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Bubble formation techniques using physical or chemical features to retain a gas bubble within a droplet actuator

  • US 8,877,512 B2
  • Filed: 01/25/2010
  • Issued: 11/04/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a bubble in a droplet actuator, the method comprising:

  • (a) providing a droplet actuator comprising;

    (i) one or more substrates configured to form a droplet operations gap, the one or more substrates comprising electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations in the droplet operations gap; and

    (ii) a physical or chemical feature provided at a predetermined locus within or exposed to the droplet operations gap and configured to retain a bubble in position within the droplet operations gap; and

    (b) dispensing an oil filler fluid, which fluid is sufficiently immiscible with a droplet phase to render the droplet phase subject to electrode-mediated droplet operations, into the droplet operations gap at a rate and volume sufficient to fill the fluid reservoir and to form a gaseous bubble at the physical or chemical feature, wherein the gaseous bubble is at least partially surrounded by the oil filler fluid.

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