US 12,115,532 B2
Cartridge, electrowetting sample processing system and bead manipulation method
Patrick Kinney, Hayward, CA (US); Sujata Iyer, San Jose, CA (US); Tin Ngo, San Jose, CA (US); Jennifer Ji, Fremont, CA (US); Marta Matvienko, Davis, CA (US); and Tiffany Ding (Lay), San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to TECAN TRADING AG, Mannedorf (CH)
Filed by TECAN TRADING AG, Mannedorf (CH)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/138,911.
Application 18/138,911 is a division of application No. 15/975,283, filed on May 9, 2018, granted, now 11,666,914.
Prior Publication US 2023/0256444 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502761 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502792 (2013.01); B01L 2300/123 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0427 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A disposable cartridge for use in an electrowetting sample processing system, the cartridge comprising an internal gap with at least one hydrophobic surface for enabling an electrowetting induced movement of a microfluidic droplet that comprises magnetic beads and further comprising a bead accumulation zone, into which the microfluidic droplet is transferable by electrowetting force and in which the magnetic beads are exposable to a magnetic force of a bead manipulation magnet,
wherein the internal gap comprises a bead extraction opening adjacent to the bead accumulation zone, wherein the bead extraction opening provides a passage from the gap to an exterior space of the cartridge and is configured to removably receive the bead manipulation magnet for enabling an extraction of the magnetic beads from the microfluidic droplet by a removal of the bead manipulation magnet.