Patent ID: 8216855

Claim:
A method of processing a biological and/or chemical sample, comprising: providing a fluid droplet, said fluid droplet comprising an inner phase and an outer phase, wherein the outer phase is immiscible with the inner phase, and the outer phase is surrounding the inner phase as a film, and wherein the inner phase comprises said biological and/or chemical sample, and the inner phase is shielded from the environment by the outer phase, and wherein said fluid droplet comprises magnetically attractable matter; providing at least one surface, the surface being of such a texture and such a wettability for the fluid of said inner phase of the fluid droplet, that the fluid droplet remains intact upon being contacted therewith; wherein the fluid of said inner phase of the fluid droplet is a non-polar liquid and said at least one surface is a polar surface, or wherein the inner phase of the fluid droplet is a polar liquid and the outer phase of the fluid droplet is a non-polar liquid; disposing said fluid droplet onto said at least one surface; exposing said fluid droplet to a magnetic or an electromagnetic field, thereby controlling the position of said fluid droplet relative to said at least one surface; and performing a process on the biological and/or chemical sample in said fluid droplet.