Focused acoustic energy method and device for generating droplets of immiscible fluids
AssigneePicoliter Inc.
InventorsRichard N. Ellson, Mitchell W. Mutz, James K. Foote
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Abstract
A method and device for generating droplets of immiscible fluids are provided. Extremely fine droplets may be generated, on the order of 1 picoliter or less, using focused acoustic energy to eject the droplets from a reservoir containing two or more immiscible fluids. Optionally, the droplets may be ejected onto discrete sites on a substrate surface so as to form an array thereon.
Claims70
A method for generating a droplet comprised of at least two immiscible fluids, the method comprising applying focused acoustic energy to a fluid-containing reservoir containing the at least two immiscible fluids, wherein the focused acoustic energy is applied in a manner effective to eject a droplet of fluid from the reservoir.
A method for generating a droplet comprised of a first fluid substantially encapsulated in a second fluid, comprising applying focused acoustic energy to a reservoir containing (a) a lower layer having a first thickness and comprised of the first fluid, and (b) an upper layer having a second thickness and comprised of the second fluid, wherein the first and second fluids are immiscible, and further wherein the focused acoustic energy is applied in a manner effective to eject a droplet from the reservoir, and wherein the second thickness is less than about 10% of the first thickness.
A method for generating a droplet comprised of a biomolecule encapsulated in a lipidic material, comprising applying focused acoustic energy to a reservoir containing (a) a lower fluid layer having a first thickness and comprised of an aqueous fluid containing the biomolecule, and (b) an upper fluid layer having a second thickness and comprised of the lipidic material, wherein the focused acoustic energy is applied in a manner effective to eject a droplet from the reservoir, and wherein the second thickness is less than about 10% of the first thickness.
A method for generating an array of droplets on a substrate surface, each droplet comprised of at least two immiscible fluids, the method comprising applying focused acoustic energy to each of a plurality of fluid-containing reservoirs each containing at least two immiscible fluids, wherein the focused acoustic energy is applied in a manner effective to eject a droplet of fluid from each reservoir toward a different site on a substrate surface.
A method for generating an array of droplets on a substrate surface, each droplet comprised of an aqueous fluid and a lipidic fluid, the method comprising applying focused acoustic energy to each of a plurality of fluid-containing reservoirs each containing (a) a lower layer having a first thickness and comprised of the aqueous fluid, and (b) an upper layer having a second thickness and comprised of the lipidic fluid, wherein the focused acoustic energy is applied in a manner effective to eject a droplet from each reservoir toward a different site on a substrate surface, and wherein the second thickness is less than about 10% of the first thickness.
A device for acoustically ejecting a droplet of at least two immiscible fluids from each of a plurality of fluid reservoirs, comprising:
- a plurality of fluid reservoirs each containing two or more immiscible fluids;
- an ejector comprising an acoustic radiation generator for generating acoustic radiation and a focusing means for focusing the acoustic radiation at a focal point sufficiently near the fluid surface in each of the reservoirs so as to eject a fluid droplet therefrom;
- and
- a means for positioning the ejector in acoustic coupling relationship to each of the reservoirs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.