Digital microfluidics system with disposable cartridges

摘要

A digital microfluidics system manipulates samples in liquid droplets within disposable cartridges and has disposable cartridges each with a bottom layer, a top layer and a gap therebetween. A base unit with cartridge accommodation sites and at least one electrode array with electrodes works with a cover plate at the sites and a control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing them with voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the cartridges by electrowetting. The cover plate has an electrically conductive material that extends parallel to the array. A selection of disposable cartridges and a method for manipulating samples in liquid droplets that adhere to a hydrophobic surface can be used with the system.

主权项

1. A digital microfluidics system (1) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets, within disposable cartridges (2) that comprise a bottom layer (3), a top layer (4), and a gap (6) between the bottom and top layers (3,4); 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 a slidingly inserted disposable cartridge (2) which is movable in a direction substantially parallel with respect to an electrode array (9) of the respective cartridge accommodating site (8); (b) at least one electrode array (9) being located at said cartridge accommodation site(s) (8) of the base unit (7), being supported by a bottom substrate (11), being substantially extending in a first plane and comprising a number of individual electrodes (10); (c) at least one cover plate (12) with a top substrate (13), the at least one cover plate (12) being located at said cartridge accommodation site(s) (8) and being equipped with an electrically conductive material (15) that extends in a second plane and substantially parallel to the electrode array (9) of the cartridge accommodation site (8) the at least one cover plate (12) is assigned to, the electrically conductive material (15) of the cover plate (12) being not connected with a source of a certain electrical potential or grounded; (d) the disposable cartridge (2) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets, the disposable cartridge (2) comprising: a bottom layer (3), a top layer (4), and a gap (6) between the bottom and top layers (3,4), wherein the bottom layer (3) and the top layer (4) comprise a hydrophobic surface (17) that is exposed to the gap (6) of the cartridge (2), and at least one spacer (5) that defines the gap (6) between the bottom and top layers (3,4); and (e) a central control unit (14) for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes (10) of said at least one electrode array (9) and for providing these electrodes (10) with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within said cartridges (2) by electrowetting.