Patent ID: 11872559
Assignee: ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  C  G | IPC B  C  G

Claim 15:
16. A method for operating a system according to claim 4 for forming a droplet comprising at least one object, the method including the steps of:
introducing a first and second object into the device through a first and second inlet;
introducing a droplet forming substance into the device through the droplet forming substance inlet;
transporting the first object through first microfluidic tubing or channel and the second object through second microfluidic tubing or channel;
stopping a first object inside the first and microfluidic tubing or channel upstream of the co-encapsulation area or structure using a first object stopping valve connected to the first microfluidic tubing or channel and located upstream of the co-encapsulation area or structure; and stopping a second object upstream of the co-encapsulation area or structure using a second object stopping valve connected to the second microfluidic tubing or channel and located upstream of the co-encapsulation area or structure;
simultaneously displacing both the first object in the first microfluidic tubing or channel and the second object in the second microfluidic tubing or channel to the co-encapsulation point at the same time to encapsulate the first and second object in the same droplet using an ejection valve connected to both the first microfluidic tubing or channel and the second microfluidic tubing or channel, the ejection valve being configured to simultaneous dispense liquid of both the first microfluidic tubing or channel and the second microfluidic tubing or channel to permit the first and second objects to simultaneously move to the co-encapsulation point for encapsulation by the same droplet.