Manipulation of Beads in Droplets and Methods for Manipulating Droplets
First Claim
1. A method of circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a droplet actuator, comprising;
(i) a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet; and
(ii) a magnetic field present at a portion of the plurality of droplet operations electrodes;
(b) providing a bead-containing droplet on the droplet actuator in the presence of the uniform magnetic field; and
(c) circulating beads in the droplet during incubation by conducting droplet operations on the droplet within a uniform region of the magnetic field.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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.
200 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A method of circulating magnetically responsive beads within a droplet in a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing a droplet actuator, comprising; (i) a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet; and (ii) a magnetic field present at a portion of the plurality of droplet operations electrodes; (b) providing a bead-containing droplet on the droplet actuator in the presence of the uniform magnetic field; and (c) circulating beads in the droplet during incubation by conducting droplet operations on the droplet within a uniform region of the magnetic field. - 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. A method of manipulating a droplet comprising magnetically responsive beads within a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing a droplet actuator, comprising; (i) a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet; and (ii) a magnetic field present at a portion of the plurality of droplet operations electrodes; and (b) positioning a magnetic shielding material in the droplet actuator to selectively minimize the magnetic field.
-
-
26. A method of re-suspending particulate within a droplet in a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing a droplet actuator, comprising; (i) a plurality of reservoir electrodes configured to manipulate a droplet; and (ii) a plurality of droplet operations electrodes in fluid communication with the plurality of reservoir electrodes; (b) providing a particulate-containing droplet on the droplet actuator; and (c) operating the plurality of reservoir electrodes to cause the particulate to re-suspend within the droplet. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
-
29. A method of re-suspending particulate within a droplet in a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing a droplet actuator, comprising; (i) a reservoir electrode configured to manipulate a droplet; and (ii) a plurality of droplet operations electrodes in fluid communication with the reservoir electrode; (b) providing a particulate-containing droplet on a reservoir electrode on the droplet actuator; (c) separating a slug of the droplet from the droplet on the reservoir electrode; and (d) recombining the slug with the droplet at the reservoir electrode to cause the particulate to re-suspend within the droplet. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
-
-
32. A method of re-suspending particulate within a droplet in a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing a droplet actuator, comprising; (i) a reservoir electrode configured to manipulate a droplet; and (ii) a plurality of droplet operations electrodes in fluid communication with the reservoir electrode; and (b) providing a particulate-containing droplet on the droplet actuator; and (c) selectively applying across the reservoir electrode a voltage from an alternating current source to agitate the droplet to cause the particulate to re-suspend within the droplet. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method of manipulating a droplet comprising magnetically responsive beads within a droplet actuator, the method comprising:
-
(a) providing a droplet actuator comprising; (i) a plurality of droplet operations electrodes configured to transport the droplet; and (ii) a magnetic field present at a portion of the plurality of droplet operations electrodes; and (b) positioning a plurality of magnets so as to selectively minimize the magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
-
Specification