US 12,270,815 B2
Systems and methods for generating droplets and performing digital analyses
Hei Mun Christina Fan, Palo Alto, CA (US); Janice Hoiyi Lai, Mountain View, CA (US); Sixing Li, Mountain View, CA (US); Stephen P. A. Fodor, Palo Alto, CA (US); and Eleen Yee Lam Shum, San Carlos, CA (US)
Assigned to Countable Labs, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by ENUMERIX, INC., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 14, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/948,248.
Application 18/948,248 is a continuation of application No. 18/646,572, filed on Apr. 25, 2024.
Application 18/646,572 is a continuation of application No. 17/711,417, filed on Apr. 1, 2022, granted, now 12,000,842, issued on Jun. 4, 2024.
Application 17/711,417 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/018994, filed on Mar. 4, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/157,292, filed on Mar. 5, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2025/0076315 A1, Mar. 6, 2025
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 33/68 (2006.01); C12Q 1/6844 (2018.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/689 (2013.01) [C12Q 1/6844 (2013.01); G01N 21/645 (2013.01); G01N 21/6486 (2013.01); G01N 2021/6482 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
(a) providing a device, wherein said device comprises:
(i) a reservoir comprising sample fluid, wherein said sample fluid comprises a plurality of nucleic acid molecules, wherein said plurality of nucleic acid molecules comprise a plurality of target nucleic acid molecules;
(ii) a collecting container comprising a continuous phase; and
(iii) a membrane comprising a plurality of holes, wherein said membrane is in fluid communication with said collecting container; and
(b) subjecting said sample fluid to flow through said plurality of holes of said membrane to generate a plurality of droplets within said continuous phase of said collecting container at a rate of at least 500,000 droplets per minute,
wherein a droplet of said plurality of droplets comprises a target nucleic acid molecule of said plurality of target nucleic acid molecules, wherein each droplet of the plurality of droplets is surrounded by an immiscible film, and wherein the plurality of droplets is in a continuous phase immiscible with the immiscible film.