Use of immiscible fluids in droplet ejection through application of focused acoustic energy
US6642061B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 8, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2575
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention provides a method for generating droplets. Extremely fine droplets may be generated (on the order of 1 picoliter or less) using focused acoustic energy to eject the droplets from a reservoir containing two or more immiscible fluids. The droplets may include immiscible fluids or a single fluid. Typically, the droplets are ejected onto discrete sites on a substrate surface so as to form an array thereon. In some instances, the reservoirs contain layers of immiscible fluids, wherein an upper layer exhibits a nonuniform thickness. In such a case, fluid from a lower fluid layer may be propelled through an aperture region of the upper layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.