US 11,951,482 B2
Cartridge and electrowetting sample processing system with delivery zone
Patrick Kinney, Hayward, CA (US); Tiffany Ding (Lay), San Jose, CA (US); Manjeet Dhindsa, San Jose, CA (US); Daniel Tran, San Jose, CA (US); Jennifer Ji, Fremont, CA (US); Sujata Iyer, San Jose, CA (US); and Tin Ngo, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to TECAN TRADING AG, Mannedorf (CH)
Filed by TECAN TRADING AG, Mannedorf (CH)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/559,362.
Application 17/559,362 is a division of application No. 15/962,892, filed on Apr. 25, 2018, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2022/0111388 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502792 (2013.01) [B01L 2400/0427 (2013.01)] 44 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a cartridge in an electrowetting sample processing system, the cartridge comprising, a liquid input port, an internal gap with at least one hydrophobic surface, at least two processing zones for processing samples located in the at least two processing zones and a delivery zone for delivering multiple droplets from the liquid input port to the at least two processing zones, wherein the method comprises:
introducing an input liquid into the internal gap of the cartridge, the input liquid providing for at least one droplet, directly or via a liquid separation process within the internal gap;
providing a repeating pattern of interacting electrowetting force for simultaneously and only unidirectionally transporting multiple droplets within the delivery zone;
delivering the at least one droplet from the liquid input port to one of the at least two processing zones.