Compositions, Systems, And Methods For Immiscible Fluid Discrete Volume Manipulation

Abstract

Systems and methods of manipulating discrete volumes of a first fluid in a second fluid are provided. In some embodiments, discrete volumes can be formed in a conduit. In other embodiments, addition fluid can be added to a discrete volume in a first conduit by injecting the addition fluid at a relatively higher pressure. In some embodiments, discrete volumes that normally would not coalesce can be manipulated to be merged together.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of forming discrete volumes of a first fluid in a second fluid wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are immiscible with one another and the discrete volumes are spaced apart from one another by the first fluid, the method comprising:
 flowing the second fluid through a first conduit and to a junction of the first conduit with a second conduit, the junction comprising a fluid communication between the first conduit and the second conduit;   opening a valve in the second conduit, the valve configured to assume an open position and a closed position and comprising a distal surface, wherein the first conduit has an inner sidewall and the distal surface is flush with the inner sidewall when the valve is in the closed position; and   injecting an amount of first fluid from the second conduit and through the junction and into the first conduit, while the valve is in the open position, to form discrete volumes of the first fluid in the second fluid.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the injecting comprises opening a valve disposed in the second conduit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the injecting comprises generating one or more bursts of pressure of at least about five psi each, within a 100 millisecond period. 
     
     
         19 . A method of coalescing a discrete volume of an addition fluid with a discrete volume of a first fluid, comprising:
 flowing a composition of fluids through a first conduit, the composition of fluids comprising discrete volumes of a first fluid in a second fluid, and a discrete volume of an addition fluid, the first fluid and the second fluid being immiscible with one another, the addition fluid and the second fluid being immiscible with one another, the first fluid and the addition fluid being miscible with one another, and the discrete volume of the first fluid and the discrete volume of the addition fluid being spaced apart from one another by a portion of the second fluid;   positioning the portion of the second fluid with a junction in the first conduit, the junction comprising a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit; and   removing the portion of the second fluid at the junction to coalesce the discrete volume of the first fluid with the discrete volume of the addition fluid.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the second fluid comprises a non-fluorinated polyalkylpolysiloxane oil and the first fluid comprises an aqueous fluid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the portion of the second fluid is removed with a differential of about five psi or greater. 
     
     
         22 . A method of detecting a discrete volume of a first fluid in a second fluid, the first and second fluid being immiscible with each other, the method comprising:
 adding a dye to the second fluid and not to the first;   sensing a first level of signal; and   sensing a second level of signal, wherein the second level is below a predetermined threshold and the predetermined threshold is lower than the first level,   thereby detecting the presence of a discrete volume of a first fluid in a second fluid.   
     
     
         23 . The method of detecting of  claim 22 , wherein the dye is a fluorescent dye. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled)