System and method for high throughput processing of droplets
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
- a) dispensing the plurality of droplets onto a substantially unperforated surface; and
b) moving the surface through a delay line such that each droplet hangs from the surface for at least a specified minimum period of time, the droplet adhering to the surface by virtue, at least in part, of surface attraction.
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Abstract
A method for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets. The droplets are dispensed onto a moving surface and delayed in a delay line in which the droplets hang from the moving surface for at least a specified minimum period of time. A laminate may be spooled onto the moving surface and each droplet may be dispensed onto the laminate. At least one operation is performed on each droplet from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentration, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing. The laminate may then, in certain embodiments, be spooled off the moving surface, processed, and reused.
168 Citations
130 Claims
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1. A method for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
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a) dispensing the plurality of droplets onto a substantially unperforated surface; and
b) moving the surface through a delay line such that each droplet hangs from the surface for at least a specified minimum period of time, the droplet adhering to the surface by virtue, at least in part, of surface attraction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
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a) dispensing each droplet onto a moving surface; and
b) tracking each droplet'"'"'s position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
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a) hanging each droplet from a dispenser;
b) bringing each droplet into momentary contact with a moving surface having a probe, such that each droplet is deposited onto the probe through surface attraction;
c) applying an alternating current to the probe so as to cause the probe to vibrate such that each droplet is atomized; and
d) analyzing a characteristic of each droplet.
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46. A method of high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
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a) dispensing each droplet into an enclosed volume, the enclosed volume having an exit channel, the enclosed volume incorporated into a moving conveyer;
b) heating each droplet in the enclosed volume such that the expansion of the droplet causes it to be ejected through the exit channel in the form of an atomized spray; and
c) analyzing a characteristic of the atomized spray by means of mass spectrometry.
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47. A method for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
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a) spooling a laminate onto a moving surface;
b) dispensing each droplet onto the laminate; and
c) performing on each droplet at least one operation from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentration, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A system for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the system comprising:
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a) a movable surface that is substantially unperforated;
b) a dispenser for dispensing each droplet onto the surface; and
c) a delay line for moving the surface such that the each droplet hangs from the surface for at least a specified minimum period of time, the droplet adhering to the surface by virtue, at least in part, of surface attraction. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A system of high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the system comprising:
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a) a moving surface;
b) a dispenser for dispensing each droplet onto the moving surface; and
c) a tracking system for tracking each droplet'"'"'s position. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112)
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113. A system for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the system comprising:
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a) a moving surface;
b) a laminate spooled to the moving surface;
c) a dispenser, for dispensing each droplet onto the laminate; and
d) a means for performing on each droplet at least one operation from the group of operations consisting of mixing, diluting, concentrating, heating, cooling, humidifying, filtering, and analyzing. - View Dependent Claims (114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128)
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129. A method for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the method comprising:
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a) dispensing the plurality of droplets onto a substantially unperforated surface; and
b) moving the surface through a delay line such that each droplet hangs from the surface for at least a period of time, wherein the force acting to counter gravity is predominantly non-shearing.
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130. A system for high throughput processing of a plurality of droplets, the system comprising:
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a) a movable surface that is substantially unperforated;
b) a dispenser for dispensing each droplet onto the surface; and
c) a delay line such that each droplet hangs from the surface for a period of time, wherein the force acting to counter gravity is predominantly non-shearing.
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Specification