Patent ID: 8882982

Claim:
A biological sample processing system ( 1 ) comprising: a container ( 2 ) for large volume processing having a top side ( 3 ) and a base side ( 4 ) and comprising at least one well ( 6 ) open at the top side ( 3 ) for positioning a biological sample ( 9 ) and/or a reaction reagent ( 10 ) therein, wherein the at least one well ( 6 ) comprises a bottom side ( 8 ) having at least one opening ( 11 ), the container ( 2 ) further comprising a channel ( 12 ) connecting the opening of the well ( 11 ) with an orifice ( 13 ) on the base side ( 4 ) of the container ( 2 ), and wherein the base side ( 4 ) of the container ( 2 ) comprises protrusions ( 5 ) distributed thereon; a flat polymer film ( 14 ) having a lower surface ( 15 ) and a hydrophobic upper surface ( 16 ), which is kept at a distance d to the base side ( 4 ) of the container ( 2 ) by the protrusions ( 5 ), the distance d defining at least one gap ( 17 ) when the container ( 2 ) is positioned on the film ( 14 ), abutting the latter with its protrusions ( 5 ); and a liquid droplet manipulation instrument ( 20 ) comprising: at least one electrode array ( 21 ) for inducing liquid droplet movements; a substrate ( 22 ) supporting the at least one electrode array ( 21 ); and a control unit ( 23 ) comprising at least one electrode selector ( 34 ) connected with at least one voltage control ( 29 ), the at least one electrode selector ( 34 ) being accomplished to individually select each electrode ( 35 ) of the at least one electrode array ( 21 ) and provide the selected electrode ( 35 ) with a voltage controlled by a voltage control ( 29 ); wherein the container ( 2 ) and the film ( 14 ) are reversibly attached to the liquid droplet manipulation instrument ( 20 ), the lower surface ( 15 ) of the flat polymer film ( 14 ) thus abutting the at least one electrode array ( 21 ), the system ( 1 ) enabling displacement of at least one liquid droplet ( 19 ) from the at least one well ( 6 ) through the channel ( 12 ) of the container ( 2 ) onto the hydrophobic upper surface ( 16 ) of the flat polymer film ( 14 ) and above the at least one electrode array ( 21 ); and wherein the liquid droplet manipulation instrument ( 20 ) is accomplished to control a guided movement of said liquid droplet ( 19 ) on the hydrophobic upper surface ( 16 ) of the flat polymer film ( 14 ) by electrowetting and to process there the biological sample ( 9 ).