Opinion ID: 208605
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Schembri's Disclosure of Fluid Mixing

Text: Agilent's Schembri patent discloses a method of conducting a hybridization reaction in a closed chamber. The method forms a bubble in the fluid, and then moves the bubble to cause mixing. According to the Schembri specification, conventional mixing methods (rapidly shaking or rocking fluid in a container) do not adequately mix (or test) assays with small fluid samples. In these situations, where the fluid forms a mere film with a thickness of a few microns, the capillary strength of the fluid often exceeds the forces generated by shaking or rocking. In that case, incomplete mixing compromises the rate, extent, and percentage yield of the hybridization reaction. Schembri claims a new method of mixing fluid via nucleation of bubbles within the film of liquid. Figure 1, above, shows an apparatus with a closed chamber sandwiched between a first substrate 10 and second substrate 11. As seen in the cross-sectional view of Figure 4, DNA probes are attached to the inner surface 12 of substrate 10. The second substrate 11 forms a closed reaction chamber due to the seal 15 between the surfaces. The testor then introduces a fluid sample with DNA targets into the closed chamber 16. The invention then forms a bubble that moves in response to heat resistors 13 inside the chamber. A controller creates this temperature gradient by systemically switching on and off. These temperature changes cause the bubble to move and mix the fluid sample in the closed chamber.