Patent ID: 8821705

Claim:
A digital microfluidics system ( 1 ) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets, within disposable cartridges ( 2 ) that comprise a bottom layer ( 3 ), a top layer ( 4 ), and a gap ( 6 ) between the bottom and top layers ( 3 , 4 ); the digital microfluidics system ( 1 ) comprising: (a) a base unit ( 7 ) with at least one cartridge accommodation site ( 8 ) that is configured for taking up a slidingly inserted disposable cartridge ( 2 ) which is movable in a direction substantially parallel with respect to an electrode array ( 9 ) of the respective cartridge accommodating site ( 8 ); (b) at least one electrode array ( 9 ) being located at said cartridge accommodation site(s) ( 8 ) of the base unit ( 7 ), being supported by a bottom substrate ( 11 ), being substantially extending in a first plane and comprising a number of individual electrodes ( 10 ); (c) at least one cover plate ( 12 ) with a top substrate ( 13 ), the at least one cover plate ( 12 ) being located at said cartridge accommodation site(s) ( 8 ) and being equipped with an electrically conductive material ( 15 ) that extends in a second plane and substantially parallel to the electrode array ( 9 ) of the cartridge accommodation site ( 8 ) the at least one cover plate ( 12 ) is assigned to, the electrically conductive material ( 15 ) of the cover plate ( 12 ) being not connected with a source of a certain electrical potential or grounded; (d) the disposable cartridge ( 2 ) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets, the disposable cartridge ( 2 ) comprising: a bottom layer ( 3 ), a top layer ( 4 ), and a gap ( 6 ) between the bottom and top layers ( 3 , 4 ), wherein the bottom layer ( 3 ) and the top layer ( 4 ) comprise a hydrophobic surface ( 17 ) that is exposed to the gap ( 6 ) of the cartridge ( 2 ), and at least one spacer ( 5 ) that defines the gap ( 6 ) between the bottom and top layers ( 3 , 4 ); and (e) a central control unit ( 14 ) for controlling the selection of the individual electrodes ( 10 ) of said at least one electrode array ( 9 ) and for providing these electrodes ( 10 ) with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within said cartridges ( 2 ) by electrowetting.