	US 12,134,098 B2
	Microdroplet manipulation method
Tom Isaac, Cambridge (GB); Barnaby Balmforth, Cambridge (GB); Jasmin Conterio, Cambridge (GB); Kerr Francis Johnson, Cambridge (GB); Maciej Sosna, Cambridge (GB); Richard Ingham, Cambridge (GB); and Gareth Podd, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to LIGHTCAST DISCOVERY LTD, Cambridge (GB)
Filed by Lightcast Discovery Ltd, Cambridge (GB)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/972,825.
Application 17/972,825 is a continuation of application No. 17/429,124, granted, now 11,504,715, previously published as PCT/GB2020/050280, filed on Feb. 7, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 19156182 (EP), filed on Feb. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0042115 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/6869 (2018.01)

CPC B01L 3/502784 (2013.01) [C12Q 1/6869 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0673 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0896 (2013.01)]

18 Claims

1. A method of manipulating microdroplets having an average volume in the range from 0.5 femtolitres to 10 nanolitres comprised of at least one of an oligonucleotide or a product and a first aqueous medium having a water activity of a_w1of less than 1 comprising a step of maintaining the microdroplets in a water-immiscible carrier fluid which further includes secondary droplets comprised of a second aqueous medium having an average volume less than 25% of the average volume of the microdroplets up to and including a maximum of 4 femtolitres and wherein the volume ratio of carrier fluid to total volume of microdroplets per unit volume of the total is greater than 2:1.