SAMPLE DISPENSING

• US 20100120635A1
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stokes Bio
• Original Assignee: Stokes Bio Ltd. (Perspecta, Inc.)
• Inventors: DAVIES, MARK, Dalton, Tara
• Granted Patent: US 8,968,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 506/26
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/10 Mixing by creating a vortex flow, e.g. by tangential introduction of flow components
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3021 the components to be mixed being combined in a single independent droplet, e.g. these droplets being divided by a non-miscible fluid or consisting of independent droplets
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0636 Focussing flows, e.g. to laminate flows
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0673 Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/185 using a liquid as fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 7/525 with physical movement of samples between temperature zones
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00514 Stationary mixing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1095 for supplying the samples to flow-through analysers for a specific analyser see relevant groups, e.g. under G01N15/00, G01N21/00, G01N27/00, G01N30/00, H01J49/00

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for mixing and dispensing a sample droplet from a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems for mixing and dispensing sample droplets, including a sample acquisition stage, a device for mixing sample droplets to form sample droplets wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, a dispensing port, and at least one channel connecting the stage, the droplet mixing device, and the port, in which the system is configured to establish a siphoning effect for dispensing the droplets.

Claims

1. A system for mixing and dispensing sample droplets, the system comprising:

a sample acquisition stage;

a device for mixing sample droplets to produce a mixed sample droplet wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid;

a dispensing port; and

at least one channel connecting the stage, the droplet mixing device, and the port, wherein the system is configured to establish a siphoning effect for dispensing the droplets.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the droplet mixing device is a liquid bridge.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a priming pump.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a thermocycler.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one valve to control flow through the system.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the sample droplets are dispensed into separate wells of a well plate.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system dispenses the sample droplets as discrete spots on a surface to form an array of droplets.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing port dispenses the sample droplet to a first vessel, moves over a second vessel to dispense the carrier fluid, and then moves back over the first vessel to dispense another sample droplet.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the droplet comprises nucleic acids.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein height between the sample acquisition stage and the dispensing port varies during sample acquisition and sample dispensing.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system dispenses wrapped droplets.

12. A system for mixing, amplifying and dispensing sample droplets comprising nucleic acids, the system comprising:

a sample acquisition stage;

a device for mixing sample droplets to form mixed sample droplets wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, wherein the sample droplets comprise nucleic acids;

a thermocycler;

a dispensing port; and

at least one channel connecting the stage, the droplet mixing device, and the port, wherein the system is configured to establish a siphoning effect for dispensing the droplets.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the droplet mixing device is a liquid bridge.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the system dispenses the sample droplets as discrete spots on a surface to form an array of droplets.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the system dispenses the sample droplets into different wells of a well plate.

16. A system for mixing and dispensing sample droplets, the system comprising:

a sample acquisition stage;

a device for mixing droplets to form sample droplets wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid;

a dispensing port;

at least one channel connecting the stage, the droplet mixing device, and the port, wherein the system is configured to establish a siphoning effect for dispensing the droplets;

wherein the dispensing port dispenses the sample droplet to a first vessel, moves over a second vessel to dispense the carrier fluid, and then moves back over the first vessel to dispense another sample droplet.

17. A method for mixing and dispensing sample droplets, the method comprising:

establishing a siphoning effect;

acquiring a sample;

mixing sample droplets to formed mixed sample droplets wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid; and

using the siphoning effect to dispense the sample droplets.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the sample droplets comprise nucleic acids.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein prior to the using step, the method further comprises amplifying the nucleic acids.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein droplets, without a substantial amount of immiscible fluid, are dispensed to a collecting vessel, and the substantial amount of carrier fluid surrounding the droplets is dispensed to a waste vessel.

21. The method according to claim 17, wherein the droplets are dispensed as discrete spots on a surface to form an array of droplets.

22. The method according to claim 17, the droplets are dispensed into different wells of a well plate.