Patent ID: 8470153

Claim:
A cartridge ( 1 ) with a working film ( 10 ) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with an electrode array ( 20 ) when the working film ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 1 ) is placed on said electrode array ( 20 ), wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) comprises: a) a body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) that comprises an upper surface ( 3 ), a lower surface ( 4 ), and a number of wells ( 5 ) configured to hold therein reagents ( 6 ) or samples ( 6 ′); b) a flexibly deformable top structure ( 7 ) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal a top side of the wells ( 5 ); c) a piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal a bottom side of the wells ( 5 ); d) a working film ( 10 ) located below the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″), the working film ( 10 ) being impermeable to liquids and comprising a hydrophobic upper surface ( 11 ); e) a peripheral spacer ( 9 , 9 ′, 9 ″) located below the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) and connecting the working film ( 10 ) to the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″); f) a gap ( 12 ) between the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) and the hydrophobic upper surface ( 11 ) of the working film ( 10 ), the gap ( 12 ) being defined by the peripheral spacer ( 9 , 9 ′, 9 ″); and g) a number of piercing elements ( 13 ) located below piercable bottom structures ( 8 ) and configured to pierce the piercable bottom structures ( 8 ) for releasing reagents or samples ( 6 , 6 ′) from the wells ( 5 ) into the gap ( 12 ).