Improvements in or relating to a device and methods for facilitating manipulation of microdroplets

A device for manipulating many hundreds or thousands of microdroplets into an array of microdroplets using EWOD or oEWOD, the device comprising:

• i) a chip comprising a first region for receiving and manipulating microdroplets;
• a second region for comprising the array and a plurality of electrowetting pathways leading from the first region of the chip to the second region;
• ii) a microdroplet source configured to provide microdroplets;
• iii) a channel configured to provide fluid communication between the microdroplet source and the first region of the chip;
• and
• iv) a pump configured to move the microdroplets between the microdroplet source and the first region of the chip;
• wherein the electrowetting pathways are created by a controller configured to synchronise the movement of each microdroplet in the pathways relative to the others by application of EWOD or oEWOD force.

A device for manipulating many hundreds or thousands of microdroplets into an array using EWOD or oEWOD, the device comprising:

• i) a chip comprising a first region for receiving and manipulating microdroplets;
• a second region comprising the array and a plurality of electrowetting pathways leading to the array;
• ii) a microdroplet source configured to provide microdroplets of a predetermined target diameter;
• iii) a channel configured to provide fluid communication between the microdroplet source and the first region of the chip;
• and
• iv) a pressure source configured to move the microdroplets between the microdroplet source and the first region of the chip;
• wherein the electrowetting pathways on the chip are centre to centre separated by at least double the predetermined target diameter of the microdroplets from the microdroplet source;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to enable synchronous movement of the microdroplets in the electrowetting pathways by application of EWOD or oEWOD force.