Method and device for separating immiscible liquids to effectively isolate at least one of the liquids

A phase-separation device comprising a porous membrane having a filter surface, the filter surface having a non-planar contour that forms a receiving cavity, wherein the filter surface is configured to impede flow of a polar liquid into the porous membrane and permit flow of a non-polar liquid into the porous membrane.

An assay system comprising:

• a sample preparation system configured to prepare a liquid mixture having a first liquid and a second liquid that are immiscible with respect to each other;
• and
• a phase-separation device including a porous membrane having a filter surface, the filter surface having a non-planar contour that forms a receiving cavity configured to receive the liquid mixture, wherein the filter surface along the receiving cavity is configured to impede flow of the first liquid through the filter surface and permit flow of the second liquid into the porous membrane such that the first liquid forms a droplet within the receiving cavity as the second liquid flows into the porous membrane.

An assay system comprising:

• a sample preparation system configured to prepare a liquid mixture having a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid that are immiscible with respect to each other;
• and
• a phase-separation device including a porous membrane having a filter surface, the filter surface having a non-planar contour that forms a receiving cavity configured to receive the liquid mixture, wherein the filter surface along the receiving cavity is configured to impede flow of the polar liquid through the filter surface and permit flow of the non-polar liquid into the porous membrane such that the polar liquid forms a droplet within the receiving cavity as the non-polar liquid flows into the porous membrane.

An assay system comprising:

• a phase-separation device including a porous membrane having a filter surface, the filter surface having a non-planar contour that forms a receiving cavity configured to receive a liquid mixture, the liquid mixture having a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid that are immiscible with respect to each other, wherein the filter surface along the receiving cavity is configured to impede flow of the polar liquid through the filter surface and permit flow of the non-polar liquid into the porous membrane such that the polar liquid forms a droplet within the receiving cavity as the non-polar liquid flows into the porous membrane;
• and
• an analysis system configured to perform one or more assay protocols utilizing the droplet of the polar liquid.

An assay system comprising:

• a sample preparation system configured to prepare a liquid mixture having a first liquid and a second liquid that are immiscible with respect to each other;
• and
• a phase-separation device including a porous membrane having a filter surface, the filter surface having a non-planar contour that forms a receiving cavity configured to receive the liquid mixture, wherein the filter surface along the receiving cavity is configured to impede flow of the first liquid through the filter surface and permit flow of the second liquid into the porous membrane such that the first liquid forms a droplet within the receiving cavity as the second liquid flows into the porous membrane.