ELECTROWETTING SAMPLE PRESENTATION DEVICE

摘要

Electro-wettable sample presentation devices are useful in performing analytical measurements such as the detection of analytes contained within a liquid sample drop. The device comprises a virtual microwell for receiving a liquid sample drop; one or more intermediary electro-wettable sites at least one of which is contiguous to the microwell; and a terminal electro-wettable site which confines the deposition of analytes and matrix to within a predetermined area. The microwell is either an electro-wettable zone or a chemically-modified zone which exhibits either hydrophobic and non-adsorptive properties with respect to analytes, or hydrophobic and adsorptive properties with respect to analytes. Each of the electro-wettable sites modifies the surface of the sample presentation device between hydrophobic and hydrophilic states in response to an electrical potential applied between a liquid sample drop and the electro-wettable site so as to direct the positioning of the liquid sample drop.