Digital microfluidics systems, apparatuses and methods of using them
AssigneeIntegra Biosciences AG
InventorsJorge Abraham Soto-Moreno, Mais Jehan Jebrail, Juan Matias De Carli
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Abstract
High-throughput digital microfluidic (DMF) systems and methods (including devices, systems, cartridges, DMF apparatuses, etc.), are described herein. The systems, apparatuses and methods integrate liquid handling with the DMF apparatuses, providing flexible and efficient sample reactions and sample preparation. These systems, apparatuses and methods may be used with a variety of cartridge configurations and sizes.
Claims19
A method of coordinating droplet movement and liquid handling in a cartridge within a microfluidics apparatus, the method comprising:
- disposing a plurality of cartridges on a seating surface of the microfluidics apparatus, wherein each of the plurality of cartridges sits on a sub-region of the seating surface;
- sensing, on the seating surface, respective seating locations of the plurality of cartridges, wherein the plurality of cartridges have differing sizes and the seating surface includes a plurality of seating locations for the plurality of cartridges;
- determining a sub-set of driving electrodes underlying the respective seating locations of the plurality of cartridges;
- selectively applying, based on the sensing, a vacuum to the respective seating locations of the plurality of cartridges to immobilize the plurality of cartridges to the seating surface of the microfluidics apparatus;
- disposing a droplet from a liquid handling subsystem within each of the plurality of cartridges via respective fluidic inputs;
- and
- activating a first selected driving electrode underlying each of the plurality of cartridges to drive each respective droplet to a respective second location within each of the plurality of cartridges by electrowetting.
A method of coordinating droplet movement and liquid handling in a plurality of cartridges within a microfluidics apparatus, the method comprising:
- disposing a first cartridge at a first seating location upon a seating surface and a second cartridge at a second seating location upon the seating surface;
- sensing, on the seating surface, respective seating locations of the first cartridge and the second cartridge, wherein the first and second cartridges are different sizes and the seating surface includes a plurality of seating locations for the first and second cartridges;
- selectively immobilizing the first cartridge and the second cartridge to the seating surface of the microfluidics apparatus based on the sensing;
- identifying a first sub-set of the plurality of driving electrodes underlying the first seating location and a second region comprising a second sub-set of the plurality of driving electrodes underlying the second seating location;
- disposing, via a robotic arm, a first droplet from a liquid handling subsystem within the first cartridge and a second droplet within the second cartridge;
- and
- activating at least a first selected driving electrode of each respective sub-set to drive each respective droplet to a respective second location within each of the first and second cartridges by electrowetting.
A method of coordinating droplet movement and liquid handling in a cartridge within a microfluidics apparatus, the method comprising:
- disposing a plurality of cartridges on a seating surface of a microfluidics apparatus, wherein each of the cartridge of the plurality of cartridges sits on a sub-region of the seating surface;
- sensing, on the seating surface, respective seating locations of each cartridge of the plurality of cartridges, wherein the plurality of cartridges have differing sizes and the seating surface includes a plurality of seating locations for the plurality of cartridges;
- selectively applying a vacuum based on sensing the respective seating locations, to just the respective seating locations of each of the cartridge of the plurality of cartridges to immobilize the plurality of cartridges to the seating surface of the microfluidics apparatus;
- disposing a droplet from a liquid handling subsystem within each of the cartridge of the plurality of cartridges via respective fluidic inputs;
- and
- activating a first selected driving electrode underlying each of the cartridge of the plurality of cartridges to drive each respective droplet to a respective second location within each of the cartridges of the plurality of cartridges by electrowetting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.