Apparatus for manipulating droplets

• US 8,287,711 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duke University
• Original Assignee: Duke University
• Inventors: Pollack, Michael G., Pamula, Vamsee K., Fair, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olsen, Kaj K
• Application Number:
  US11/965,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 204/450, 204/600
• US Class Current: 204/600
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 31/65 the materials to be mixed being directly submitted to a pulsating movement, e.g. by means of an oscillating piston or air column
• 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: B01F 33/3031 using electro-hydrodynamic [EHD] or electro-kinetic [EKI] phenomena to mix or move the fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30351 using hydrophilic/hydrophobic surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/06 Fluid handling related problems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/089 Virtual walls for guiding liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/161 Control and use of surface tension forces, e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/165 Specific details about hydrophobic, oleophobic surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/00 Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• 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 3/502784 specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics automatic analysis using a stream of discrete samples in a tube system G01N35/08
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502792 for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2002/14395 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/00 Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 : based on electrowetting

Abstract

An apparatus for manipulating droplets is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a substrate having a set of electrical leads for connecting electrodes to a controller, a first set of electrodes, each connected to a separate one of the electrical leads, and a second set of electrodes, all connected to a single one of the electrical leads. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a substrate having a set of X electrodes, and a set of Y electrical leads, each connected to one or more electrodes, wherein X is greater than Y.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manipulating droplets, the apparatus comprising a substrate comprising:

(a) a set of electrical leads for connecting electrodes to a controller;

(b) an electrode array comprising;

(i) a first set of electrodes, each connected to a separate one of the electrical leads; and

(ii) a second set of electrodes, all connected to a single one of the electrical leads;

(iii) an insulation layer applied to the first and second sets of electrodes; and

(c) a conductive grid superimposed on the electrode array and set at a ground or reference potential.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second set of electrodes comprises a column of electrodes all connected to a single one of the electrical leads.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second set of electrodes are arranged in a two dimensional array of electrodes.