Modular droplet actuator drive

• US 8,041,463 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duke University
• Original Assignee: Duke University, Advanced Liquid Logic, Inc. (Illumina Incorporated)
• Inventors: Paik, Philip, Pollack, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, RAMESH B
• Application Number:
  US12/707,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20100143963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 700/283, 700/282, 118/712, 73/645.2, 164/19
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/04 Exchange or ejection of cartridges, containers or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/089 Virtual walls for guiding liquids
• 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: G01N 2021/035 Supports for sample drops
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1046 Levitated, suspended drops
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/59 Transmissivity G01N21/25 takes precedence

Abstract

A droplet actuator drive including a detection apparatus for sensing a property of a droplet on a droplet actuator; circuitry for controlling the detection apparatus electronically coupled to the detection apparatus; a droplet actuator cartridge connector arranged so that when a droplet actuator cartridge electronically is coupled thereto: the droplet actuator cartridge is aligned with the detection apparatus; and the detection apparatus can sense the property of the droplet on a droplet actuator; circuitry for controlling a droplet actuator coupled to the droplet actuator connector; and the droplet actuator circuitry may be coupled to a processor.

Claims

1. A kit comprising:

a. a droplet actuator cartridge comprising;

i. a droplet actuator; and

ii. means for coupling the droplet actuator cartridge to a droplet actuator drive; and

b. beads for conducting an assay using the droplet actuator cartridge; and

c. instructions for using the droplet actuator cartridge.

2. The kit of claim 1 wherein the beads are loaded on the droplet actuator cartridge.

3. The kit of claim 2 further comprising instructions for using the kit.

4. The kit of claim 3 wherein the instructions are electronically stored on an electronic storage medium associated with the cartridge such that when coupled to a droplet actuator drive, the instructions are displayed on an output device associated with the droplet actuator drive and or a system comprising the droplet actuator drive.

5. A method of conducting an assay, the method comprising:

a. providing a droplet actuator drive comprising;

i. a detection apparatus for sensing a property of a droplet on a droplet actuator;

ii. circuitry for controlling the detection apparatus electronically coupled to the detection apparatus;

iii. a droplet actuator cartridge connector arranged so that when a droplet actuator cartridge electronically coupled thereto;

1. the droplet actuator cartridge is aligned with the detection apparatus; and

2. the detection apparatus can sense the property of the droplet on a droplet actuator;

iv. circuitry for controlling a droplet actuator coupled to the droplet actuator connector;

v. means for coupling the droplet actuator circuitry to a processor; and

b. electronically coupling the droplet actuator drive to a computer processor;

c. coupling a droplet actuator cartridge to a droplet actuator cartridge connector, the cartridge comprising reagent sample for an assay protocol;

d. executing software using the computer processor to effect steps comprising;

i. executing steps in the assay protocol, the steps comprising conducting one or more dispensing or splitting droplet operations using droplets comprising beads;

ii. sensing a property of an assay droplet; and

iii. displaying an output indicative of the property of the assay droplet.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein step 5.d.i comprises conducting one or more droplet operations using droplets comprising one or more beads.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein step 5.d.i comprises conducting one or more droplet operations using droplets comprising one or more biological cells.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein step 5.d.i comprises conducting one or more dispensing or splitting droplet operations using droplets comprising biological cells.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein step 5.d.i comprises conducting one or more dispensing or splitting droplet operations using droplets comprising viable biological cells.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein step 5.d.i comprises conducting one or more washing operations using magnetically responsive beads.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein step 5.d.i comprises conducting one or more washing operations using substantially non-magnetically responsive beads.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein the property of the assay droplet sensed in step 5.d.ii is indicative of a property of one or more beads in the assay droplet.

13. The method of claim 5 wherein the property of the assay droplet sensed in step 5.d.ii is indicative of a property of one or more biological cells in the assay droplet.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein the output displayed in step 5.d.iii is indicative of a property of one or more beads in the assay droplet.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein the output displayed in step 5.d.iii is indicative of a property of one or more cells in the assay droplet.