Digital microfluidic system for single-cell isolation and characterization of analytes

US11203016B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Illumina, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Arash Jamshidi · Menlo Park, US
• Yan-You Lin · Fremont, US
• Farnaz Absalan · San Francisco, US
• Sarah Stuart · San Francisco, US
• Gordon M. Cann · Redwood City, US
• Yir-Shyuan Wu · Fremont, US
• Tarun Khurana · San Diego, US
• Jeffrey S. Fisher · San Francisco, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 30, 2016
• Grant date: Dec 21, 2021
• Expiry date: Dec 5, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2015/1006
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments herein a method for capturing cells of interest in a digital microfluidic system is provided, comprising utilizing a droplet actuator to transport a sample droplet to a microwell device. The microwell device includes a substrate having a plurality of microwells that open onto a droplet operations surface of the microwell device. The sample droplet includes cells of interest that enter the microwells. The method introduces capture beads to the microwells, and the capture elements are immobilized on the capture beads. The method utilizes the droplet actuator to transport a cell lysis reagent droplet to the microwell device. Portions of the cell lysis reagent droplet enter the microwells and, during an incubation period, cause the cells of interest to release analyte that is captured by the capture elements on the capture beads.