Patent ID: 7616737

Claim:
A device ( 100 ; 200 ; 300 ; 400 ) comprising a sealed cavity ( 210 ) containing n volumes of fluids ( 80 , 87 ; 200 , 230 ; 320 , 330 , 332 ; 420 , 422 , 430 , 432 ), where n is an integer and n□2, each volume of fluid being substantially immiscible with every contiguous volume of fluid, the cavity ( 210 ) being defined by an interior surface divided into n continuous areas ( 60 , 170 ; 260 , 270 ; 360 , 362 , 370 ; 460 , 462 , 470 , 472 ), each continuous area corresponding to and being in contact with a respective one of the volumes of fluid, the wettability of each area being such that each volume of fluid preferentially adheres to the corresponding continuous area rather than any one of the continuous areas adjacent to the corresponding area.