droplet on the droplet microactuator, the droplet comprising an antibody. | 11-12-2009 |
20090304944 | Surface Assisted Fluid Loading and Droplet Dispensing - The present invention relates to surface assisted fluid loading and droplet dispensing on a droplet micro actuator. A droplet actuator is provided and includes one or more electrodes configured for conducting one or more droplet operations on a droplet operations surface of the substrate. The droplet actuator further includes a wettable surface defining a path from a fluid reservoir into a locus which is sufficiently near to one or more of the electrodes that activation of the one or more electrodes results in a droplet operation. Methods and systems are also provided. | 12-10-2009 |
20090311713 | Method of Detecting an Analyte - The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, a method of detecting an analyte is provided and includes providing in a detection window a droplet including a signal-producing substance indicative of the presence and/or quantity of an analyte and one or more magnetically responsive beads which may interfere with signal produced by the signal producing substance. The method further includes using a magnetic field for magnetically removing the magnetically responsive beads from the detection window and/or magnetically restricting the magnetically responsive beads from entering the detection window while transporting and/or retaining the droplet in the detection window. The method additionally includes detecting a signal produced by the signal-producing substance. | 12-17-2009 |
20100025250 | Droplet Actuator Structures - The objective of this research is to model and design a microfluidic system that uses electrostatic fields to induce movement of discrete droplets of solution. Of particular interest is movement of droplets of H | 02-04-2010 |
20100032293 | Droplet Dispensing Device and Methods - The invention provides nonlimiting examples of structures for and methods of dispensing droplets in a droplet actuator. The droplet actuator structures and methods of the invention exhibit numerous advantages over droplet actuators of the prior art. In various embodiments, the structures and methods of the invention provide, among other things, improved efficiency, throughput, scalability, and/or droplet uniformity, as compared with existing droplet actuators. Further, in some embodiments, the droplet actuators provide configurations for improved methods of loading and/or unloading fluid and/or droplets. In yet other embodiments, the droplet actuators provide fluid loading configurations for loading numerous fluid reservoirs in a substantially simultaneous and/or substantially sequential manner. | 02-11-2010 |
20100041086 | Enzyme Assays for a Droplet Actuator - The invention relates to a microfluidic platform and methods of using the platform for conducting enzyme assays using a droplet actuator. The enzyme assays of the invention are useful for, among other things, identifying and/or characterizing disorders resulting from conditions in which enzymes are defective or are produced in inappropriate amounts. Enzyme assays of the invention may, for example, be used to detect altered activity of a particular enzyme in a sample, which may serve as an indicator of a particular disease. Altered activity may, for example, be caused by conditions which result in the increased or reduced production of a certain enzyme or its substrate and/or conditions which result in defective enzymes and/or substrates exhibiting increased or decreased effectiveness relative to corresponding normal enzymes and/or substrates. | 02-18-2010 |
20100062508 | Droplet Actuator Loading and Target Concentration - A droplet actuator and method of providing a droplet comprising an target substance on the droplet actuator, and including discrete flow and continuous flow functionality. Discrete flow function is controlled by electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a substrate surface. The continuous flow function includes a fluid path arranged for flowing a fluid therethrough. The discrete flow and continuous flow functions may be by a barrier, including a second fluid path through the barrier. The continuous flow function may include a capture surface comprising a component having an affinity for the target substance. Methods of the invention may include flowing a fluid comprising the target substance through the fluid path; capturing the target substance on the capture surface; and forming a droplet in the discrete flow region via the second fluid path and the electrodes comprising the captured target substance. | 03-11-2010 |
20100068764 | Droplet Actuator Devices and Methods Employing Magnetic Beads - A method of providing a droplet in contact with a magnetically responsive bead and having a reduced quantity of a substance. The method generally includes the steps of (a) providing a droplet actuator ( | 03-18-2010 |
20100116640 | Droplet-Based Surface Modification and Washing - The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of splitting a droplet is provided, the method including providing a droplet microactuator including a droplet including one or more beads and immobilizing at least one of the one or more beads. The method further includes conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the droplet to yield a set of droplets including a droplet including the one or more immobilized beads and a droplet substantially lacking the one or more immobilized beads. | 05-13-2010 |
20100118307 | Droplet Actuator Devices, Configurations, and Methods for Improving Absorbance Detection - Devices, configurations and methods for improving absorbance detection are provided. For example, methods and devices are provided for determining the absorbance of a droplet, e.g., a droplet on a droplet actuator, by providing an elongated light path through the droplet. | 05-13-2010 |
20100120130 | Droplet Actuator with Droplet Retention Structures - The present invention is directed to droplet actuators with droplet retention structures, and methods related thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a droplet actuator with one or more substrates arranged to form a droplet operations gap comprising gap-facing surfaces; droplet operations electrodes configured to conduct droplet operations in the droplet operations gap; at least one barrier included on at least one of the substrate surfaces and having dimensions selected to: permit droplet transport from atop a first droplet operations electrode to a second droplet operations electrode when the second droplet operations electrode is activated; and prevent movement of a droplet from atop a first droplet operations electrode when the first and second droplet operations electrodes are inactive. | 05-13-2010 |
20100126860 | PCB Droplet Actuator Fabrication - Alternative approaches to fabricating printed circuit boards for use in droplet actuator operations are provided. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a droplet actuator for conducting droplet operations includes positioning a dielectric material between a first metal layer configured to include an electrode and a second metal layer configured to include an interconnect pad. The method additionally includes forming a connection between the first and second metal layers. Droplet actuators and methods of fabricating and supporting printed circuit boards of droplet actuators are also provided. | 05-27-2010 |
20100140093 | Droplet-Based Surface Modification and Washing - The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of providing a bead-containing droplet with a reduced concentration of a substance is provided, the method including providing a droplet microactuator including a droplet having a starting volume and including one or more beads and a starting concentration and starting quantity of the substance. The method further includes conducting one or more droplet operations to merge a wash droplet with the droplet provided in the above step to yield a combined droplet and including one or more droplet operations to divide the combined droplet to yield a set of droplets including a droplet including substantially all of the one or more beads and having a decreased concentration of the substance relative to the starting concentration and a droplet which is substantially lacking in the beads. | 06-10-2010 |
20100190263 | Bubble Techniques for a Droplet Actuator - The present invention is directed to a droplet actuator and methods of making and using the droplet actuator including one or more substrates configured to form a droplet operations gap and including a physical or chemical feature that may be provided at a predetermined locus within or exposed to the droplet operations gap and configured to retain a bubble in position within the droplet operations gap. | 07-29-2010 |
20100194408 | Capacitance Detection in a Droplet Actuator - A method, circuit and apparatus for detecting capacitance on a droplet actuator, inter alia, for determining the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at an electrode on a droplet actuator by: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) a substrate comprising electrodes arranged on the substrate for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; (ii) a capacitance detection circuit for detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; (b) detecting capacitance at the droplet operations surface at one or more of the electrodes; and (c) determining from the capacitance the presence, partial presence or absence of a droplet at the droplet operations surface at the electrode. | 08-05-2010 |
20100221713 | Droplet Actuator Devices, Systems, and Methods - The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, droplet actuators are used to conduct genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The invention addresses the need for improved methods of performing PCR on a droplet actuator that provide for optimum amplification and detection of a sample target. | 09-02-2010 |
20100236928 | Multiplexed Detection Schemes for a Droplet Actuator - A droplet actualor having electrodes configured for ejecting droplet operations transporting droplets on a surface, and a sensor arranged in proximity to one or more of the electrodes establishing a detection window on the surface for detection of one or more properties of one or more droplets on the surface, wherein the electrodes establish at least two pathways for transport of droplets into the detection window. Also provided is, A method of detecting a property of a target droplet, including using droplet operations to modulate signals from a droplet set comprising the target droplet, detecting the modulated signals of the droplet set, demodulating the modulated signals to identify the signal produced by one or more individual droplets of the set Related methods and alternative embodiments are also provided. | 09-23-2010 |
20100236929 | Droplet Actuators, Systems and Methods - A droplet actuator with arrays of electrodes electrically coupled to a number of controllable voltage sources that is less than the number of electrodes. A method of defining partitions for pin layouts in a droplet actuator for a specific assay, the method including: defining droplet traces for the assay; and defining a guard ring along the traces. Other methods, systems, droplet actuators, and algorithms are also provided. | 09-23-2010 |
20100258441 | Manipulation of Beads in Droplets and Methods for Splitting Droplets - The invention provides a method of circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator. The invention also provides methods for splitting droplets. The invention, in one embodiment, makes use of a droplet actuator with top and bottom substrates, a plurality of magnetic fields respectively present proximate the top and bottom substrates, wherein at least one of the magnet fields is selectively alterable, and a plurality of droplet operations electrodes positioned along at least one of the top and bottom surfaces. A droplet is positioned between the top and bottom surfaces and at least one of the magnetic fields is selectively altered. | 10-14-2010 |
20100270156 | Droplet Actuator Configurations and Methods of Conducting Droplet Operations - A droplet actuator with a droplet formation electrode configuration associated with a droplet operations surface, wherein the electrode configuration comprises one or more electrodes configured to control volume of a droplet during formation of a sub-droplet on the droplet operations surface. Methods of making and using the droplet actuator are also provided. | 10-28-2010 |
20100279374 | Manipulation of Beads in Droplets and Methods for Manipulating Droplets - The invention provides a method of dispersing or circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator. The invention, in one embodiment, makes use of a droplet actuator with a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet, and a magnetic field present at a portion of the plurality of droplet operations electrodes. A bead-containing droplet is provided on the droplet actuator in the presence of the uniform magnetic field. Beads are circulated in the droplet during incubation by conducting droplet operations on the droplet within a uniform region of the magnetic field. Other embodiments are also provided. | 11-04-2010 |
20100282608 | Droplet Actuator with Improved Top Substrate - The invention provides a droplet actuator comprising a base substrate and a top substrate separated to form a gap, wherein: (a) the base substrate comprises electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; and (b) the top substrate comprises a first portion coupled to second portion, where the second portion comprises one or more openings establishing a fluid path extending from an exterior of the droplet actuator and into the gap. The invention also provides related methods of manufacturing the droplet actuator, methods of using the droplet actuator, and methods of loading the droplet actuator. | 11-11-2010 |
20100282609 | Reagent Storage and Reconstitution for a Droplet Actuator - On-board reagent storage, handling, and dispensing apparatuses and methods for droplet actuator systems are provided. In one embodiment, a fluidic analyzer is provided and includes a droplet actuator including a substrate including a plurality of electrodes configured to actuate a droplet and a reagent storage component in selective fluid communication with the droplet actuator and including a reagent configured to combine with a solvent at a time of use. In another embodiment, a method of conducting fluidic analysis is provided and includes storing a reagent within a reagent storage component in fluid communication with a droplet actuator including a plurality of electrodes configured to actuate a droplet and combining the reagent with a solvent at a time for use within the droplet actuator. | 11-11-2010 |
20100307917 | Droplet Actuator Configurations and Methods - Droplet actuators for conducting droplet operations, such as droplet transport and droplet dispensing, are provided. In one embodiment, the droplet actuator may include a substrate including, droplet operations electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; and reference electrodes associated with the droplet operations electrodes and extending above the surface of the substrate. Other embodiments of droplet actuators and methods of loading and using such droplet actuators are also provided. | 12-09-2010 |
20110091989 | Method of Reducing Liquid Volume Surrounding Beads - The invention provides droplet actuators and droplet actuator techniques. Among other things, the droplet actuators and methods are useful for manipulating beads on a droplet actuator, such as conducting droplet operations using bead-containing droplets on a droplet actuator. For example, beads may be manipulated on a droplet actuator in the context of executing a sample preparation protocol and/or an assay protocol. An output of the methods of the invention may be beads prepared for execution of an assay protocol. Another output of the methods of the invention may be results of an assay protocol executed using beads. Among the methods described herein are methods of concentrating beads in droplets, methods of washing beads, methods of suspending beads, methods of separating beads, methods of localizing beads within a droplet, methods of forming emulsions in which droplets include beads, methods of loading beads into a droplet operations gap of a droplet actuator, methods of organizing beads in a monolayer, and methods of capturing, trapping or restraining beads. | 04-21-2011 |
20110097763 | Thermal Cycling Method - The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, droplet actuators are used to conduct genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The invention addresses the need for improved methods of performing PCR on a droplet actuator that provide for optimum amplification and detection of a sample target. | 04-28-2011 |
20110104747 | Method of Concentrating Beads in a Droplet - Methods of concentrating beads in a droplet and/or loading beads on a fluidic device are provided, including among other things, a method of concentrating beads in a droplet, the method comprising: (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising: (i) an interior droplet operations volume; and (ii) a reservoir exterior to the interior volume; (iii) a droplet established in a liquid path extending from the reservoir into the interior volume; (b) providing magnetically responsive beads in the portion of the droplet which is in the reservoir; (c) magnetically attracting the magnetically responsive beads through the liquid path into the portion of the droplet which is in the interior volume; and (d) forming a droplet comprising one or more of the magnetically responsive beads in the interior volume. | 05-05-2011 |
20110104816 | Method of Loading a Droplet Actuator - The invention provides droplet actuators and droplet actuator cassettes including reagent storage capabilities, as well as methods of making and using the droplet actuators and cassettes. The invention also provides continuous flow channel elements and techniques for using electrodes to manipulate droplets in flowing streams. The invention also discloses methods of separating compounds on a droplet actuator. Various other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. | 05-05-2011 |
20110180571 | Droplet Actuators, Modified Fluids and Methods - The present invention provides droplet actuators, modified fluids and methods relating to droplet operations. An aspect includes a droplet actuator including a droplet operations substrate; an oil based filler fluid on the droplet operations substrate comprising an oil soluble additive in the filler fluid; and a droplet in contact with the oil based filler fluid. Still other aspects are provided. | 07-28-2011 |
20110186433 | Droplet-Based Particle Sorting - The present invention relates to droplet-based particle sorting. According to one embodiment, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a suspension of particles; and (b) electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations using droplets comprising particles. A method of transporting a particle is also provided, wherein the method includes providing a droplet comprising the particle and transporting the droplet on a droplet microactuator. | 08-04-2011 |
20110256542 | Droplet Actuator Devices, Systems, and Methods - The invention relates to certain novel approaches to reducing or eliminating the movement of contaminants from one droplet to another on a droplet actuator via liquid filler fluid. In one application, droplet actuators are used to conduct genetic analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The invention addresses the need for improved methods of performing PCR on a droplet actuator that provide for optimum amplification and detection of a sample target. | 10-20-2011 |
20110303542 | Use of Additives for Enhancing Droplet Operations - The invention relates to a droplet actuator with a substrate comprising electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a droplet operations surface of the substrate; a filler fluid phase in contact with the droplet operations surface at least partially surrounding a droplet phase comprising a droplet arranged on one or more of the electrodes, the droplet comprising: (i) a target substance susceptible to loss from the droplet phase into the filler fluid phase; and (ii) an additive which reduces loss of the target substance to the filler fluid phase relative to a corresponding droplet not comprising the additive. The invention also relates to various compositions and methods. | 12-15-2011 |
20110311980 | Nucleic Acid Amplification and Sequencing on a Droplet Actuator - The invention provides a droplet actuator device, as well as systems, methods and devices making use of the droplet actuator device. The droplet actuator device may include a substrate having electrodes arranged for conducting one or more droplet operations. The droplet actuator device may include a substrate having a reactor path with a wash region associated with a magnet for immobilizing mobilizing beads during bead washing operations. The droplet actuator device may include nucleotide base reservoirs and dedicated nucleotide base electrode paths arranged for transporting nucleotide base droplets from nucleotide base reservoirs to the reactor path. The droplet actuator device may include one or more wash buffer reservoirs associated with electrode paths arranged for transporting wash buffer droplets from wash buffer reservoirs to the reactor path. The droplet actuator device may include one or more sample reservoirs and sample paths arranged for transporting sample droplets from the one or more sample reservoirs to the reactor path. The droplet actuator device may include one or more enzyme reservoirs and dedicated enzyme electrode paths arranged for transporting enzyme droplets from the one or more enzyme reservoirs to a detection electrode. | 12-22-2011 |
20120018306 | Sample Processing Droplet Actuator, System and Method - Sample processing droplet actuators, systems and methods are provided. According to one embodiment, a stamping device including a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first plate including a path or network of control electrodes for transporting droplets on a surface thereof; (b) a second plate mounted in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the first plate providing an interior volume between the plates, the second plate including one or more stamping ports for transporting some portion or all of a droplet from the interior volume to an exterior location; (c) a port for introducing fluid into the interior volume between the plates; and (d) a path or network of reference electrodes corresponding to the path or network of control electrodes. Associated systems and methods including the stamping device are also provided. | 01-26-2012 |
20120165238 | Droplet-Based Surface Modification and Washing - The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of modifying a surface on a droplet microactuator is provided, wherein the method includes executing one or more droplet operations to bring a droplet comprising a surface-modifying agent into contact with the surface. According to another embodiment, a droplet microactuator is provided and includes a sample or reagent immobilized on a surface thereof and arranged such that a droplet on the droplet microactuator may contact the surface. According to yet another embodiment, a method of removing a substance from a surface to which the substance is bound is provided, the method including conducting one or more droplet operations to contact a droplet with the surface, the droplet comprising a solution for eluting the substance from the surface | 06-28-2012 |
20120261264 | Droplet Operations Device - The invention provides droplet actuators with droplet operations surfaces for manipulating droplets, e.g., by conducting droplet operations. The droplet operations surfaces are typically exposed to a droplet operations gap. One or more regions of a droplet operation surface may include patterned topographic features. The invention also provides a droplet actuator in which one or both gap-facing droplet operations surfaces is formed using a removable film. The removable film may, in various embodiments, also include other components ordinarily associated with the droplet actuator substrate, such as the dielectric layer and the electrodes. Further, the invention provides droplet actuator devices and methods for coupling and/or sealing substrates of a droplet actuator, such as techniques for self-aligning assembly of droplet actuator substrates. The invention provides droplet actuators and methods of disassembling the droplet actuator in order to provide access for cleaning and/or recycling of droplet actuator surfaces. | 10-18-2012 |
20130059366 | Integrated Droplet Actuator for Gel; Electrophoresis and Molecular Analysis - The invention is directed to a droplet actuator device and methods for integrating gel electrophoresis analysis with pre or post-analytical sample handling as well as other molecular analysis processes. Using digital microfluidics technology, the droplet actuator device and methods of the invention provide the ability to perform gel electrophoresis and liquid handling operations on a single integrated device. The integrated liquid handling operations may be used to prepare and deliver samples to the electrophoresis gel, capture and subsequently process products of the electrophoresis gel or perform additional assays on the same sample materials which are analyzed by gel electrophoresis. In one embodiment, one or more molecular assays, such as nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) quantification by real-time PCR, and one or more sample processing operations such as sample dilution is performed on a droplet actuator integrated with an electrophoresis gel. In one embodiment, an electrophoresis gel may be integrated on the top substrate of the droplet actuator. | 03-07-2013 |
20130146461 | Droplet Actuator Loading and Target Concentration - A droplet actuator and method of providing a droplet comprising an target substance on the droplet actuator, and including discrete flow and continuous flow functionality. Discrete flow function is controlled by electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a substrate surface. The continuous flow function includes a fluid path arranged for flowing a fluid therethrough. The discrete flow and continuous flow functions may be by a barrier, including a second fluid path through the barrier. The continuous flow function may include a capture surface comprising a component having an affinity for the target substance. Methods of the invention may include flowing a fluid comprising the target substance through the fluid path; capturing the target substance on the capture surface; and forming a droplet in the discrete flow region via the second fluid path and the electrodes comprising the captured target substance. | 06-13-2013 |
20130217113 | SYSTEM FOR AND METHODS OF PROMOTING CELL LYSIS IN DROPLET ACTUATORS - The invention relates to a droplet actuator for conducting droplet operations. The actuator includes a bottom substrate and a top substrate separated from the bottom substrate to form a gap. An arrangement of droplet operations electrodes may be located on a surface of the bottom substrate and/or top substrate. Optionally, a sample reservoir may hold a quantity of a sample fluid containing cells. A disruption device which can take various forms is used to lyse the cells in the sample or in a sample droplet to thereby conduct operations on samples having lysed cells therein. | 08-22-2013 |
20130230875 | Enzymatic Assays for a Droplet Actuator - A method is provided for conducting a droplet-based enzymatic assay, e.g., for diagnostic purposes. On a droplet actuator, a droplet comprising an enzyme of interest is provided along with a droplet comprising a substrate which is potentially modified in the presence of the enzyme. Droplet operations are executed to combine the enzyme and substrate droplets on the droplet actuator, thereby yielding an assay droplet on the droplet actuator. Detecting modification of the substrate by the enzyme in the assay droplet occurs on the droplet actuator. Modified substrate preparations for conducting such enzymatic assays are also provided. | 09-05-2013 |
20130233425 | Enhancing and/or Maintaining Oil Film Stability in a Droplet Actuator - The present invention is directed to modified droplet actuators, fluids and methods for enhancing and/or maintaining oil film stability in a droplet actuator. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a droplet actuator with one or more substrates arranged to form a droplet operations gap comprising gap-facing surfaces; droplet operations electrodes configured to conduct droplet operations in the droplet operations gap; at least one barrier included on at least one of the substrate surfaces and having dimensions selected to: permit droplet transport from atop a first droplet operations electrode to a second droplet operations electrode when the second droplet operations electrode is activated; and prevent movement of a droplet from atop a first droplet operations electrode when the first and second droplet operations electrodes are inactive. | 09-12-2013 |
20130233712 | Method of Manipulating a Droplet - A method of manipulating a droplet comprising providing a substrate comprising a surface; an elongated transport electrode disposed on the substrate surface, the elongated transport electrode having a first and a second end and configured to impart a gradient force to the droplet; and one or more wires for providing power to the transport electrode; and providing power to the one or more wires to effect the gradient force and thereby transport the droplet along the length of the elongated transport electrode from the first end to the second end. | 09-12-2013 |
20130252262 | DROPLET-BASED AFFINITY ASSAYS - A method of detecting a target analyte in a sample, including executing electrowetting-mediated droplet operations and thereby: combining one or more immunoassay reagent droplets comprising magnetically-responsive beads having affinity for the target analyte with one or more sample droplets potentially comprising the target analyte to yield a first combined droplet; beginning with the combined droplet, effecting a droplet-based washing protocol to wash the magnetically-responsive beads to yield a first washed droplet comprising the washed magnetically responsive beads; and combining the droplet comprising the washed magnetically responsive beads with a droplet comprising a reporter molecule having affinity for target analyte captured on the magnetically-responsive beads to yield a second combined droplet; beginning with the second combined droplet, effecting a droplet-based washing protocol to wash the magnetically-responsive beads to yield a second washed droplet comprising the washed magnetically responsive beads; detecting a signal from the second washed droplet which corresponds to the presence, absence and/or quantity of the analyte in the sample. | 09-26-2013 |
20130264010 | PCB Droplet Actuator Fabrication - Alternative approaches to fabricating printed circuit boards for use in droplet actuator operations are provided. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a droplet actuator for conducting droplet operations includes positioning a dielectric material between a first metal layer configured to include an electrode and a second metal layer configured to include an interconnect pad. The method additionally includes forming a connection between the first and second metal layers. Droplet actuators and methods of fabricating and supporting printed circuit boards of droplet actuators are also provided. | 10-10-2013 |
20130288254 | Droplet Actuator and Droplet-Based Techniques - The invention is directed to certain droplet actuated molecular techniques. In one embodiment, the invention provides droplet actuator methods for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a DNA sequence using digital microfluidics, including droplet actuator-based sample preparation and SNP analysis. In another embodiment, the invention provides droplet actuator devices and methods for providing integrated sample preparation and multiplexed detection of an infectious agent, such as HIV. In yet another embodiment, the invention provides droplet actuator devices and techniques for PCR amplification and detection of specific nucleic acid sequences using digital microfluidics, including droplet actuator-based sample preparation and target nucleic acid analysis. In yet another embodiment the invention provides methods for performing hot-start PCR on a droplet actuator. In yet another embodiment, the method of the invention combines PCR amplification with pyrosequencing to investigate specific sequences. | 10-31-2013 |
20130293246 | Capacitance Detection in a Droplet Actuator - The embodiments described herein provide methods of measuring capacitance, detecting a droplet at a position, determining a thickness of an oil film and determining temperature in a droplet actuator. Specifically, the capacitance detection method may be used as a real-time verification tool in order to detect the absence, presence, and/or partial presence of a droplet at an electrode, analyze droplet properties, measure droplet size or volume, optimize the speed of droplet operation and detect air bubbles. | 11-07-2013 |
20140014517 | Droplet Actuator - Droplet actuator for conducting droplet operations, such as droplet transport and droplet dispensing, is provided. In one embodiment, the droplet actuator may include an electrode that is rotationally but not reflectively symmetrical. | 01-16-2014 |
20140057363 | Method of Reducing Liquid Volume Surrounding Beads - The invention provides droplet actuators and droplet actuator techniques. Among other things, the droplet actuators and methods are useful for manipulating beads on a droplet actuator, such as conducting droplet operations using bead-containing droplets on a droplet actuator. For example, beads may be manipulated on a droplet actuator in the context of executing a sample preparation protocol and/or an assay protocol. An output of the methods of the invention may be beads prepared for execution of an assay protocol. Another output of the methods of the invention may be results of an assay protocol executed using beads. Among the methods described herein are methods of concentrating beads in droplets, methods of washing beads, methods of suspending beads, methods of separating beads, methods of localizing beads within a droplet, methods of forming emulsions in which droplets include beads, methods of loading beads into a droplet operations gap of a droplet actuator, methods of organizing beads in a monolayer, and methods of capturing, trapping or restraining beads. | 02-27-2014 |
20140161686 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISPENSING LIQUIDS IN A MICROFLUIDIC DEVICE - Microfluidic system including a droplet actuator having an interior cavity and a series of electrodes arranged along the interior cavity for forming a droplet-operation path therethrough. The droplet actuator has a module-engaging side including an opening that is in flow communication with the interior cavity. The microfluidic system also includes a reservoir module configured to be coupled to the droplet actuator. The reservoir module includes a plurality of liquid compartments having respective outlets and at least one seal positioned along the outlets to retain liquid within the liquid compartments. The reservoir module is movable along the module-engaging side of the droplet actuator to position the outlets relative to the opening. The microfluidic system also includes a piercer having a tip configured to penetrate the seal thereby permitting the liquid within the corresponding liquid compartment to flow into the opening. | 06-12-2014 |
20140190830 | MICROFLUIDIC FEEDBACK USING IMPEDANCE DETECTION - Methods comprising measuring the impedance of the electrode produced by the excitation signal, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the electrode are disclosed. Computer readable mediums storing processor executable instructions for performing the method, and systems are also disclosed. The systems comprise a processor, memory and code stored in the memory that when executed cause the processor at least to: receive an output voltage signal, superimpose an excitation signal onto the output voltage signal to produce a superimposed signal, connect the superimposed signal to an electrode in a droplet actuator, suppress the output voltage signal, when detecting an impedance of the electrode, and measure the impedance of the electrode produced by the excitation signal, wherein the impedance indicates presence of liquid at the electrode. | 07-10-2014 |