Patent ID: 8852952
Filing Date: 2014-10-07
Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of loading a droplet actuator, the method comprising: (a) providing a droplet actuator loading circuit comprising a primary fluid circuit arranged to flow fluid through a fluid path comprising a droplet operations gap of a droplet actuator and an external fluid circuit; (b) filling the loading circuit, including the droplet operations gap, with a liquid filler fluid and thereby purging the loading circuit of air, whereby all liquid lines of the primary fluid circuit and the external fluid circuit are filled with the liquid filler fluid and are substantially free of air bubbles; (c) flowing a reagent liquid into the external fluid circuit to form droplets in the liquid filler fluid contained therein using valves configured in the primary fluid circuit and/or the reagent fluid path to switch between: (d) flowing contents of the external fluid circuit into the droplet operations gap of the droplet actuator.