US 11,833,510 B2
Systems and methods for serial flow emulsion processes
Christopher Michael Perkins, Boulder, CO (US); Matthew Ryan Dunn, Melrose, MA (US); Andrew Carl Larsen, Superior, CO (US); Donna Kelley, Louisville, CO (US); Michael Barich, Longmont, CO (US); Kristopher Holub, Boulder, CO (US); and Pin Kao, Fremont, CA (US)
Assigned to DROPWORKS, INC., Boulder, CO (US)
Filed by Dropworks, Inc., Boulder, CO (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/021,884.
Application 17/021,884 is a continuation of application No. 16/372,290, filed on Apr. 1, 2019, granted, now 11,471,884.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/651,619, filed on Apr. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0106994 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); C12Q 1/686 (2018.01); G01N 15/14 (2006.01); G01N 21/62 (2006.01); B01F 23/41 (2022.01); B01F 25/314 (2022.01); G01N 35/08 (2006.01); B01F 33/302 (2022.01); B01F 101/16 (2022.01)
CPC B01L 3/502715 (2013.01) [B01F 23/41 (2022.01); B01F 25/314 (2022.01); B01L 3/502784 (2013.01); C12Q 1/686 (2013.01); G01N 15/1459 (2013.01); G01N 21/62 (2013.01); B01F 33/3021 (2022.01); B01F 2101/16 (2022.01); B01L 2200/0673 (2013.01); B01L 2300/041 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0654 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0829 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0867 (2013.01); G01N 35/08 (2013.01)] 47 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising a detector for detecting one or more characteristics of single partitions in a flowing series of partitions, wherein the partitions comprise a first fluid and are dispersed in a second fluid, wherein the detector comprises:
(i) a conduit configured to flow the partitions within the conduit in single file, wherein the conduit comprises an interrogation region;
(ii) at least a first excitation source for supplying electromagnetic radiation at a first wavelength or range of wavelengths to excite a first component, if present, within a partition in the interrogation region of the conduit, and
(iii) a first detection element for detecting electromagnetic radiation at a second wavelength or range of wavelengths emitted by the first component, if present, in response to the electromagnetic radiation from the first excitation source, wherein the first detection element comprises a photodiode, silicon photomultiplier (SiPM), avalanche photodiode, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) detector, charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, or photomultiplier tube;
wherein the system further comprises a partitioner fluidly connected to the detector, wherein the partitioner is configured to generate a plurality of partitions of the first fluid in the second fluid, wherein the first fluid is substantially immiscible with the second fluid and the partitioner is electrically grounded.