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US 9,194,861 B2Granted
Method of mixing fluids by coalescence of multiple emulsions
AssigneeBio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsBenjamin J. Hindson, Billy W. Colston, Jr., Kevin D. Ness, Donald A. Masquelier
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Abstract
System, including methods, apparatus, compositions, and kits, for the mixing of small volumes of fluid by coalescence of multiple emulsions.
Claims19
A method of sample analysis, comprising:
- obtaining a plurality of compound droplets each including at least one sample-containing droplet, at least one reagent-containing droplet, and a barrier fluid that separates the at least one sample-containing droplet from the at least one reagent-containing droplet;
- heating compound droplets to induce fusion of at least one of the sample-containing droplet(s) with at least one of the reagent-containing droplet(s) within individual compound droplets to form fused droplets that combine sample and reagent to create assay mixtures for performing an assay;
- collecting data from a plurality of the fused droplets;
- and
- determining a result of the assay based on the collected data.
2 more elements
A method of sample analysis, comprising:
- selecting an emulsion from a set of pre-formed emulsions each containing a different type of reagent-containing droplet;
- forming compound droplets each including at least one sample-containing droplet, at least one reagent-containing droplet from the selected emulsion, and a barrier fluid that separates the at least one sample-containing droplet from the at least one reagent-containing droplet;
- and
- heating compound droplets to induce fusion of at least one of the sample-containing droplet(s) and at least one of the reagent-containing droplet(s) within individual compound droplets to form fused droplets that combine reagent from the selected emulsion with sample to create assay mixtures for performing an assay.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.