Disposable Droplet Cartridge with Electrowetting Electrode Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automated systems for processing biological samples, particularly for nucleic acid analysis, are limited by their inability to handle small sample volumes efficiently, require extensive instrumentation, and are not suitable for high-throughput assays due to cross-contamination risks and high production costs, making them unsuitable for forensic and diagnostic applications.
Innovation Solution
A disposable cartridge with a polymer film and an electrode array for manipulating liquid droplets, where the cartridge is designed for single-use with preloaded reagents and a separate, reusable electrode array that can perform multiple assays without sample or reagent contact, allowing for individual manipulation and analysis of multiple droplets simultaneously.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated liquid handling systems are used for processing biological samples, then processing efficiency is improved, but system size and complexity increase, making them unsuitable for portable applications
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate components: a disposable cartridge containing all reagents and sample processing elements, and a reusable electrode array. This segmentation allows the complex automated processing functions to be contained in the cartridge while the instrument remains relatively simple and portable.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is designed as a disposable component that contains all consumable reagents and sample processing elements. After a single use, the entire cartridge is discarded, eliminating the need for complex cleaning and sterilization systems in the instrument, thus reducing system size and complexity.
2Ease of operation
If larger volumes of liquids are processed, then automated liquid handling is improved, but the ability to handle small sample volumes efficiently deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical liquid handling (pumps, syringes) with electrowetting-based droplet manipulation. By applying electrical voltages to electrodes, liquid droplets can be precisely moved, merged, and manipulated in controlled volumes, enabling efficient automation of very small sample volumes (nanoliter to microliter scale).
3Ease of manufacture
If reusable electrode arrays are used, then production cost is reduced, but cross-contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use, while the expensive electrode array is recovered and reused. This approach eliminates cross-contamination risk (since the cartridge never contacts multiple samples) while maintaining cost-effectiveness (since only the inexpensive cartridge is discarded, not the expensive electrodes).
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple assays are performed sequentially on the same device, then versatility is improved, but throughput decreases due to cross-contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple different assay configurations. Each cartridge can be pre-filled with different reagent combinations to perform various assays (PCR, sequencing, genotyping, etc.), and the same reusable electrode array can work with different cartridge types, enabling high-throughput versatile processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient, automated processing of biological samples from small volumes to final analysis, reducing cross-contamination risks and increasing throughput while maintaining cost-effectiveness and precision.
Implementation Method 1
a central control unit for controlling the selection of individual electrodes and for providing them with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~6
Figure 7~8B
AI summary
A cartridge (1) comprises a working film (10) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with an electrode array (20) when the working film (10) of the cartridge (1) is placed on said electrode array (20). The cartridge (1) comprises a body (2,2',2") with a number of wells (5) configured to hold therein reagents (6) or samples (6'); a flexibly deformable top structure (7) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal a top side of the wells (5); a piercable bottom structure (8) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal a bottom side of the wells (5); a working film (10) located below a lower surface (4) of the body (2,2',2"), the working film (10) being impermeable to liquids and comprising a hydrophobic upper surface (11); a peripheral spacer (9,9',9") located below the lower surface (4) of the body (2,2',2") and connecting the working film (10) to the body (2,2',2"); a gap (12) between the lower surface (4) of the body (2,2',2") and the hydrophobic upper surface (11) of the working film (10), the gap (12) being defined by the peripheral spacer (9,9',9"); and a number of piercing elements (13) located below piercable bottom structures (8) and configured to pierce the piercable bottom structures (8) for releasing reagents or samples (6,6') from the wells (5) into the gap (12). Also disclosed is a system (40) with an electrode array (20) onto which the cartridge (1) can be placed.