US 11,998,917 B2
Microfluidic device and a method of loading fluid therein
Emma Jayne Walton, Oxford (GB); Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Oxford (GB); and Julie Karen Deacon, Oxford (GB)
Assigned to Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited, Uxbridge (GB)
Filed by Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited, Oxford (GB)
Filed on Feb. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/167,228.
Application 17/167,228 is a continuation of application No. 15/759,685, granted, now 10,926,260, previously published as PCT/JP2016/004199, filed on Sep. 14, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 1516430 (GB), filed on Sep. 16, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0178396 A1, Jun. 17, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502792 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502723 (2013.01); B01L 2200/027 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0605 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0642 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0673 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0684 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0809 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0816 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0864 (2013.01); B01L 2300/165 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0406 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0427 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of loading an electro-wetting on dielectric (EWOD) device with an assay fluid comprising:
providing the EWOD device, wherein the EWOD device comprises:
first and second substrates spaced from one another by a spacer and a fluid barrier, the EWOD device further including side walls and the first substrate being an upper substrate and the second substrate being a lower substrate such that the first and second substrates and the side walls define a chamber therebetween; and
a plurality of ports that permit introduction of fluid into the chamber and/or displacement of fluid from the chamber;
the chamber including a vent area containing a venting fluid and an active area for carrying out an assay, and the plurality of ports includes at least one input port, a first vent port located in the vent area, and a second vent port located in the active area; and
the method further comprising:
introducing a filler fluid into the active area of the chamber through one or more of the plurality of ports, filling the active area of the chamber with the filler fluid; and
introducing a volume of the assay fluid into the chamber through the at least one input port, wherein a portion of the venting fluid vents through the first vent port and a portion of the filler fluid is displaced into the second vent port upon entry of the volume of the assay fluid into the chamber.