US 12,461,096 B2
Manipulation of sample droplets with an electrode system
Zachary Apte, San Francisco, CA (US); Nathan Saichek, San Francisco, CA (US); and Jessica Richman, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to Psomagen, Inc., Rockville, MD (US)
Filed by PSOMAGEN, INC., Rockville, MD (US)
Filed on Feb. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/181,127.
Application 17/181,127 is a division of application No. 15/228,890, filed on Aug. 4, 2016, granted, now 10,955,411.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/201,001, filed on Aug. 4, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/212,998, filed on Sep. 1, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2021/0172939 A1, Jun. 10, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 33/543 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01F 33/302 (2022.01); G01N 27/74 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/5438 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502792 (2013.01); G01N 33/54326 (2013.01); B01F 33/302 (2022.01); B01L 3/502707 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0668 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0673 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0864 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0867 (2013.01); B01L 2300/1827 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0427 (2013.01); B01L 2400/043 (2013.01); G01N 27/745 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for processing a set of sample droplets, the method including:
transmitting a sample droplet of a set of sample droplets from a sample reservoir into a region between a first layer and a second layer of a magnetic separation unit, wherein the first layer is coupled to an electrode array network with a non-conductive material layer, the electrode array network being configured to modulate voltage states at each electrode of the electrode array network to provide a pattern of controlled electric fields for manipulation of the set of sample droplets, the first layer being composed of a flexible hydrophobic material and the second layer being a rigid layer opposite the first layer and displaced from the first layer;
upon activation of a first subset of electrodes of the electrode array network, generating a first stage droplet upon combining the sample droplet with a binding droplet including a set of magnetic particles for binding with targets of the sample droplet;
upon activation of a second subset of electrodes of the electrode array network, transmitting the first stage droplet to a magnetic region between the first layer and the second layer of the magnetic separation unit;
retaining a target portion of the first stage droplet within the magnetic region while transmitting a non-target portion of the first stage droplet to an outlet of the magnetic separation unit, upon activation of a third subset of electrodes of the electrode array network;
upon activation of a fourth subset of electrodes of the electrode array network, generating a second stage droplet upon combining the target portion with an elution droplet for elution of targets from the set of magnetic particles; and
upon activation of a fifth subset of electrodes of the electrode array network, transmitting the target portion of the second stage droplet toward an outlet of the magnetic separation unit.