US 12,350,670 B2
Droplet manipulation device and method
Alexander Dunning, Cambridge (GB); and Andreas Michael Waeber, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTD., Cambridge (GB)
Appl. No. 17/056,150
Filed by LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTD., Cambridge (GB)
PCT Filed May 17, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/062791
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 17, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/219905, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18173365 (EP), filed on May 18, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0213453 A1, Jul. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502784 (2013.01) [B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0663 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0816 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0424 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0427 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
 
1. A microfluidic device for manipulating microdroplets simultaneously comprising (a) a microfluidic space defined at least in part by an arrangement of opposed first and second containing composite walls, wherein
the first composite wall comprised of:
a first substrate
a first conductor layer on the substrate;
a photoactive layer activated by electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength range 400-1000 nm on the conductor layer;
a first dielectric layer on the photoactive layer;
a second composite wall comprised of:
a second substrate;
a second conductor layer on the substrate;
optionally a second dielectric layer on the conductor layer;
an A/C source to provide a voltage across the first and second composite walls connecting the first and second conductor layers;
at least one source of electromagnetic radiation having an energy higher than the bandgap of the photoexcitable layer adapted to impinge on the photoactive layer to induce corresponding transient optoelectrowetting electrode locations on the surface of the first dielectric layer; and
a microprocessor for manipulating the points of impingement of the electromagnetic radiation on the photoactive layer so as to vary the disposition of the transient optoelectrowetting electrode locations thereby creating at least one electrowetting pathway along which the microdroplets may be caused to move; and
(b) disposed on or within at least one of the containing composite walls, transient optoelectrowetting electrode locations arranged in a pathway, wherein at least one direction substantially parallel to that of the pathway a region of the microfluidic spaces continuously varies or may be caused to continuously vary in depth by an applied force.