Droplet Actuator with Improved Top Substrate

• US 20100282608A1
• Filed: 09/04/2008
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. (Illumina Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. (Illumina Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sudarsan, Arjun, Srinivasan, Vijay, Pollack, Michael G., Hua, Zhishan, Shenderov, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,702,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/450
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/089 Virtual walls for guiding liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0421 electrophoretic flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502792 for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The invention provides a droplet actuator comprising a base substrate and a top substrate separated to form a gap, wherein: (a) the base substrate comprises electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; and (b) the top substrate comprises a first portion coupled to second portion, where the second portion comprises one or more openings establishing a fluid path extending from an exterior of the droplet actuator and into the gap. The invention also provides related methods of manufacturing the droplet actuator, methods of using the droplet actuator, and methods of loading the droplet actuator.

Claims

1. A droplet actuator comprising a base substrate and a top substrate separated to form a gap, wherein:

(a) the base substrate comprises electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; and

(b) the top substrate comprises a first portion coupled to second portion, where the second portion comprises one or more openings establishing a fluid path extending from an exterior of the droplet actuator and into the gap.

2. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the first portion comprises a more uniformly planar surface exposed to the gap than the second portion.

3. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the first portion is more transparent than the second portion.

4. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the first portion is substantially transparent, and the second portion is substantially opaque.

5. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the first portion harder than the second portion.

6. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the first portion is more thermally stable than the second portion.

7. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the first portion is more resistant to damage caused by temperature fluctuation than the second portion.

22. A method of loading a fluid onto a droplet actuator, the method comprising providing a droplet actuator of claim 1 and loading a fluid through the opening and into the gap.

23. A method of assembling the droplet actuator of claim 1, the method comprising:

(a) coupling the glass portion to the non-glass portion; and

(b) assembling the top substrate with the bottom substrate to form a gap therebetween suitable for conducting droplet operations.

24. A method of conducting a droplet operation, the method comprising:

(a) providing a droplet actuator of claim 1;

(b) loading a liquid onto the droplet actuator into proximity with one or more electrodes;

(c) using the one or more electrodes to conduct the droplet operation.

8. A droplet actuator comprising a base substrate and a top substrate separated to form a gap, wherein:

(a) the base substrate comprises electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; and

(b) the top substrate comprises a glass portion coupled to a non-glass portion, where the non-glass portion comprises one or more openings establishing a fluid path extending from an exterior of the droplet actuator and into the gap.

9. The droplet actuator of claim 8 wherein the non-glass portion comprises a plastic or resin portion.

10. The droplet actuator of claim 8 wherein the non-glass portion comprises a frame into which the glass portion is inserted.

11. The droplet actuator of claim 8 wherein the fluid path is arranged to flow fluid into an actual or virtual reservoir associated with one or more reservoir electrodes associated with the base substrate.

12. The droplet actuator of claim 8 wherein the fluid path is arranged to flow fluid into proximity with one or more of the electrodes.

13. The droplet actuator of claim 8 wherein the glass portion does not include openings therein.

14. The droplet actuator of claim 8 wherein:

(a) the non-glass portion overlaps the glass portion, and

(b) an aperture is provided in the non-glass portion for providing a sensing path from the gap, through the glass portion, through the aperture to an exterior of the droplet actuator.

15. The droplet actuator of claim 14 further comprising a fitting provided in association with the aperture for fitting a sensor onto the droplet actuator.

16. The droplet actuator of claim 14 further comprising a handle extending from the glass portion and arranged to facilitate user handling of the droplet actuator.

17. The droplet actuator of claim 8 wherein the non-glass portion further comprises a hinged cover arranged to seal the openings when the hinged cover is in a closed position.

18. The droplet actuator of claim 17 wherein the hinged cover comprises one or more dried reagents associated therewith, such that when fluid is present in one or more of the openings, and the cover is closed, the dried reagents contact the fluid and are combined therewith to form fluid reagents.

19. The droplet actuator of claim 8 wherein:

(a) the non-glass portion overlaps the glass portion; and

(b) one or more of the openings extends through the non-glass portion, through the glass portion, and into the gap.

20. The droplet actuator of claim 19 wherein the opening extending through the non-glass portion is configured as a fluid reservoir.

21. A droplet actuator comprising a base substrate and a top substrate separated to form a gap, wherein:

(a) the base substrate comprises;

(i) electrodes configured for conducting droplet operations in the gap; and

(ii) an opening forming a fluid path from an exterior of the droplet actuator into the gap; and

(b) the top comprises a top substrate electrode arranged opposite the opening of (a)(ii) such that fluid flowing into the gap through the opening of (a)(ii) flows into proximity with the top substrate electrode.