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US 10,744,506 B2Granted
Device for generating droplets
AssigneeBio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsKevin D. Ness, Christopher F. Kelly, Donald A. Masquelier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system, including method and apparatus, for generating droplets suitable for droplet-based assays. The disclosed systems may include either one-piece or multi-piece droplet generation components configured to form sample-containing droplets by merging aqueous, sample-containing fluid with a background emulsion fluid such as oil, to form an emulsion of sample-containing droplets suspended in the background fluid. In some cases, the disclosed systems may include channels or other suitable mechanisms configured to transport the sample-containing droplets to an outlet region, so that subsequent assay steps may be performed.
Claims17
A device for generating droplets, the device comprising:
- a substrate having a bottom side defining a channel network including a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel that meet one another at a droplet-generation region;
- and
- a sealing member attached to the bottom side of the substrate in a fluid-tight seal and providing a bottom wall for each channel of the channel network;
- wherein the device includes a carrier port configured to receive carrier fluid that flows from the carrier port to the droplet-generation region via the first channel,
- wherein the device includes a sample well configured to receive sample-containing fluid that flows from the sample well to the droplet-generation region via the second channel,
- wherein the device includes a droplet outlet region configured to receive sample-containing droplets and carrier fluid that flow from the droplet-generation region to the droplet outlet region via the third channel,
- wherein the sample well has a lower portion formed by the substrate,
- wherein the second channel has a cross-section and includes an air trap configured to prevent sample-containing fluid from being inadvertently drawn through the second channel by capillary action, and
- wherein in the air trap the cross-section of the second channel abruptly increases in one or more dimensions.
6 more elements
A device for generating droplets, the device comprising:
- a substrate having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side defining a channel network including a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel that meet one another at a droplet-generation region;
- a plurality of protrusions projecting from the top side of the substrate;
- and
- a sealing member attached to the bottom side of the substrate in a fluid-tight seal and providing a bottom wall for each channel of the channel network;
- wherein the device includes a carrier port configured to receive carrier fluid that flows from the carrier port to the droplet-generation region via the first channel,
- wherein the device includes a sample well configured to receive sample-containing fluid that flows from the sample well to the droplet-generation region via the second channel,
- wherein the device includes a droplet outlet region selected from a droplet well and a pipette tip, the droplet outlet region being configured to receive sample-containing droplets and carrier fluid that flow from the droplet-generation region to the droplet outlet region via the third channel,
- wherein the sample well has an upper portion created by a protrusion of the plurality of protrusions,
- wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is formed integrally with the substrate,
- wherein the second channel has a cross-section and includes an air trap configured to prevent sample-containing fluid from being inadvertently drawn through the second channel by capillary action, and
- wherein in the air trap the cross-section of the second channel abruptly increases in one or more dimensions.
8 more elements
A device for generating droplets, the device comprising:
- a body including a substrate and a plurality of protrusions, the substrate having a bottom side defining a channel network including a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel that meet one another at a droplet-generation region, the plurality of protrusions being formed integrally with the substrate and projecting from a top side of the substrate;
- and
- a sealing member attached to the bottom side of the substrate in a fluid-tight seal and providing a bottom wall for each channel of the channel network;
- wherein the device includes a carrier port configured to receive carrier fluid that flows from the carrier port to the droplet-generation region via the first channel,
- wherein the device includes a sample well configured to receive sample-containing fluid that flows from the sample well to the droplet-generation region via the second channel, and
- wherein the device includes a droplet outlet region configured to receive sample-containing droplets and carrier fluid that flow from the droplet-generation region to the droplet outlet region via the third channel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.