Sample processing droplet actuator, system and method

Abstract

Sample processing droplet actuators, systems and methods are provided. According to one embodiment, a stamping device including a droplet microactuator is provided and includes: (a) a first plate including a path or network of control electrodes for transporting droplets on a surface thereof; (b) a second plate mounted in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the first plate providing an interior volume between the plates, the second plate including one or more stamping ports for transporting some portion or all of a droplet from the interior volume to an exterior location; (c) a port for introducing fluid into the interior volume between the plates; and (d) a path or network of reference electrodes corresponding to the path or network of control electrodes. Associated systems and methods including the stamping device are also provided.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A cartridge comprising:
 (a) a substrate comprising:
 (i) one or more input ports for introduction of one or more reagents and/or samples; 
 (ii) a regular array of processing wells; 
 (iii) a network of droplet transport pathways comprising pathways that provide direct or indirect droplet transport from each of the input ports to each of the one or more processing wells; and 
 (iv) one or more storage wells interconnected with the network of droplet transport pathways. 
   (b) a top plate mounted parallel to the substrate thereby creating a sealable interior volume between the substrate and the top plate; and   (c) one or more ports for inputting a substance into one or more of the wells;   and   
     
     
         25 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the regular array of processing wells of the substrate comprises microliter-volume or nanoliter-volume wells. 
     
     
         26 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises 384 processing wells in a 16 by 24 format having a well-to-well pitch of 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         27 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises 1,536 processing wells in a 32 by 48 format having a well-to-well pitch of 2.25 mm. 
     
     
         28 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises 6,144 processing wells in a 96 by 64 format having a well-to-well pitch of 1.125 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises 24,576 processing wells in a 192 by 128 format having a well-to-well pitch of 0.5625 mm. 
     
     
         30 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises 98,304 processing wells in a 384 by 256 format having a well-to-well pitch of 0.28125 mm. 
     
     
         31 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises 393,216 processing wells in a 768 by 512 format having a well-to-well pitch of 0.140625 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the substrate comprises 1,572,864 processing wells in a 1536 by 1024 format having a well-to-well pitch of 0.0703125 mm. 
     
     
         33 . The cartridge of  claim 24  wherein the regular array of processing wells of the substrate comprises high volume storage processing wells and low volume processing wells. 
     
     
         34 . A system comprising the cartridge of  claim 24  programmed to automatically extract droplets from the one or more storage wells and transport them to the processing wells to generate an array of screening conditions. 
     
     
         35 . The cartridge of  claim 24  further comprising a means for effecting a localized magnetic field. 
     
     
         36 . The cartridge of  claim 35  wherein the means for effecting the localized magnetic field is arranged to attract magnetic particles in a droplet on the cartridge during a splitting operation on the droplet such that upon completion of the splitting operation, at least about 99% of the magnetic particles remain in one droplet. 
     
     
         37 . The cartridge of  claim 36  wherein at least about 99.5% of the magnetic particles remain in one droplet. 
     
     
         38 . The cartridge of  claim 36  wherein at least about 99.9% of the magnetic particles remain in one droplet. 
     
     
         39 . A system comprising the cartridge of  36  and a processor electronically coupled to the cartridge, wherein the processor is programmed to instruct the cartridge to execute a protocol for washing of the magnetic beads. 
     
     
         40 . A system comprising the cartridge of  claim 36  and a processor electronically coupled to the cartridge, wherein the processor is programmed to instruct the cartridge to execute an elution protocol. 
     
     
         41 . The cartridge of  claim 24  further comprising a means for localized heating of one or more of the processing wells. 
     
     
         42 . A system comprising the cartridge of  claim 24  and lacking a means of thermocycling the entire cartridge. 
     
     
         43 . The cartridge of  claim 42  further comprising a heating element arranged to provide localized heating of a region of the network of droplet transport pathways.