Patent ID: 8728291
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: B01F,B01L,C12M,C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A digital microfluidic device for conducting one or both of cell assays and cell culture, comprising: a first substrate having a first substrate surface; an array of actuating electrodes formed on the first substrate surface; at least one dielectric layer formed on the first substrate surface covering each actuating electrode such that the actuating electrodes are electrically insulated from one another; and at least one reference electrode, wherein each actuating electrode is proximal to at least one of the reference electrodes; an electrode controller capable of selectively exciting or de-exciting actuating electrodes for translating liquid droplets across a surface of the dielectric layer; and a computer controller interfaced to said electrode controller and being programmed to translate droplets of the suspension of cells and droplets of one or more cell assay reagents or cell culture reagents over said array of actuating electrodes for mixing and optionally splitting said droplets in selected positions on said array of actuating electrodes to form one or more secondary droplets in a selected order defined by a selected cell assay protocol or cell culture protocol for which said computer controller is programmed.