US 12,263,483 B2
Evaporation management in digital microfluidic devices
Mais J. Jebrail, Toronto (CA); Ronald Francis Renzi, Tracy, CA (US); and Steven Branda, Livermore, CA (US)
Assigned to INTEGRA Biosciences AG, Zizers (CH)
Filed by INTEGRA Biosciences AG, Zizers (CH)
Filed on Jan. 18, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/416,693.
Application 18/416,693 is a continuation of application No. 17/967,671, filed on Oct. 17, 2022, granted, now 11,890,617.
Application 17/967,671 is a continuation of application No. 16/915,835, filed on Jun. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,471,888, issued on Oct. 18, 2022.
Application 16/915,835 is a continuation of application No. 15/579,239, granted, now 10,695,762, issued on Jun. 30, 2020, previously published as PCT/US2016/036022, filed on Jun. 6, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/171,772, filed on Jun. 5, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0198341 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502784 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502792 (2013.01); B01L 7/525 (2013.01); B01L 2200/142 (2013.01); B01L 2200/143 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0867 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1805 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1822 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0427 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic apparatus configured to replenish a reaction droplet to correct for evaporation, the apparatus comprising:
a first hydrophobic layer;
a second hydrophobic layer;
an air gap formed between the first hydrophobic layer and the second hydrophobic layer;
a sensor configured to detect a volume of the reaction droplet within the air gap; and
a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to move a replenishing droplet so as to combine the replenishing droplet with the reaction droplet when the detected change in the volume of the reaction droplet falls below a threshold value.