Evaporation management in digital microfluidic devices
First Claim
1. A method of replenishing a reaction droplet on an air-matrix digital microfluidic (DMF) apparatus to correct for evaporation, the method comprising:
- monitoring a reaction droplet in an air gap region of the air-matrix DMF apparatus to determine when a volume of the reaction droplet falls below a threshold, wherein the reaction droplet comprises a solvent and reaction reagents;
introducing a replenishing droplet from an aperture through one of two plates of the air-matrix DMF apparatus forming the air gap region, wherein the replenishing droplet consists of solvent; and
combining the replenishing droplet with the reaction droplet after the volume of the reaction droplet falls beneath the threshold.
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Abstract
Described herein are digital microfluidic (DMF) devices and corresponding methods for managing reagent solution evaporation during a reaction. Reactions on the DMF devices described here are performed in an air or gas matrix. The DMF devices include a means for performing reactions at different temperatures. To address the issue of evaporation of the reaction droplet especially when the reaction is performed at higher temperatures, a means for introducing a replenishing droplet has been incorporated into the DMF device. A replenishing droplet is introduced every time when it has been determined that the reaction droplet has fallen below a threshold volume. Detection and monitoring of the reaction droplet may be through visual, optical, fluorescence, colorimetric, and/or electrical means.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of replenishing a reaction droplet on an air-matrix digital microfluidic (DMF) apparatus to correct for evaporation, the method comprising:
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monitoring a reaction droplet in an air gap region of the air-matrix DMF apparatus to determine when a volume of the reaction droplet falls below a threshold, wherein the reaction droplet comprises a solvent and reaction reagents; introducing a replenishing droplet from an aperture through one of two plates of the air-matrix DMF apparatus forming the air gap region, wherein the replenishing droplet consists of solvent; and combining the replenishing droplet with the reaction droplet after the volume of the reaction droplet falls beneath the threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of replenishing a reaction droplet on an air-matrix digital microfluidic (DMF) apparatus to correct for evaporation, the method comprising:
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optically monitoring the reaction droplet in an air gap region of the air-matrix DMF apparatus to determine when a volume of the reaction droplet falls below a threshold, wherein the reaction droplet comprises a solvent and reaction reagents; introducing a replenishing droplet into the air gap region of the air-matrix DMF, wherein the replenishing droplet consists of solvent; and combining the replenishing droplet with the reaction droplet after the volume of the reaction droplet falls beneath the threshold.
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11. A method of replenishing a reaction droplet on an air-matrix digital microfluidic (DMF) apparatus to correct for evaporation, the method comprising:
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monitoring a reaction droplet in an air gap region of the air-matrix DMF apparatus to determine when a volume of the reaction droplet falls below a threshold, wherein the reaction droplet comprises a solvent and reaction reagents; introducing the replenishing droplet from an aperture through one of two plates of the air-matrix DMF apparatus forming the air gap region, wherein the replenishing droplet consists of solvent; adjusting a temperature the replenishing droplet to a temperature the reaction droplet; and combining the replenishing droplet with the reaction droplet when the temperature of the replenishing droplet matches the temperature of the reaction droplet, after the volume of the reaction droplet falls beneath the threshold. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of replenishing a reaction droplet on an air-matrix digital microfluidic (DMF) apparatus to correct for evaporation, the method comprising:
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optically monitoring the reaction droplet in an air gap region of the air-matrix DMF apparatus to determine when a volume of the reaction droplet falls below a threshold, wherein the reaction droplet comprises a solvent and reaction reagents; introducing a replenishing droplet into the air gap region of the air-matrix DMF, wherein the replenishing droplet consists of solvent; adjusting a temperature of the replenishing droplet to a temperature of the reaction droplet; and combining the replenishing droplet with the reaction droplet when the temperature of the replenishing droplet matches the temperature of the reaction droplet, after the volume of the reaction droplet falls beneath the threshold.
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23. A method of replenishing a reaction droplet on an air-matrix digital microfluidic (DMF) apparatus to correct for evaporation, the method comprising:
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monitoring a reaction droplet in an air gap region of the air-matrix DMF apparatus to determine when a volume of the reaction droplet falls below 30% of an initial volume, wherein the reaction droplet comprises a solvent and reaction reagents; introducing a replenishing droplet into the air gap region of the air-matrix DMF through an aperture in one or two plates forming the air gap region, wherein the replenishing droplet consists of solvent; moving the replenishing droplet to a region adjacent to the reaction droplet; adjusting a temperature of the replenishing droplet to a temperature of the reaction droplet; and combining the replenishing droplet with the reaction droplet when the temperature of the replenishing droplet matches the temperature of the reaction droplet, after the volume of the reaction droplet falls beneath a threshold.
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Specification