Droplet Actuator Loading and Target Concentration
First Claim
1. A method of providing a droplet comprising an target substance on a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising a substrate comprising;
(i) a discrete flow section comprising electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a substrate surface;
(ii) a continuous flow section comprising a fluid path arranged for flowing a fluid therethrough, and separated from the discrete flow section by a barrier;
(iii) an opening in the barrier arranged relative to the electrodes such that fluid in the fluid path is in proximity to one or more of the electrodes;
(iv) a capture surface comprising a component having an affinity for the target substance;
(b) flowing a fluid comprising the target substance through the fluid path;
(c) capturing the target substance on the capture surface; and
(d) forming a droplet comprising the captured target substance in the discrete flow section.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A method of providing a droplet comprising an target substance on a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a droplet actuator comprising a substrate comprising; (i) a discrete flow section comprising electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a substrate surface; (ii) a continuous flow section comprising a fluid path arranged for flowing a fluid therethrough, and separated from the discrete flow section by a barrier; (iii) an opening in the barrier arranged relative to the electrodes such that fluid in the fluid path is in proximity to one or more of the electrodes; (iv) a capture surface comprising a component having an affinity for the target substance; (b) flowing a fluid comprising the target substance through the fluid path; (c) capturing the target substance on the capture surface; and (d) forming a droplet comprising the captured target substance in the discrete flow section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A droplet actuator comprising a substrate comprising:
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(a) a discrete flow section comprising electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a substrate surface; (b) a continuous flow section comprising a fluid path arranged for flowing a fluid therethrough, and separated from the discrete flow section by a barrier; (c) an opening in the barrier arranged relative to the electrodes such that fluid in the fluid path is in proximity to one or more of the electrodes; and (d) a capture surface comprising a component having an affinity for the target substance. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of conducting a chemical or biochemical reaction or interaction, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a droplet actuator comprising a substrate comprising; (i) a discrete flow section comprising electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a substrate surface; (ii) a continuous flow section comprising a fluid path arranged for flowing a fluid therethrough, and separated from the discrete flow section by a barrier; (iii) an opening in the barrier arranged relative to the electrodes such that fluid in the fluid path is in proximity to one or more of the electrodes; (iv) a capture surface comprising a component having an affinity for the target substance; (b) flowing a fluid comprising the target substance through the fluid path; (c) capturing the target substance on the capture surface; and (d) conducting one or more droplet operations using the electrodes to transport a reagent into contact with the target substance and thereby conduct a chemical or biochemical reaction or interaction. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. A method of providing a droplet on a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a droplet actuator comprising a substrate comprising; (i) a discrete flow section comprising electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a substrate surface; (ii) a continuous flow section comprising a fluid path arranged for flowing a fluid therethrough, and separated from the discrete flow section by a barrier; (iii) an opening in the barrier arranged relative to the electrodes such that a droplet from the fluid path passing through the opening comes into proximity to one or more of the electrodes; (b) flowing a filler fluid comprising the droplet through the fluid path; (c) causing the droplet to pass through the opening into proximity with one or more of the electrodes to permit one or more electrode mediated droplet operations to be performed on the droplet. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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Specification