Digital microfluidics apparatuses and methods for manipulating and processing encapsulated droplets
US11623219B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 4, 2018 |
| Grant date | Apr 11, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N27/745
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Air-matrix digital microfluidics (DMF) apparatuses and methods of using them to prevent or limit evaporation and surface fouling of the DMF apparatus. In particular, described herein are air-matrix DMF apparatuses and methods of using them including thermally controllable regions with a wax material that may be used to selectively encapsulate a reaction droplet in the air gap of the apparatus; additional aqueous droplets may be combined with the encapsulated droplet even after separating from the wax, despite residual wax coating, by merging with an aqueous droplet having a coating of a secondary material (e.g., an oil or other hydrophobic material) that may remove the wax from the droplet and/or allow combining of the droplets.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.