US 12,138,628 B2
Microfluidic systems and methods of use
Rajiv Bharadwaj, Pleasanton, CA (US); Kevin Ness, Pleasanton, CA (US); and Tobias Daniel Wheeler, Alameda, CA (US)
Assigned to 10x Genomics, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed by 10x Genomics, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/397,146.
Application 17/397,146 is a continuation of application No. 16/180,356, filed on Nov. 5, 2018, granted, now 11,084,036, issued on Aug. 10, 2021.
Application 16/180,356 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/032520, filed on May 12, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/335,870, filed on May 13, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0362157 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 1/28 (2006.01); G01N 33/487 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502776 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502761 (2013.01); B01L 3/502784 (2013.01); G01N 1/28 (2013.01); G01N 33/487 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0636 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0652 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0673 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0816 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0851 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0475 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic system, comprising:
a first channel segment fluidly connecting a source of disruptable particles with a droplet forming junction, the first channel segment comprising a constricted region proximal to the droplet forming junction;
a second channel segment in fluid communication with the droplet forming junction and first channel segment, wherein the first channel segment and second channel segment meet at a first intersection upstream of the droplet forming junction and downstream of the constricted region; and
a flow control system for driving the disruptable particles through the constricted region, wherein the constricted region comprises a cross sectional dimension reduced sufficiently to induce disruption of the disruptable particles driven through the constricted region, and for flowing the disrupted particles and a fluid from the second channel segment into the droplet formation junction, whereby for each of the disrupted particles, at least a portion of the disrupted particle and the fluid from the second channel segment are encapsulated into a droplet, wherein the droplet contains at least a portion of only one disrupted particle.