Microfluidic device for storage and well-defined arrangement of droplets
First Claim
1. A method of arranging droplets in an array, comprising:
- urging a first droplet through a first constriction in a storage channel into a first pot in the storage channel,trapping the first droplet in the first pot, andapplying a pressure differential along the storage channel such that the first droplet is urged through a second constriction in the storage channel into a second pot in the storage channel that is downstream of the first pot, and a second droplet is urged through the first constriction of the storage channel into the first pot of the storage channel, wherein, upon removal of the applied pressure differential, the first droplet is trapped within the second pot of the storage channel and the second droplet is trapped within the first pot of the storage channel simultaneously.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to systems and methods for the arrangement of droplets in pre-determined locations. Many applications require the collection of time-resolved data. Examples include the screening of cells based on their growth characteristics or the observation of enzymatic reactions. The present invention provides a tool and related techniques which addresses this need, and which can be used in many other situations. The invention provides, in one aspect, a tool that allows for stable storage and indexing of individual droplets. The invention can interface not only with microfluidic/microscale equipment, but with macroscopic equipment to allow for the easy injection of liquids and extraction of sample droplets, etc.
80 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of arranging droplets in an array, comprising:
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urging a first droplet through a first constriction in a storage channel into a first pot in the storage channel, trapping the first droplet in the first pot, and applying a pressure differential along the storage channel such that the first droplet is urged through a second constriction in the storage channel into a second pot in the storage channel that is downstream of the first pot, and a second droplet is urged through the first constriction of the storage channel into the first pot of the storage channel, wherein, upon removal of the applied pressure differential, the first droplet is trapped within the second pot of the storage channel and the second droplet is trapped within the first pot of the storage channel simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification