US 12,269,031 B2
Device and method for accelerated material extraction and detection
David J. Beebe, Monona, WI (US); Duane S. Juang, Madison, WI (US); Terry D. Juang, Madison, WI (US); Thomas C. Friedrich, Madison, WI (US); and David H. O'Connor, Madison, WI (US)
Assigned to Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US)
Filed by Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US)
Filed on Jun. 5, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/894,273.
Prior Publication US 2021/0379587 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 35/10 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [B01L 3/5021 (2013.01); B01L 3/523 (2013.01); G01N 35/1072 (2013.01); B01L 2200/028 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0631 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0647 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00277 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for detecting a target in a biological sample, the target binding to a solid phase substrate, comprising the steps:
providing a plate having a first and second cavities in fluid communication with each other, are defined by corresponding hydrophobic surfaces, and are interconnected by a channel;
providing first and second sidewalls defining first and second passages in communication with the first and second cavities, respectively;
filling the first and second cavities with an oil;
depositing a drop of the biological sample with the solid phase substrate into the oil in the first cavity with a first pipetting mechanism inserted into the first passage, the drop of the biological sample being immiscible with the oil in the first cavity and being moveable within the oil in the first cavity;
depositing a drop of a reaction solution into the oil in the second cavity with a second pipetting mechanism inserted into the second passage, the drop of the reaction solution being immiscible with the oil in the second cavity and being moveable within the oil in the second cavity;
magnetically drawing the solid phase substrate in the drop of the biological sample from the drop of the biological solution, through the oil in the first cavity, through the oil in the second cavity, and into the drop of the reaction solution in the second cavity; and
detecting the target in the drop of the reaction solution;
wherein:
one of the hydrophobic surfaces defining the first cavity is a bottom surface;
one of the hydrophobic surfaces defining the second cavity is a bottom surface;
the first sidewall has a configuration which prevents the first pipetting mechanism from engaging the bottom surface of the first cavity and depositing the drop of the biological sample with the solid phase substrate into the channel; and
the second sidewall has a configuration which prevents the second pipetting mechanism from engaging the bottom surface of the second cavity and depositing the drop of the reaction fluid into the channel.