US 7,955,864 B2 · Device and method for making discrete volumes of a first fluid in contact with a second fluid, which are immiscible with each other

Abstract

Various embodiments described in the application relate to an apparatus, system, and method for generating, within a conduit, discrete volumes of one or more fluids that are immiscible with a second fluid. The discrete volumes can be used for biochemical or molecular biology procedures involving small volumes, for example, microliter-sized volumes, nanoliter-sized volumes, or smaller. The system can comprise an apparatus comprising at least one conduit operatively connected to one or more pumps for providing discrete volumes separated from one another by a fluid that is immiscible with the fluid(s) of the discrete volumes, for example, aqueous immiscible-fluid-discrete volumes separated by an oil.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

providing a first fluid disposed in a container having a bottom;
ejecting a volume of a second fluid from a through-hole in the container bottom, thereby forming a first droplet of the second fluid in the first fluid, which first droplet rises in the first fluid relative to an intake tip of a conduit such that the first droplet is disposed adjacent the intake tip, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible with respect to one another and the second fluid is less dense than the first fluid;
moving at least one of the first droplet and an intake tip of a conduit relative to one another such that the first droplet is disposed adjacent the intake tip when ejected;
and
drawing the first droplet and an amount of the first fluid through the intake tip and into the conduit.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

11/508,044Filed 22 Aug 2006 · us provisional application

Priority

22 Aug 2005

Published

US 2007/0062583 A122 Mar 2007

Granted

7 Jun 2011

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification48 codes

C12Q 1/6869
Involving nucleic acids: methods for sequencing
B01L 3/502715
By integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g.…
B01L 3/502784
Characterised by multiphase flow arrangements: specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics
C12Q 1/6806
Involving nucleic acids: preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay

Family

Application60/710,167Us provisional application · filed 22 Aug 2005

Application60/731,133Us provisional application · filed 28 Oct 2005

Application60/818,197Us provisional application · filed 30 Jun 2006

US 2007/0062583 A1Pre-grant publication · published 22 Mar 2007

US 7,955,864 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Device and method for making discrete volumes of a first fluid in contact with a second fluid, which are immiscible with each other

Life of this patent

Device and method for making discrete volumes of a first fluid in contact with a second fluid, which are immiscible with each other

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10