Patent ID: 8617899

Claim:
A method of mixing and merging a first drop of fluid and a second drop of fluid comprising: providing a nanocalorimeter device having a surface including at least a first location for supporting the first drop and a second location for supporting the second drop, placing a coated magnetic material at the first location on the surface, wherein the coating prevents reaction of the magnetic material with constituents of the first drop of fluid and constituents of the second drop of fluid; placing the first drop of fluid at the first location on the surface, resulting in the coated magnetic material being at least partially within the first drop of fluid; placing the second drop of fluid at the second location on the surface; initiating a drop merging operation by a drop merging mechanism of the nanocalorimeter device such that at least one of the first drop of fluid or the second drop of fluid are moved toward the other drop of fluid creating a merged drop including the coated magnetic material; and applying a varying magnetic field to at least a portion of the surface including at least the merged drop, the varying magnetic field acting on the coated magnetic material to move the coated magnetic material within the merged drop, causing an internal stirring of the fluid in the merged drop, wherein the application of the varying magnetic field to the coated magnetic material in the merged drop generates a kinetic reaction of the constituents of the first and second drops producing a temperature rise in the micro-Kelvin range that is detectable by the nanocalorimeter, and that is at least five times greater than a signal generated by drop merger in the absence of the varying magnetic field.