US 12,390,813 B2
Microfluidics system, device, and methods for performing rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols
Vijay Srinivasan, Durham, NC (US); Vamsee Pamula, Durham, NC (US); Daniel Wu, Durham, NC (US); Rainer Ng, Durham, NC (US); Richard Gell, Durham, NC (US); Jennifer Elderbroom, Durham, NC (US); and Abigail Jackson, Durham, NC (US)
Assigned to Baebies, Inc., Durham, NC (US)
Filed by Baebies, Inc., Durham, NC (US)
Filed on Sep. 6, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/827,295.
Application 18/827,295 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2023/083048, filed on Dec. 8, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/386,619, filed on Dec. 8, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0424498 A1, Dec. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. C12Q 1/68 (2018.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 7/525 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502792 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0647 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0645 (2013.01); B01L 2300/161 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1805 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0427 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of thermal cycling a droplet comprising:
(a) providing a device comprising an array of electrodes wherein the array comprises first and second electrodes within a dielectric layer, and wherein:
(i) the first and second electrodes are separated by a gap, the gap comprising a space between the electrodes, the space being about 50 μM to about 200 μM, and the gap being a portion of the dielectric layer; and
(ii) the gap dielectric layer portion is configured to have a different thermal conductivity relative to the first and second electrodes;
(b) establishing a first temperature at the first electrode and a second temperature at the second electrode, and a thermal zone between the first electrode and the second electrode, the thermal zone comprising a temperature gradient;
(c) using one or more droplet operations mediated by the first and second electrodes to cycle a droplet between the first temperature and the second temperature.