Digital microfluidic liquid-liquid extraction device and method of use thereof
US9851365B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 2010 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 23, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2001/4061
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and devices for liquid-liquid extraction using digital microfluidic arrays are provided. A polar droplet is transported to a separation region containing a substantially non-polar solvent, where non-polar impurities may be extracted from the polar droplet while maintaining a distinct phase separation. In a preferred embodiment, biological samples containing hormones are dried on a digital microfluidic array, lysed by a lysing solvent, dried, subsequently dissolved in a polar solvent, and further purified in a separation step in which droplets are transported through a volume of non-polar solvent. The method disclosed herein provides the distinct advantage of an automated sample preparation method that is capable of extracting hormones from low sample volumes with high precision and recovery.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.