Patent ID: 8658111

Claim:
A droplet actuator comprising: (a) two substrates separated to form a droplet operations gap, one or both of the substrates comprising electrodes arranged to conduct electrowetting droplet operations, the electrodes underlying a hydrophobic coating; (b) multiple oil zones in the gap, each such oil zone comprising an oil filler fluid having a formulation which is different oil filler fluid formulations of other oil zones, at least one such oil zone comprising a fluorinated oil based filler fluid comprising a fluorinated oil soluble additive in the filler fluid, and wherein the electrodes are arranged to conduct electrowetting mediated droplet operations transporting droplets from one oil zone to another oil zone; and (c) a droplet in contact with the oil filler fluid of at least one of the multiple oil zones, wherein the droplet is subject to electrowetting droplet operations mediated by the electrodes, including electrowetting mediated droplet operations transporting the droplet from one oil zone to another oil zone.