Digital microfluidics for polymerase chain reaction

US11517904B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Macau · CN

Inventors

• Yanwei Jia · Macau, CN
• Liang Wan · Macau, CN
• Cheng Dong · Macau, CN
• Haoran Li · Longbeilingcun, CN
• Tianlan Chen · Macau, CN
• Pui-In Mak · Macau, CN
• Rui Paulo da Silva Martins · Macau, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: May 20, 2019
• Grant date: Dec 6, 2022
• Expiry date: Jan 19, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N27/44747
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Provided is a digital microfluidic device for quick polymerase chain reaction. The digital microfluidic device includes an enclosed chamber for holding droplets comprising PCR mixtures. The chamber has an upper layer and a lower layer, which provide a top heater and a bottom heater contained in a thermal electrode respectively to form dual heaters. The lower layer further has an array of electrodes and a dielectric layer, e.g. Norland Optical adhesive 61, coating thereon. Such arrangement of the digital microfluidic device allows quick and homogeneous heating of droplets to lower the heating voltage, shorten the reaction time, and prevent the dielectric layer from breakdown during the thermal cycle.