Droplet operations platform
First Claim
1. A droplet actuator device comprising:
- a. a bottom substrate and a top substrate separated from each other to form a gap therebetween;
b. an arrangement of droplet operations electrodes on one of or both of the bottom and/or top substrates configured for conducting droplet operations thereon; and
c. one or more heat-spreader-expanded temperature control zones in the gap, wherein each of the one or more heat-expanded temperature zones is established by at least;
(i) one or more heater elements in proximity to and aligned with one or more of the droplet operations electrodes in the arrangement of droplet operations electrodes in a manner which permits establishment of temperature control in the gap in the vicinity of the one or more droplet operations electrodes; and
(ii) a heat spreader comprising a metal layer structure included with one of or both of the bottom and/or top substrates and distinct from the droplet operations electrodes, wherein the heat spreader is arranged to spread heat generated from the one or more heater elements along a droplet operations electrode path comprising the one or more droplet operations electrodes, and wherein the heat spreader is distinct from the one or more heater elements and is configured to spread heat and maintain a more uniform temperature gradient within the one or more heat-spreader-expanded temperature control zones relative to a corresponding droplet actuator device lacking the heat spreader.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a droplet actuator device and methods for integrated sample preparation and analysis of a biological sample. A droplet actuator device is provided for conducting droplet operations. The droplet actuator device may include a bottom substrate and a top substrate separated from each other to form a gap therebetween; an arrangement of droplet operations electrodes arranged on one or both of the bottom and/or top substrates for conducting droplet operations thereon; a reagent storage layer comprising one or more compartments bound to the top substrate; and one or more openings arranged to provide a fluidic path from the one or more compartments into the gap, upon breach of a breachable seal separating the one or more compartments and openings.
217 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A droplet actuator device comprising:
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a. a bottom substrate and a top substrate separated from each other to form a gap therebetween; b. an arrangement of droplet operations electrodes on one of or both of the bottom and/or top substrates configured for conducting droplet operations thereon; and c. one or more heat-spreader-expanded temperature control zones in the gap, wherein each of the one or more heat-expanded temperature zones is established by at least; (i) one or more heater elements in proximity to and aligned with one or more of the droplet operations electrodes in the arrangement of droplet operations electrodes in a manner which permits establishment of temperature control in the gap in the vicinity of the one or more droplet operations electrodes; and (ii) a heat spreader comprising a metal layer structure included with one of or both of the bottom and/or top substrates and distinct from the droplet operations electrodes, wherein the heat spreader is arranged to spread heat generated from the one or more heater elements along a droplet operations electrode path comprising the one or more droplet operations electrodes, and wherein the heat spreader is distinct from the one or more heater elements and is configured to spread heat and maintain a more uniform temperature gradient within the one or more heat-spreader-expanded temperature control zones relative to a corresponding droplet actuator device lacking the heat spreader. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification