DISPOSABLE CARTRIDGE FOR MICROFLUIDICS SYSTEM

摘要

A digital microfluidics system for manipulating samples in liquid droplets within a gap between a first hydrophobic surface of a bottom layer and a second hydrophobic surface of at least one disposable cartridge. Disposable cartridges comprise a body and/or a rigid cover plate. The bottom layer of each disposable cartridge is a flexible film that is sealingly attached to the body or plate. The cartridge has no spacer between the first and second hydrophobic surfaces. When using these cartridges, the bottom layers configured as a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets thereon, is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system. The array has individual electrodes. The digital microfluidics system also comprises a central control unit for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes of the electrode array and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting.

主权项

1. A digital microfluidics system (1) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets within a gap (6) between a first hydrophobic surface (17′) of a bottom layer (3) and a second hydrophobic surface (17″) of at least one disposable cartridge (2), the digital microfluidics system (1) comprising:
(a) a base unit (7) with at least one cartridge accommodation site (8) that is configured for taking up one disposable cartridge (2); (b) an electrode array (9) located at said at least one cartridge accommodation site (8) of the base unit (7), the electrode array (9) being supported by a bottom substrate (11), substantially extending in a first plane and comprising a number of individual electrodes (10); and (c) a central control unit (14) for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes (10) of said electrode array (9) and for providing these electrodes (10) with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets (23) within the gap (6) of said cartridge (2) by electrowetting,wherein the digital microfluidics system (1) further comprises:
(d) a number of suction holes (35) that penetrate the electrode array (9) and/or the bottom substrate (11) and that are located at the at least one cartridge accommodation site (8) of the base unit (7); (e) a vacuum source (33) for establishing an underpressure in at least one of an evacuation space (46) and a vacuum space (50); and (f) a number of vacuum lines (34) that link the suction holes (35) and/or vacuum space (50) to the vacuum source (33);wherein a gasket (36) or a number of seals (39,39′), when a disposable cartridge (2) is located at the at least one cartridge accommodation site (8), seal in said cartridge accommodation site (8) the evacuation space (46), which is defined by a flexible bottom layer (3) of a disposable cartridge (2), an uppermost surface (52) of the cartridge accommodation site (8), and the gasket (36) or the seals (39,39′) which are supported by an insertion guide and closing means (25,30);and wherein the underpressure in the evacuation space (46) causes the flexible bottom layer (3) of the disposable cartridge (2) that is placed at the cartridge accommodation site (8) to be attracted and spread over the uppermost surface (52) of the cartridge accommodation site (8) of the digital microfluidics system (1).