Abstract:
An article for forming emulsion droplets includes a body having an inlet port, an outlet, and a reservoir configured to receive both an aqueous phase and an organic phase through the inlet port. By applying a force to the contents of the reservoir, an aqueous phase stream and a separate organic phase stream from the reservoir are generated and later combined to form emulsion droplets which are dispensed through the outlet, typically into a receptacle for analysis or further processing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 14/024,145 (Attorney Docket No. 44871-703.201), filed on Sep. 11, 2013, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/700,241 (Attorney Docket No. 44871-703.101), filed Sep. 12, 2012, and of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/734,952 (Attorney Docket No. 44871-703.102), filed Dec. 7, 2012. The entire contents of each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to analytical tools and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for forming emulsion droplets suitable for ude in ePCR and other analytical protocols. 
         [0004]    Emulsions are used in a variety of biological laboratory applications. Chief among them is emulsion Polymerase Chain Reaction (ePCR), which has spurred the development of a number of commercial sample preparation platforms. There are two basic approaches to ePCR emulsion generation: agitate in a shaker or use a microfluidic system. Shaking reagents in a small disposable tube is inexpensive and precludes cross-contamination, but on the down side, the droplets generated are not uniform. Alternatively, microfluidic systems produce highly uniform droplets by passing fluids through microscopic, precision-manufactured pathways that are typically realized in planar layers of material. The major drawback of these systems is that are inherently expensive and do not scale well. 
         [0005]    For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide alternative and improved methods, apparatus, and systems for performing ePCR in scalable and economically efficient platforms. 
         [0006]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0007]    US Patent Publication Nos. 2012/0190032 and 2011/0086780 describe systems for generation small droplet emulsions for performing ePCR and other procedures. See also U.S. Pat. No. 7,985,058 and WO 2012/142192. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention embodiess a technology that combines the benefits of both prior approaches and directly addresses the needs of ePCR sample preparation. The invention provides a precision microfluidic emulsion system that can be produced as an inexpensive disposable device. The preferred embodiment of the invention pairs precise but low-cost tubing and a simple injection-molded part to form a disposable device that is simple to use and produces highly uniform emulsions at a significantly lower cost per sample. 
         [0009]    The present invention provides methods, articles, and systems for forming emulsion droplets from an aqueous phase and an organic phase. While the aqueous phase will typically comprise nucleic acids, such as double-stranded DNA, and the organic phase will comprise an oil which together form emulsion droplets that are suitable for performing ePCR, the present invention will be useful for forming emulsion droplets for any analytical or other purpose. The methods, articles, and systems of the present invention are particularly advantageous as they simplify the procedures used for forming ePCR emulsion droplets and allow for such emulsion droplets to be formed with relatively inexpensive equipment while producing droplets of highly uniform characteristics. 
         [0010]    In a first aspect of the present invention, a method for forming emulsion droplets comprises introducing an aqueous phase and an organic phase into a reservoir. The reservoir may be an open reservoir free from internal barriers or partitions, allowing the aqueous phase and organic phase allowing the aqueous phase and organic phase to come into intimate contact and to eventually separate based on differences in their densities and other physical characteristics. Alternatively, the reservoir may have regions defined by internal barriers, partitions, or the like, which allow each phase to be inserted within the reservoir into the same and/or different regions created by the barriers or partitions. In all cases, the reservoir will include at least one common inlet port through which both phases can be introduced at a common region within the reservoir so that automated pipetting systems need only access a single location within the reservoir. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the two phases can be introduced into different regions within the reservoir but through the common inlet port, albeit with a possible loss of pipetting efficiency. 
         [0011]    After the aqueous phase and the organic phase have been introduced into the reservoir, the phases will be caused to flow as separate streams from the reservoir. A variety of specific fluidic flow paths and components may be provided to effect such separation and flowing of the two phases. After the two streams flow from the reservoir, they are then combined to form the emulsion droplets which may be then be dispensed and collected, typically in a separate receptacle. 
         [0012]    In ePCR and other DNA amplification methods, the organic phase will typically be introduced into the reservoir first followed by the aqueous phase. Flowing of the aqueous phase and the organic phase may be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, the reservoir may be subjected to centrifuging in order to apply a force to the phases to cause them to flow through the fluidic pathways. Alternatively, the aqueous and organic phases may be caused to flow by applying a differential pressure across the reservoir. Typically, the differential pressure will be a positive pressure applied above the phases, e.g. through the common inlet port, within the reservoir. Alternatively or additionally, the differential pressure may be effected by applying a negative pressure at an outlet of the reservoir and the fluidic pathways. 
         [0013]    Recombining the organic phase stream and the aqueous phase stream to form the emulsion droplets may also be effected in a variety of ways. Conveniently, the organic phase may be directed along an axial pathway which exits the reservoir. The aqueous phase which has separately exited the reservoir may then be directed along a lateral pathway that intersects with the axial pathway so that the phases combine to form the emulsion droplets in an efficient manner. In a specific embodiment described in detail below, the methods, the fluidic pathways are configured to achieve a coefficient of variation less than 50%, often less than 30%, and in many instances less than 10%, or better. 
         [0014]    In a second aspect of the present invention, a method for forming emulsion droplets comprises introducing an aqueous phase and an organic phase into a single reservoir. By applying a force to the aqueous phase and the organic phase within the reservoir, a stream of the aqueous phase and a stream of the organic phase may be caused to flow from the reservoir. The separate aqueous phase stream and organic phase stream are then combined to form the emulsion droplets, and the emulsion droplets are dispensed into a receptacle which may be used for performing ePCR or other analyses on the emulsion droplets. 
         [0015]    The aqueous phase and the organic phase are preferably introduced through a common inlet port on the reservoir, and the reservoir typically will have only a single common or other inlet port. The reservoir may be formed as part of a microwell plate having a plurality of individual reservoirs. Alternatively, the reservoir may be formed as a single, independent tubular or other member which consists of only a single reservoir. The methods are particularly useful for performing ePCR protocols, and the force may be applied by either centrifugation or applying a differential pressure as described above. 
         [0016]    In specific embodiments, the organic phase is caused to flow along an axial pathway, and the aqueous phase is caused to flow along a lateral pathway, wherein the two pathways intersect to cause mixing to form the emulsion droplets. Typically, the emulsion droplets continue to flow along the axial pathway until they are dispensed into the receptacle. The droplets so formed may have a coefficient of variation less than 50%, usually less than 30%, often less than 10% or below. 
         [0017]    After the emulsion droplets have been formed and collected in the receptacle, the droplets may be left in the receptacle and subjected to analysis. For example, the emulsion droplets may be thermocycled to perform ePCR or may be subjected to any other nucleic acid amplification procedure that can utilize such emulsions. 
         [0018]    In a still further aspect of the present invention, an article for forming emulsion droplets comprises a body having an inlet port, an outlet and a reservoir configured to receive both an aqueous phase and an organic phase through the inlet port. A means for flowing an aqueous phase stream and a separate organic phase stream from the reservoir is provided, typically including a micro fluidic flow path within the body. Additionally, a means is further provided for combining the separated streams to form the emulsion droplets and dispensing them through the outlet. The means for flowing and the means for combining will typically comprise micro fluidic flow paths within the body, as described in more detail below. 
         [0019]    In a specific embodiment, the means for separating the aqueous phase stream and the organic phase stream may comprise a hydrophobic barrier which allows the flow of the organic phase while redirecting the flow of the aqueous phase. In a specific example, the hydrophobic barrier comprises a conical element, optionally having vertical fins, which diverts the flow of droplets from the aqueous phase to a first fluidic pathway while allowing the flow of the organic phase to a second fluid pathway. Further fluidic pathways are provided in order to direct the organic phase along an axial pathway while introducing the aqueous phase into the flowing organic phase along a lateral pathway. 
         [0020]    The articles may be formed individually in order to be removably replaced into a single receptacle. Alternatively, the articles may be formed as a group or plurality of articles in a configuration allowing their collective use, for example being formed in a micro well plate. In the latter case, the receptacle may be configured to mate with the micro well receptacle plate in order to receive and micro emulsion formed in each of the individual articles into individually isolated collection wells. 
         [0021]    Systems according to the present invention may comprise any of the articles described above combined with a centrifuge configured to apply a centrifugal force to the article(s). The centrifuge will typically comprise a rotor configured to receive one or more receptacles and to apply a radial force along an axis of the receptacle when the rotor is spun. 
         [0022]    In other embodiments, systems may comprise any of the articles described above in combination with a differential pressure generator which may be connected to the inlet port and or outlet port of the reservoir in order to apply a differential pressure to cause flow of the organic phase and the aqueous phase through the fluidic pathways of the articles. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is an isometric, cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a single-reservoir droplet generation system, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is an isometric, cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a single-reservoir droplet generation system, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a view of  FIG. 2  further showing two fluids in a single reservoir. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of various embodiments of the semi-permeable, conical barrier that separates and directs each fluid to a separate fluidic pathway, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is an isometric illustration of various embodiments of the semi-permeable, conical barrier, as in  FIG. 4 , united with various exemplary embodiments of the reservoir, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is an isometric illustration of various examples of how fluids one and two remain separate yet in intimate contact within a given reservoir, yet separated, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of various embodiments of the segmented tube, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional illustration of the intersecting fluidic pathways that is the exemplary means of droplet generation for each embodiment represented in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of each of the various correspondingly numbered embodiments of the segmented tube represented in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 10  is an isometric, cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the article configured for centrifugation, illustrating a reservoir seated within a standard microcentrifuge tube, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged, isometric, cross-sectional view of the semi-permeable, conical barrier illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view illustrating the insert and the removable, receptacle microcentrifuge tube comprising the assembly as in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the article configured for centrifugation illustrating the relative positions of the inert, slotted tube, and receptacle, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 14  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the article as a multiwell plate, in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional, partial view of the embodiment of the article illustrated in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 16  is an isometric illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the article as in  FIG. 14  seated on a typical laboratory vacuum manifold and positioned above a corresponding, receptacle multiwell plate. 
           [0039]      FIG. 17  is an isometric, cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention as in  FIG. 2  illustrating protective films sealing the top of the inlet and the outlet, in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    The present invention comprises a system, apparatus, and methods for generating emulsions for droplet-based assays. The advantages of the present invention over existing methods for generating emulsions include the ability to generate highly uniform emulsions at lower costs and with a lower propensity for errors. Various embodiments of the present invention are designed to be disposable units that fit within the existing footprint of high-throughput systems, such as microcentrifuge tubes and multiwell plates. The present invention offers a means of combining an organic phase and an aqueous phase through a single common inlet, directing each phase to a separate fluidic pathway, recombining the two phases to form emulsion droplets, and exiting the emulsion through an outlet to a receptacle that can be removed, allowing the emulsion to be further processed. 
         [0041]    In ePCR and other DNA amplification methods, the organic phase will typically be introduced into the reservoir first followed by the aqueous phase. Flowing of the aqueous phase and the organic phase may be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, the reservoir may be subjected to centrifuging in order to apply a force to the phases to cause them to flow through the fluidic pathways. Alternatively, the aqueous and organic phases may be caused to flow by applying a differential pressure across the reservoir. Typically, the differential pressure will be a positive pressure applied above the phases, e.g. through the common inlet port, within the reservoir. Alternatively or additionally, the differential pressure may be effected by applying a negative pressure at an outlet of the reservoir and the fluidic pathways. 
         [0042]    Recombining the organic phase stream and the aqueous phase stream to form the emulsion droplets may also be effected in a variety of ways. Conveniently, the organic phase may be directed along an axial pathway which exits the reservoir. The aqueous phase which has separately exited the reservoir may then be directed along a lateral pathway that intersects with the axial pathway so that the phases combine to form the emulsion droplets in an efficient manner. The emulsion droplets are dispensed into a receptacle which may be used for performing ePCR or other analyses on the emulsion droplets. In a specific embodiment described in detail below, the methods, the fluidic pathways are configured to achieve a coefficient of variation less than 50%, often less than 30%, and in many instances less than 10%, or better. 
         [0043]    The requirement to fill only one reservoir radically simplifies the protocols required to generate an emulsion via the present invention as compared to other existing methods. Rather than filling multiple reservoirs with various phases, the article disclosed here requires only a simple ordering of two phases, organic and then aqueous, with lower volumes required of each. The aqueous phase will typically comprise nucleic acids, such as double-stranded DNA, the organic phase will comprise an oil. 
         [0044]    In its preferred embodiments, the article described in the present disclosure, whether incorporated into single test tubes, multiwell plates, or proprietary cartridges, can be injection-molded as part of a single unit. This results in significantly reduced manufacturing costs, thereby enabling a disposable device. 
       I. Definitions 
       [0045]    Inlet: An opening in the device, such as the open top of a container, that accepts reagents. 
         [0046]    Reservoir: A bulk fluid retention area; the internal space of a container. 
         [0047]    Semi-permeable barrier: A structure that directs uses their innate physiochemical properties to separate fluid one and fluid two into distinct fluidic pathways. 
         [0048]    Slotted tube: A tubular structure or pipe with an outer diameter of not more than 1 mm and an inner diameter of not more than  1  micrometer that is pierced by a lateral hole. The lateral hole runs perpendicular to the tube central axis and is dimensioned such that it fully bisects the inner diameter but not the outer diameter of the tube; the lateral hole is flanked on two sides by material that provides structural support to keep the tube segments from separating. 
         [0049]    Lateral hole: A window shaped through-hole in a Slotted tube. 
         [0050]    Pierced tube upper: The portion of a Slotted tube that is upstream of the Lateral hole. 
         [0051]    Pierced tube lower: The portion of the Slotted tube that is downstream of the Lateral hole. 
         [0052]    Tube fixture point: The point at which the outer diameter of the tube is physically attached to the device substrate. 
         [0053]    Outlet: An opening in the device where fluids emerge, for example, as an emulsion of a first fluid and a second fluid. 
         [0054]    Centrifuge tube: A tube designed for use with fluids in a centrifuge. As an example, microcentrifuge tubes are typically disposable, polymeric, capped tubes with an internal volume of 2 milliliters that are shaped to fit into standard centrifuge rotors. 
         [0055]    Multiwell plate: A device comprised of a multitude of individual chambers that is broadly conforming to the specification ANSUSLAS 2-2004 (formerly recognized as ANSI/SBS 2-2004). Interchangeable with microplate and microwell plate. 
         [0056]    Cartridge: A polymeric device containing at least one complement of all of the elements comprising single-reservoir emulsion generation system or more slotted tubes. 
       II. System Architecture 
       [0057]    The present invention defines an article composed of 1) a single reservoir (also the inlet) to contain two fluids, an aqueous phase and an organic phase, 2) a semi-permeable barrier that enables two fluidic pathways from the single reservoir, 3) a slotted tube that recombines the two phases to create an emulsion, and 4) an outlet to a separate, removable receptacle. The article as described in this disclosure may be contained within a number of different devices, including an insert to a standard test tube, a multiwell plate, or a proprietary cartridge. This disclosure discusses the various aspects and embodiments of the article and its preferred embodiments. 
         [0058]    To generate an emulsion suitable for performing ePCR or other assays typically requires the combination of two fluids, one aqueous and the other organic. Existing systems generally have separate reservoirs for each fluid and microfluidic pathways that cause the two fluids to combine at some further point in the system. The present invention utilizes a single reservoir  110  with a single inlet  101  and a single outlet  102 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The organic phase is first added through inlet  101  to fill reservoir  110 , then the aqueous phase is added through inlet. 
         [0059]    A semi-permeable barrier  103  comprises the lower portion of the reservoir. Its upper surface allows the organic fluid to pass through it, while retaining the aqueous fluid at its upper conical surface  104 . A slotted tube  105  is attached to the tube base  106  at the bottom  107  of the reservoir and extends upward from the outlet to the upper surface of the barrier. The inner diameter  108  of the tube is open to the upper surface of the barrier while the slot  109  is positioned such that it is only accessible to the fluid below the barrier. The end of the tube forms the outlet of the article. 
         [0060]      FIG. 2  illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention where the semi-permeable barrier  201  and slotted tube mount  202  are integral to the reservoir  203 . Advantageously, this design can be realized in a single piece using standard thermoplastic injection molding processes. The features comprising this architecture may be fully drafted, with the funnel features, reservoir structure, and tube mounting being formed from a single mold without side action. Even more advantageously, this architecture may also be produced as a collection of systems (e.g., as a multiwell plate) using a standard single-shot injection molding process. 
         [0061]    In this preferred embodiment, an array of narrow channels  204  extend upward (in the Z axis) from the lower surface of the reservoir  205  as a closely packed collection of columnar features that together comprise a funnel-shaped upper surface. 
         [0062]      FIG. 3  illustrates the separation function provided by the semi-permeable barrier. The relative positions of the two fluids in the device are depicted. The spherical partition  301  rests at the center of the semi-permeable barrier  302  and the organic phase  303  occupies all internal spaces of the reservoir and including the internal spaces defined by the barrier, including radial channels  304  and up to the upper fluid surface  305 . 
         [0063]    Despite the two phases comingling in a single reservoir, aqueous partitions are retained above the surface of the barrier by a combination of forces. First, gravity acts to draw the heavier aqueous fluid downward toward the barrier surface. Second, the physiochemical properties of the organic fluid in combination with the aqueous phase ensures that the aqueous reagent forms spherically shaped partitions due to surface tension where it is in contact with the organic phase. Moreover, those partitions resist breakup; larger sized partitions represent the lower energy state, and thus aqueous partitions will not tend to dissociate during operation of the device. Third, the narrow channels radiating from the center of the funnel-shaped barrier are too narrow to allow aqueous partitions to enter. 
         [0064]      FIG. 3  illustrates how the limited width of the channels, the hydrophobic nature of the organics, and the unique geometries of the barrier ensure that each partition comprising the aqueous phase experiences the semi-permeable barrier as a contiguous, sloped surface to assure that each phase follows a separate fluidic pathway; aqueous partitions  301  displace organic fluid as they ultimately come to rest at the top of the slotted tube  302 . In this way, each fluid has access to a unique fluid pathway as they flow toward the outlet  306 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary collection of selective barrier designs in accordance with the invention and  FIG. 5  shows them in situ paired with a complementary reservoir. Each of the examples provided offers a means for selectively separating the organic and aqueous reagents into two distinct flow paths. In general, organic fluid above the aqueous partition in the reservoir must pass down and around the aqueous partition. For simplicity of illustrating the point, consider that in every case there is a vertical and horizontal component to the flow, and each of the designs provided has a radial and uniform pattern with aqueous fluid directed toward an axial pathway at its center. This collection of barrier designs is not exhaustive and a multitude of useful variations in the themes outlined here are possible and are all aspects of the present invention. 
         [0066]    Given that the aqueous component is retained at the center of the semi-permeable surface, variation in the design is primarily about the flow paths of the organic fluid. In examples  401  and  402 , and their corresponding reservoirs  501  and  502 , organic fluid flows down from the reservoir along vertical channels positioned at the edge of the reservoir, and then horizontally under the barrier in a lateral pathway to access the slot. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, example  403  and corresponding reservoir  503  illustrate a pattern of vertical shafts that provide for fluid communication between the top surface of the barrier down through the structure of the barrier to a volume that is open to the slot. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention,  404  and  504 , channels in the upper fluidic path allow for both the vertical and horizontal components of the flow to occur below the aqueous partition(s) without penetrating the selective barrier. 
         [0067]    Fluids within the device are moved by pressure differentials. Motive forces can be generated by a differential gas pressure, direct force, or centrifugation. Such forces can be achieved by employing compressed gases or a vacuum pump, a piston, or a centrifuge. Some embodiments of the invention are more disposed to a particular device format. For example, in some instances it may be practical or convenient to incorporate the system into a cartridge. In other cases, it may be more advantageous to deploy the disclosed invention as a multiwell plate or centrifuge tube insert, discussed further below. 
         [0068]      FIG. 6  illustrates the behavior of multiple aqueous partitions within the reservoir in different possible scenarios  601 ,  602 , and  603 . In each case, the physiochemical properties of the two fluid phases as well as the design characteristics of the reservoir and the semi-permeable barrier ensure that the aqueous partitions maintain their integrity and flow through the desired fluidic pathway, regardless of the number or shape of the aqueous partitions. 
         [0069]      FIG. 7  illustrates various embodiments of the slotted tube  701 - 704 , each of which is characterized by a complete bisection of the inner diameter  705 ,  801  of the tube and wide access for the fluidic path from the bottom of the reservoir, through the slot or cut  706 ,  802 , and into the flow through the inner diameter of the tube to exit through the outlet  707 ,  803 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0070]    Embodiment 901 in  FIG. 9  shows a window through-cut, a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present invention. Embodiment 902 shows a partial through-cut. Embodiment 903 shows a complete bisection, the least preferred embodiment as it requires both sections of the slotted tube to be anchored separately. Embodiment 904, another preferred embodiment, illustrates a multi-channel tube capable of generating multiple droplets in parallel connected by a central shaft.  FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of the embodiments presented in  FIG. 7 , illustrating the retained material that anchors (or not) the upper  708  and lower  709  sections of the slotted tube. 
         [0071]    In accordance with the invention,  FIGS. 10 through 13  illustrate a centrifugally operated device.  FIG. 10  depicts the device as an insert  1001  seated in a receptacle tube  1002 .  FIG. 11  is a more detailed view of the semi-permeable barrier  1101  with a flow pattern as described in the first example in  FIG. 4 . To use the device, organic fluid is added first, followed by aqueous fluid, prior to rotation in a swinging arm or a 45-degree fixed rotor centrifuge. After centrifugation, the insert  1201  can be removed from the receptacle tube  1202 , as in  FIG. 12 , so that the resultant sample can be further processed, e.g. amplified using thermocycling or another process. An exploded view comprising the reservoir  1301  and integral semi-permeable barrier structure (not shown); tube  1302  and receptacle  1303  comprising this exemplary embodiment of the invention are illustrated in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0072]    In a further embodiment, the invention can be incorporated within a multiwell plate, as shown in  FIG. 14 . In this embodiment, each well  1401  on the plate is a separate instance of the invention.  FIG. 15  provides a partial view in cross-section of a well with the semi-permeable barrier  1501  and slotted tube  1502  in situ along line  1402 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 16  further elaborates on the embodiment of the invention as in  FIG. 14 , illustrating the embodiment of the invention in multiwell plate format  1601  with a vacuum manifold  1602  and standard multiwell plate receptacle  1603 . Application of differential pressure via the vacuum manifold via connector  1604  provides the motive force to generate the emulsion. Once the emulsion has been generated, the multiwell plate receptacle can be removed from the article described so that the resultant sample can be further processed, e.g. amplified using thermocycling or another process. 
         [0074]    An important element of producing uniform emulsions from small fluid volumes for the purposes of ePCR or other assays is ensuring the apparatus or device used to generate the emulsion remains free from particulates or other contaminates. The present invention foresees the ability, in any embodiment, to apply a pierced or removable film over the inlet  1701 , outlet  1702 , or both, as shown in  FIG. 17 . The advantages of film applied in either or both locations are that contaminants cannot be introduced accidentally and that embodiments of the invention can be pre-loaded with a first fluid prior to use.