Droplet actuator and method
First Claim
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1. A droplet actuator cartridge, comprising:
- a droplet actuator portion, comprising;
two substrates separated by a droplet operations gap; and
one or more electrodes associated with one or both substrates and arranged for conducting one or more droplet operations in the droplet operations gap;
a reagent storage cassette portion, comprising;
a third substrate separated from one of the two substrates by a fluid channel;
one or more reservoirs formed in the third substrate, each of the one or more reservoirs having an opening to the fluid channel and comprising one or more liquids;
one or more plungers respectively insertable into the one or more reservoirs to force the one or more liquids through the opening and into the fluid channel; and
a removable protective film provided over the opening; and
a fluid path connecting the fluid channel to the droplet operations gap.
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Abstract
The invention provides droplet actuators and droplet actuator cassettes including reagent storage capabilities, as well as methods of making and using the droplet actuators and cassettes. The invention also provides continuous flow channel elements and techniques for using electrodes to manipulate droplets in flowing streams. The invention also discloses methods of separating compounds on a droplet actuator. Various other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.
258 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A droplet actuator cartridge, comprising:
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a droplet actuator portion, comprising; two substrates separated by a droplet operations gap; and one or more electrodes associated with one or both substrates and arranged for conducting one or more droplet operations in the droplet operations gap; a reagent storage cassette portion, comprising; a third substrate separated from one of the two substrates by a fluid channel; one or more reservoirs formed in the third substrate, each of the one or more reservoirs having an opening to the fluid channel and comprising one or more liquids; one or more plungers respectively insertable into the one or more reservoirs to force the one or more liquids through the opening and into the fluid channel; and a removable protective film provided over the opening; and a fluid path connecting the fluid channel to the droplet operations gap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A droplet actuator, comprising:
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two substrates separated by a droplet operations gap; a droplet operations reservoir defined in the droplet operations gap; an electrode associated with a first of the two substrates and arranged for conducting one or more droplet operations in the droplet operations reservoir; a reagent reservoir defined in a second of the two substrates and aligned with the droplet operations reservoir; a removable protective film separating the reagent reservoir and the droplet operations reservoir; and a plunger associated with the reagent reservoir, the plunger being insertable into the reagent reservoir to force a liquid in the reagent reservoir directly into the droplet operations reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A droplet actuator, comprising:
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two substrates separated by a droplet operations gap; a reservoir formed in a bottom of the two substrates; an electrode positioned between the reservoir and the droplet operations gap, the electrode including an opening that provides a liquid path from the reservoir to the droplet operations gap; a dielectric layer positioned on the electrode and at least in the opening; a plunger extended partially into the reservoir, wherein the plunger is movable into a fully inserted position in the reservoir to force a liquid contained in the reservoir into the droplet operations gap when the liquid path is open; and an awl inserted through an opening in the plunger, the awl being movable to a position that punctures the dielectric layer to open the liquid path and to a retracted position that permits the liquid to flow with reduced obstruction through the liquid path. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification