TW201244825A - Droplet manipulations on EWOD microelectrode array architecture - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of manipulating droplet in a programmable EWOD microelectrode array comprising multiple microelectrodes, comprising: constructing a bottom plate with multiple microelectrodes on a top surface of a substrate covered by a dielectric layer; the microelectrode coupled to at least one grounding elements of a grounding mechanism, a hydrophobic layer on the top of the dielectric layer and the grounding elements; manipulating the multiple microelectrodes to configure a group of configured-electrodes to generate microfluidic components and layouts with selected shapes and sizes, comprising: a first configured-electrode with multiple microelectrodes arranged in array, and at least one second adjacent configured-electrode adjacent to the first configured-electrode, the droplet disposed on the top of the first configured-electrode and overlapped with a portion of the second adjacent-configured-electrode; and manipulating one or more droplets among multiple configured-electrodes by sequentially activating and de-activating one or more selected configured-electrodes to actuate droplets to move along selected route.

Description

201244825 VI. Description of the Invention: [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a microfluidic system and method based on electrowetting (EW0D) on a medium. More specifically, the present invention relates in particular to a method and system for droplet processing using the EW0D microelectrode array architecture technique. 〜 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [This application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety in its entirety in its entirety in its entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire entire content Co-pending U.S. Patent Application No. 3, 029, 138, and February 2011, submitted under the name "Field_pr〇grammable Lab-on-a-Chip and Droplet Manipulations Based on EWOD Micro-Electrode Array Architecture" The name submitted on the 17th is

The content of the co-pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13, 029,140 to Microelectrode Array Architecture. [Prior Art] In order to realize the possibility of certain chemical, physical or biotechnological processing techniques, fluid technology has been used in the past. The flow of money is in the range of microliters to nanoliters (10). The use of small-capacity devices is first proposed by analytical chemists. For this concept, the term “miniature total chemical analysis system, UTAS}. More and more researchers from many disciplines outside of analytical chemistry have adopted the role of Yang's as a new research tool for developing chemical and biological applications, reflecting the scope of this expansion, in addition to WAS. The terms "microfluidics" and "wafer labs (L〇c)". 7 丄 吊 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用 用The continuous flow system can meet the clearly defined and simple definition of the 201264425 2 vertical port ==, ίϊ^ϊΐϊ^. These techniques can be classified into chemical methods, thermal measurements, and ΐ ί ί ί 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 在 电 电 电 电 电 电 电A patterned array, such as a wafer, is coated with a continuous ground electrode. (ITQ)'s lion shaft miscellaneous, making it a combination of layers in a thin layer. The coated hydrophobic dielectric insulator is = to reduce the wettability of the surface and to increase the droplets of the sample between the droplet and the control electrode and the filling medium sandwiched between the plates while the liquid moves. In order to move the droplets, the excitation control is lightly applied to the electrodes adjacent to the droplets while the excitation is removed by the electrodes directly underneath. The l〇c system using the ew〇d technology of Sheng and j's slings is still highly dedicated to applications. Some L0C systems rely heavily on manual control and biometrics and the existing E_-L0C system, The applications and functions in the system are very time consuming and the hardware design, testing and maintenance programs of the mussels. The major drawback of the existing E_-L〇c system is the design of hardwired electrodes. "Hard connection, refers to the electrode controller's exposure, size, position, and electronic cloth __ is completely limited by the permanent residual structure. Once the electrodes are manufactured, their shape, size, position and obstruction The monthly b changes, regardless of their function. Therefore, this can be used to reduce the ability to introduce or partially modify the functions of the L0C design. There are fields in the field for reducing and utilizing droplet manipulation to generate digital digits. Microfluidic System 201244825 The need for systems and methods for force and cost. The EW0D microelectrode array structure is sufficient for field programmable capability, ie the electrodes and the overall cost of the package. If its firmware (Save Memory, H is modified by Lin without disassembling or returning it to its manufacturer. It is said that the piece or m money can be designed by on-site programming and programming: because it can reduce the cost and turnaround time of replacing the problem or scrapping the firmware, This tends to be extremely desirable. The ability to transport, partially reconfigure the part of the design, and the ability to update the function and the lower even workmanship relative to the L〇C design will be reported. Provide advantages. In this field, the L0C design is upgraded to the application level, so that lqc can be released from the vehicle optimization biometrics, time-consuming hard age meter, #钱_试 and ^^=. The novel EW0D microelectrode array structure can significantly improve the technique of manipulating droplets in the L〇c system. In terms of advanced droplet manipulation based on the generation, transport, mixing and cutting of both (10) microelectrode array structures, Various Embodiments 1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention discloses a method of manipulating droplets in a programmable (5) microelectrode array comprising a plurality of microelectrodes. In one embodiment, the method comprises: (a) constructing a bottom plate comprising an array of a plurality of microelectrodes disposed on a top surface of a substrate covered by a dielectric insulating layer; wherein each microelectrode is coupled to at least one grounding element of the grounding mechanism; wherein the dielectric is An upper portion of the insulating layer and the grounding element is provided with a hydrophobic layer to form a surface that is hydrophobic with the droplets; (b) manipulating the plurality of microelectrodes to configure a set of configuration electrodes to generate the microfluidic element And according to the selected shape and size layout, wherein the set of configuration electrodes comprises: a first configuration electrode comprising a plurality of microelectrodes arranged in an array; and at least one second adjacent configuration electrode The first configuration electrode is adjacent; the droplet is disposed on top of the first configuration electrode and overlaps with a portion of the second adjacent configuration electrode; and (c) is excited or removed by sequentially applying a driving voltage to excite one or more The selected configuration electrodes are sequentially energized to remove the selected configuration electrodes to drive the droplets to move along the selected path to manipulate one or more droplets between the plurality of configuration electrodes. In another embodiment A method of manipulating a droplet in a programmable EW0D microelectrode array comprising a plurality of microelectrodes, the method comprising: (a magical construction of a bottom plate comprising an array of microelectrodes disposed on a dielectric insulating layer a top surface of the covered substrate; wherein each of the microelectrodes is coupled to at least one of the grounding members; wherein the dielectric insulating layer and the grounding member are a hydrophobic layer is provided to form a surface that is hydrophobic with the droplets; (b) the plurality of microelectrodes are manipulated to set a set of configuration electrodes to create a microfluidic element, and arranged in a selected shape and size, wherein the The group configuration electrode includes: a first configuration electrode including a plurality of microelectrodes arranged in an array; and at least one second adjacent configuration electrode adjacent to the first configuration electrode, the droplets being disposed at the first configuration electrode a top portion and a portion overlapping the second adjacent configuration; (c) a first-disposition electrode removal excitation? and a second adjacent configuration electrode excitation to pull the liquid droplet from the first configuration electrode to the second configuration electrode Money (4) applies power purchase excitation or removes excitation - one or more selected configuration electrodes to sequentially energize or remove excitation of selected configuration electrodes to drive droplets to move along a selected path to manipulate multiple configurations One or more droplets between the electrodes. In a re-% mode, a method of manipulating a droplet in a programmable Ew〇d microelectrode array comprising a plurality of microelectrodes, the method comprising: (a) constructing a plurality of microelectrodes comprising a plurality of microelectrodes An electrode of the bottom plate is disposed on a top surface of the substrate covered by the dielectric insulating layer; wherein each of the microelectrodes is connected to at least one of the grounding mechanisms, wherein the upper portion of the dielectric insulating layer and the grounding member are disposed a hydrophobic layer to form a surface with a droplet; (8) manipulating the plurality of microelectrodes to configure a set of electrodes to create a microfluidic element, and arranging the electrodes in accordance with a selected shape and size arrangement a first configuration electrode comprising an array of argon microelectrodes; and at least __ second adjacent configuration electrodes adjacent to a configuration electrode; the droplets being disposed on top of the first configuration electrode and a second phase = set, a partial overlap of the poles; (c) a second adjacent configuration electrode that is not overlapped with the droplets on the first configuration electrode; and (4) a sequential application of a driving voltage 201244825 or a plurality of selected The electrodes are configured to sequentially energize or remove the ' _ , - the electrodes to drive the droplets to move along the selected path to sag the plurality of configuration electrodes, one or more droplets. In the case of the f Γ implementation, the EW0D microelectrode array structure library of the present invention uses 丄, ^' can be excited/removed by (5) to form electrodes of different shapes and sizes for use in a field application. The need for fluid handling functions. All of the '10' fluid components can be grouped into multiple Ϊίΐ ίί 'include but not limited to: reservoirs ((10)(4)(1), electrodes, μ & to, droplet routing and In addition, the physical decoration of L()c for 1/〇埠, liquid storage crying= and the position of the network can be configured by two electrodes, and the microelectrode is different from the conventional one after configuration_configuration. Electrodes. 'In another embodiment, such as reservoirs, electrodes, mixing chambers = various shapes and sizes, and the physical properties of the L0C for the I/O of the microfluidic system and the location of the electrode network The layout can be softly Ξΐ ΐ 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 以及 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场 现场One way + 'in droplet manipulation The _microelectrode array in the έ 礼 = = = based on the total _ 'where _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A wide range of ages + accumulated to produce the widest range of droplet sizes and volumes of the l〇C structure. In the two real 1 mode, all typical _microfluidic operations are in the form of A. "Configure the electrode, to achieve. = microflow" 乍 0 bracket. Will be installed in the droplet micro-exciter; from the source droplet = a 201244825 or more droplets; split, split the droplet in any direction From the solid droplets to two or more droplets; the droplets merge and plant the ride 2 to the other position; the two or more will deform the droplets; will fit; = arranging the droplets; The droplets are transported out of the droplets. It is often used to perform typical microfluids; using "temporary bridging, anterior diagonal or any direction of transporting liquid to remove residual liquid, Weng输送 transport droplets; use the electrode column to stimulate the transport of droplets; 4 == - under the transport liquid robbery. 拙 = send droplets, set precise cutting; perform diagonal Cut; make the shape to accelerate the mixing; speed; pass; Na*® age into the mixed de 1 to improve the mixing speed; and / or any combination of the above. Owner:::C is the other embodiment of the invention Exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the present invention can be varied in many respects in various respects and detailed descriptions on the nature f are considered exemplary. [Embodiment] 凊f照目1A' illustrates the existing electrowetting micro-excitation structure (the size is only for the purpose of illustration). The EW0D-based digital microfluidic element 1〇〇 includes two rows of glass substrates 120 and 121, the lower substrate 121 includes a patterned array of a plurality of individually controllable electrodes 13A and the upper substrate is coated with a continuous ground electrode (10). The electrode is preferably formed by a material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) to combine characteristics of thin layer conductivity and light transmittance. The droplets 150 and the oil reservoirs of the 9 201244825 biochemical sample, which are coated with a member such as a polytetrafluoroethylene AF, are contained between f to facilitate the delivery of the droplets 150 inside the filling medium. for

The electrode (10) near the droplet is controlled to be applied while the electrode directly below the liquid is removed and excited. t long night shoulder ibO Figure 1B is a schematic illustration of the two-dimensional electrode array 190. The droplet 150 moves from the electrode 130 to the top view of the excited = gauge _. The black crane σ has control power (four) WQDt = l electric jt18G. In the body interface of the electrode (10), the action causes 4 charges to accumulate on the gap 135 between the droplet/insulating electrode 130 and 180; the tension gradient, the mechanical droplet (10) transports the potential of the two arrays, and the electrowetting can be utilized. To follow this electricity; adjust the control voltage within the range of °: eye to control the movement of the droplets at a speed of 2 Gcm/s. The droplets 151 and 152 can also be transported under a light clock control by a two-dimensional pattern under the conditions of a micropump and a micro_. Flat (10) User Limits The EW0D-based microfluidic component allows the handsome neighboring electrodes to excite droplets. The design of the electrodes includes the spacing of each electrode and the gap between the electrodes. In a bile-based design, = hang = multiple electrodes in different regions of the design can be sent to the process or more complex operations, such as in the concept of a liquid crystal wheel, the concept of a dot matrix printer, That is, _ ϋ, a kind of microfluidic component that can be used as a secret component. According to the customer's needs, ΐ can be regarded as grouped and can be simultaneously electrode and perform microfluidic operation. "Point",. "Excitation,, :=2 | voltage' and thus EWQD acts to cause charge to accumulate in the droplet interface, resulting in an interface tension gradient across the gap between adjacent electrodes, thereby enabling delivery of droplets 201244825; Or the effect of DEP is such that the liquid becomes polarizable and flows toward the region of the stronger electric field. Removing the excitation means removing the voltage applied to the electrode. Further, Fig. 2 depicts an embodiment of the EW0D microelectrode array structure technique of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the microelectrode array 2A includes a plurality of (3〇χ23 microelectrodes 210. This microelectrode array 2〇〇 is based on the standard electrode specification microelectrode 210) and is independent of the final LQC. Applied and manufactured by specific microfluidic gymnastics. In other words, the microelectrode array 2 is "blank," and the pre-configured L0C. Then, based on the application requirements, the microelectrode array == is programmed into the desired L0C. As shown in Figure 2, each includes 100. The microelectrodes 210 (i.e., 10 < 10 microelectrodes). "The electrodes are arranged, and 10 x 10 microelectrodes 210 are combined to serve as the integrated electrode 22" and are 'excited. Generally, 'configuration (4) is stored in a non-volatile (such as ROM)' and can be "in the field, or at any given location, the current order is modified without disassembling the device or returning the device to its manufacture. The droplet 250 is located at the central configuration electrode 220. ° As shown in FIG. 2, the size and shape of the electrode of the present invention can be based on the measurement. An example of a configuration electrode whose size is controlled is to configure electrodes 220 and 240. The electrode 220 has a size of 1 〇 10 10 microelectrodes, and the electrode 240 is disposed and has a size of S i micro Ϊ. In addition to configuring the electrode size configuration, the different shapes of the configuration electrodes can also be configured by utilizing an array of electrodes. The configured tube electrode is a rectangle of 230 疋 including 2x4 microelectrodes. The electrode 260 is disposed to have a square shape on the left side of the tooth, and the arrangement electrode 270 is circular. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the volume of the droplet 250 is different from the size of the electrode 22 of the arrangement electrode 22, and the size of the droplet 250 is controlled to form a electrode. The 22-inch design size is compatible, so "the field-programmable design refers to the control of the droplet volume. The volume control mode is controlled by the height period. As shown in FIG. 3A, the shape of the electrode of the present invention can be based on The application needs to be set to 11. 201244825. The shape of the configuration electrode can be generated by a plurality of microelectrodes. The configuration of the electrode can be square and has a toothed edge according to the configuration and excitation of the electrode to form a desired shape. The square shape and the shape of the hexagonal crucible. Referring to Fig. 3, the shape of the arrangement electrode to which the conveying path 340, the detecting window 350 and the h are combined is a square shape. The liquid storage device is a large-sized electrode. The waste container 32 is a square shape. Fig. 3B and Fig. 3A illustrate an enlarged portion of the reservoir 33A of Fig. 3A. The description of the physical money reservoir structure manufactured by the conventional EWOD-LOC system illustrates the permanent side reservoir 331 and 4 permanent The magnetically engraved electrode 37b and FIG. 3β (traditional 'FIG. 3C illustrate the field programming L〇c structure, which has a similarly sized configuration, and a set of electrodes 372. The reservoir 332 can be configured by The plurality of microelectrodes 311 are fabricated in combination with a fine-grained ruler shape. The doped electrodes have three microelectrodes 31. After limiting the shape and size of the desired microfluidic component, it is also important to define the microfluidic components. The location and how the elements are connected together as a circuit or network. Figure 3A illustrates the physical location of these microfluidic components and how these microfluidic components are connected together for use as a function L〇G: These microfluidics The components are: the configuration electrode 370, the reservoir 330, the waste reservoir 320, the mixing chamber 36〇, the visual inspection 350, and the transport path 34〇 connecting the different regions of the LOC. If it is currently programmable L0C, after the layout design, there will be some unused micro-electrodes 31^. After the FPLOC is fully qualified, the designer can try the hard-wired version to save cost. Then the unused micro-electrodes 31 can be moved. except A conventional EWOD-based LOC design is based on a biplanar structure having a bottom plate comprising a patterned electrode array and a top plate coated with continuous electrodes. In two embodiments of the invention, an EW0D microelectrode array structure technique is employed. The L〇c device is based on a coplanar structure where the excitation can occur in a single-plate configuration without a top plate. The coplanar surface can accommodate a wider range of droplets of different volume sizes without being limited by the top plate. There is a fixed gap between the top plates, and there is a limit in adapting to a wide range of volumetric droplets. In another embodiment, a coplanar structure based on the EWOD microelectrode array structure technology A passive top plate for sealing the test surface can be added to protect the fluid operation or to protect the test medium for a longer shelf storage life. As shown in FIG. 4, in another embodiment, a detachable, adjustable, and transparent top plate is employed in the coplanar junction for the EW0D microelectrode array to optimize the top plate 410 as shown in FIG. The gap distance from the electrode plate 420. The electrode plate 42A is realized by the EW0D microelectrode array structure technique, in which the side view of the configuration electrode for the droplet 43A includes three microelectrodes (shown in black). The configuration electrode for the droplet enthalpy includes six microelectrodes, and the configuration electrode for the droplet 45 包括 includes eleven microelectrodes. This embodiment is especially useful in applications such as FPL〇c. Although the EW〇p microelectrode array structure provides on-site programmable design when configuring the shape and size of the configuration electrode, the health level requires a liquid crystal (four) structure that can be the most compact. This is because the wider the range of F-adaptable droplet sizes, the more applications can be achieved. The optimized gap distance can be matched to the desired size of the droplet. In the present invention, the optimized gap can be achieved by the three = formula: first, all of the droplets can be escaped without contacting the top plate 41Q. This approach is typically applied to coplanar structures. In the second mode, it is manipulated by contacting the top plate 41G, wherein the droplets are sandwiched between the top plate 410 and the electricity. The second way should usually be in a double plane structure. The third party 3 2 ί merges the coplanar junction ^ and the function of the second plate 卩 _ on the top plate 41G and the coplanar electrode plate 420. This mixing method can be used to provide the widest range of droplets and droplets 44 located between the sheets as shown in Fig. 4, which can be manipulated under the conditions. The droplets are manipulated to be sandwiched on the top plate. The present invention is not limited to the brain microelectrode array structure technology, and the liquid crystal layer can be carefully considered to be finer than other conventional electric poles. By using the biplane structure currently used in the (four)_ one to design a ΐΐίτΓ type based on the thief pole structure (4), only for the purpose of the gods). The two microelectrodes 130 and the two parallel plates 120 and 12 - the plate 121 comprise an array of patterned individual controllable electrodes 13A. Top plate (10) 13 201244825 Electrical iterability between dielectric insulating layers 170 coated with hydrophobic film 160 and increasing droplets and control electrodes, for example, the work droplets 50 contain biochemical samples and filling media sandwiched between the plates, oil Or air to facilitate delivery of the droplets within the filling medium. In the embodiment of LOc/詈, the centered eutectic occurrence forest adopting the surface microelectrode array structure technology has droplets of different volume sizes of the bottle 2 of the single plate of the top plate, and the unattached structure is There is a fixed gap between the top plates, and it is adapted to "test S more = ί2 plate life: eye protection: fluid operation or in order to protect the structure of the plate structure can be in many ways, especially in the coplanar structure grounding grid" coplanar microelectrode structure , which includes a λ #_' drive microelectrode 510 or the square wave gauge wire and the drive microelectrode 5ig are on the same board to see the eight sides, "the gap 515 is used to ensure that at 510 and 511 There is no vertical weight between the most. and J droplet operation unit, which includes the permanent _ electric 2 〇 =, line 531 (in the vertical and horizontal directions). The electrodes 52 on the two sides are in the vertical direction of the ground 531 Separation. Droplet 540 is located at =: '(4) 540 is too small to be in contact with the surrounding line 531 and cannot perform excitation of the droplet 540. This may often be a potential problem in droplet manipulation. Common remedies It is a large size droplet 55〇, but often The desired droplet size is manually controlled. ^Besides, limited by the ground line 531 in the conventional system, the electrodes 52A and 521 cannot have an interdigitated periphery for improving droplet manipulation. The improved droplet operation unit is provided with a plurality of field programmable microelectrodes (10). The configuration electrodes can be programmed by software according to the size of the droplets. In this example, the electrodes 52 are arranged,

5Q V' 〆 14 201244825 ==H) The microelectrode 51〇. In Figure 5C., the droplet 54 is sized to configure electricity. For the purpose of the upper cymbal, the droplet 541 is similar to the droplet 540 (Fig. 5B). The configuration electrode 520' includes a plurality of ground lines having a cross section, the physical weight of the droplet 541 and the arrangement electrode 520' * a plurality of ground lines 511 thus enables efficient droplet manipulation. Grounding (g giOunding) (21 - ί = 651 651 overlap in ® 6b), which relies on only one ground pad for the base-to-drop droplet of the conventional embodiment, then droplet soldering The diameter of the tube is +2 Ί. There is no such limitation in the grounding knives of the large one; the non-polymerized drive i is basically compared with the biased excitation electrode and the grounding pad, and the charge is accumulated. Also with the surface area of the electrode and the grounding pad, the deer uses a 2-inch scale to connect the scale to the lower side of the Heliqi County, unless this will make the manufacturing; Art 33„_ pole midpoint (four) reach equilibrium. Therefore, there are tricks: • The possibility of unreliable droplet manipulation. The consistent overlap of the layers ensures reliable droplet operation. In the present invention, the micro microelectrode (usually less than ·xlG(W) is beyond the feasibility of the second method. Therefore, it is required to use the microfabrication technology from the manufacture of the revolving volume circuit. Another implementation of the surface microelectrode structure does not have a ground line. Instead, some microelectrodes are used as ground pads to achieve a coplanar electrode structure. Figure 7Α illustrates the same 15 201244825 Wherein, 7i0' has a gap of 715 ° between the microelectrodes. In the present embodiment, the ground electrode m7ii can be configured to be electrically grounded by a physical pole 3 pole. The microelectrode 710 is compared with the conventional method. Configured as grounding with group grounding: upper target electrode and grounding mechanism, the present invention 751 can only move in the x-axis and 7f/, can move in the X-axis direction, and the distribution of droplet excitation, droplet gamma Will be located in this side excited 'and excite the adjacent electrode 730; ΐ f2ewqw turn _ coplanar surface movement. When the temporary "configuration electrode" is de-energized 763 ί Π) the droplet 752 along the diagonal Pull to "configure the electrode" for the purpose of the illustration 'each' Step electrode interim "(iv) has, on the electrical angle after ίΓ 'to achieve the best results droplet manipulation. In the application method, the EW0D microelectrode array structure technology is used for the structure, and the hybrid can be co-secured or double-planar. Figure 8 illustrates switch 81A, which can be controlled to be in coplanar mode and biplanar mode structure. In the coplanar mode, in the connected it 2 biplane mode on the cover 82, the ground grid 88 on the electrode plate 821 is disconnected from the ground electrode _ ί. In another implementation, the network can be as described in the previous paragraph "grounding pad, or 201244825 ground [instead of. In addition - in an embodiment, the coplanar connection brings any problems K as long as additional grounding The double-plane structure operation is not loaded into the droplet generation process in the drop manipulation. Samples and reagents are drawn from the input droplets. The reservoir can be based on the two components that are the most critical components. Entering the amount of soaring between the sample and the microliter or even the nanoliter scale of the sample and the reagent loading to 1 can improve the design of the droplet generation process. The sample is placed between the device and the device. The through-hole is usually formed by the top plate 915 and the liquid reservoir 920, and the sample and reagent 930 are loaded from the input port to the reservoir. It is produced in the liquid. The traditional method of drying in the sun may introduce a wrong or a miscellaneous structure due to human error. After the tree or reagent is spun cwi α, the crucible is added, so no fixed input is required.浐For the micro-electrode array Importantly, the shape, size and position of the 翻 翻 対 対 対 対 和 和 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 960 960 960 960 960 960 960 960 960 960 960 960 960 960 960 The position of the liquid can be adjusted by the soft body according to the need to compensate for the physical dream # value#. Park Qr main _ field software private 5 and then _ _ ^ = difference ° Figure 9C is not loading the sample coffee f"In another embodiment, the 'deletion' of the microelectrode array structure is flexible (4), the steam sample = the sample or the position of the agent relative to the reservoir. 2 = avoid the need to accurately locate the input and It is not necessary to accurately position the sputum + 罔匕 in the reservoir 941. In other ways, the droplet 952 does not have to overlap with the reservoir 941. For ^编^, 17 201244825 It is difficult to drop 952 Relocating to the reservoir 941. The stalk is in the middle of the sputum. Even if the sample droplet 952 is loaded away from the reservoir 941, the d is moved wide. This can overlap the liquid droplet 941 by exciting the temporary configuration electrode 961. To achieve. Next, remove the incentive pro ίΐί == liquid _. In the remuneration 'sample droplet 953 can be approved ΐ ΐ 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图 图= "The square reservoir 1015, without the need for overlapping electrodes - the shape of the reservoir (6) 5 can be used in any other shape by designing a micro-electric design. As indicated by _, droplet = yield, trf^015 produces a droplet 1050. In order to activate the droplets, the temporary miscellaneous is excited as a pullback (pulbbaGk) electrode, and the configuration, 1_', extracts the liquid fingers from the reservoir 1〇15 (ii_“Si cut?” produces droplets 1050. Each of the _ electrodes 1040 is formed by 4×4 pieces. In one embodiment, the size of the arrangement electrode may be shaped, circular or in the formula, and the liquid storage 11 may be a square slag; An embodiment of the process of aliquoting. The electrode 1120 is configured by manipulating the smear. Each of the small droplets 1115 is approximately fieldd with the electrode, so that it can be extracted from the reservoir H1〇. Show, cool. The set electrode 1120 of the microelectrode is energized to collect the required amount of liquid W. The size of the droplet is approximately the size of the electrode. There is no way to control the liquid helium. In the present invention The droplet halving generation system can be used for more sophisticated control of the actual product. Further, in another embodiment, the smaller droplets generated from the droplet 1130 are calculated by the volume of 1130. Figure 11B depicts the use of droplets. Another implementation of the aliquot process to prepare the sample

Q 18 201244825 The commission step is to remove the cell from the whole enterprise to obtain the ίίΐΐ 3: body. As shown by ® 11β, the droplets are transferred via micro-1140 and then via a small-sized surface. The shape is still small. The right (4) 15Q ° liquid scale technique and a small gap are combined to (4) larger ι^ϋ145 from the reservoir/liquid Drop 1160 moves through channel 1170, • blood cell 1180. Here, the physical resistance s ΐϊΐ (4) droplets. It is not used as the main 去除 ϊ 等 等 去除 去除 去除 去除 去除 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , drop. The droplet delivery of the microelectrode array structure. In one implementation, Ξί: ΐIt sets electrodes 1231, 1232 to 1239. Each configuration is electrically arranged with 1235 microelectrodes' and thus square. The droplet is located in the center of the secret - a real money towel, by manipulating with ^ 1234 If f + j5 〇 JD north and east-west direction. For example, removing the excitation by energizing the configuration f5 will cause the droplets to pass from the configuration electrode 1235, the -electrode 1234. In another embodiment, the cloud 123 is routed according to the user's cloud 123. For example, 'droplet 1250 can be transported diagonally from the configuration electrode f 1235 to any of the configuration electrodes 123, 1233, 1237 or 1239, 卽1231 '1233' 1237 ° in order to move the droplets 1250 along the diagonal, an implementation The way is to make A asif / ° as shown in Figure 12 'droplet · can move in all eight directions of square electrode j, that is, north-south, east-west, northwest to facilitate liquid application mode ten, the shape of temporary configuration electrode 1260 can be changed = 8 . In another embodiment, the delivery of the ink droplets is provided by the π 吝 if direction. If the adjacent configuration electrodes are outside these eight directions, then the excitation temporarily configures the electrodes to deliver the droplets to the destination. 19 201244825 Figures 13A-13C depict another embodiment of droplet delivery and movement using an EW0D microelectrode array structure including a temporary bridging technique. By droplet cutting and natural evaporation of droplets, the droplets are too small to be reliably driven by the electrodes. Figure 13A illustrates two configuration electrodes 1330, 1340 separated from each other by a gap 1360. Droplet 1350 is located on the left side of configuration electrode 1330. The gap 1360 between the two configuration electrodes 1330 and 1340 is sufficiently wide to separate the two configuration electrodes 1330 and 1340. Droplet 1350 is located to the left of configuration electrode 1330 and will not contact the next adjacent configuration electrode. In Fig. 13A, since there is no physical overlap between the droplet 1350 and the electrode 1340 to change the surface tension, the droplet 1350 cannot be directly moved from the electrode 133 到 to the next adjacent electrode 1340. This problem is often seen in the prior art (see Transport). Figure 13β depicts a real version of the delivery of the droplet 1350 in Figure 13A to the desired configuration electrode 134. In the process, it is "toothed". The electrode covered by the "region" is excited. The w-shaped electrode 1370 partially covers the left side of the electrode 133, and the gap 136 is arranged to be adjacent to the electrode. As shown in Fig. 13B, "toothed, the electrode plate is disposed. The excitation of the trigger configuration 370 will cause the droplet 1350 to be in. The figure depicts both the completion of the desired configuration of the electrode '', the droplet delivery. After the (iv) 135Q is delivered to the desired configuration 1370, Secondly, the configuration electrode 1340 is energized to perform the (4) transport and transfer of the liquid crystal 1· arrangement and the square view of the electric square. The other real type includes the electrode column excitation manipulation. , much smaller, and in the droplet (10) and two = 1 electrode _, so the droplet volume can not be moved to - an embodiment S paste electrode column excitation: Electrode column excitation. In one implementation: wide excitation electrodes are arranged Including 1x10 electrode. Three bottles "(4) delete the electrode column excitation" as in the U14B marked black part _,, 'and ^ to perform electrode column excitation, but the fine can also be 岐 red 彳 two silent J side In another embodiment, the electrode array of the 〇20 201244825 efficiency has a group electrode column, the width of which is provided for the droplet just = rit. In another embodiment, The length of the column depends on the lang, which is usually as long as possible. Figure 14β illustrates how the three columns of the electrode array are manipulated to facilitate the transport of droplets. ^The first reading of the fit, the recharge, the excitation, the trailing configuration electrode歹U422 is removed for excitation. In this embodiment, regardless of the size of the droplets, the three-column arrangement electrode column always provides the contact line of the largest effective length. As a result, the droplet 1450 can move efficiently and smoothly because the droplet 145 The capillary force on the cymbal is = and is maximized. Therefore, '(4) 丨 can move under the driving power of the driving voltage in the operation of the droplets. The electrode column driving technology is used for Pass ρ at a much lower drive voltage Smooth movement to deliver droplets. Furthermore, due to the consistent capillary forces of this technique, control of droplet velocity (especially in low speed situations) can be achieved by propagating the electrode columns at low speeds. In another embodiment, At the critical drive voltage, the electrode column drive can be applied to drive the droplets. In another embodiment, it has been observed that at a voltage below 8 Vp-p 1 kHz square wave drive voltage and at a gap of 80/zm, The DI water droplets (1.1 mm diameter) are slowly but smoothly moved in i〇cst. In another embodiment, the length of the configured electrode columns can be configured as the total length of the L0C. All invalid droplets (dea(i droplet) in the L0C can be washed away. Figure 14C illustrates that droplets 1450 also move out of configuration electrode 141A while the electrode column (shown in black) in the energized configuration remains moving to the right and eventually moves out of configuration electrode 1410. A diagram UA-15C illustrates one embodiment of performing a typical three-electrode cut of droplets under an EW0D microelectrode array structure. Fig. 15A illustrates three levels of electrodes 1510, 1511 and 1512 arranged in a level. The droplet 1550 to be cut is located at the center of the configuration electrode 151. In Fig. 15A, the configuration electrode 1511 is energized to control the droplet 155. Droplet 1550 overlaps portions of adjacent configuration electrodes 1510 and 1512. Fig. 15 is a view showing a stage of cutting off the droplets by removing the excitation of the arrangement electrodes 1511 by simultaneously energizing the arrangement electrodes 1510 and 1512. The droplets 1550 are pulled to the electrodes 1510 and 1512 in the left-right direction by electrode manipulation. In one embodiment, the two externally configured electrodes 丨51〇 and 1512 induce a hydrophilic force to stretch the droplets while the central hydrophobic force pinches the liquid into 21 201244825 two sub-droplets 1551' and 1552', as shown in the figure 15C is shown. Figures 16A-16C depict one embodiment of droplet cutting. Figure l6A_i6 illustrates three levels of lakes in -_configuration_丨(10), 1611, and 1612. Wait for τα 1611 ^ ° f droplet 1650, using the electrode column drive technology to configure the filter to slowly and firmly pull the droplets, as shown in Figure 16, the two-way Λ^, ί, use and stimulate the two groups The electrode columns 1615 and 1616 are configured to 'color to pull the droplets apart. Each of the two sets of electrode columns is arranged, and us 5 columns of electrodes. Figure ι6Β describes moving in the direction of one by one ^ 5 ίί5〇 ίΐίΐΐ. When the two sets of electrode columns 1615 and ΐ6ΐ6 lead 1650 0 1615 ^1616 ^ electrode cut and the outer edge of 1612, all configurations are electrically removed. The electrode 161 is configured to perform the diagonal cutting electrodes πιο, nu, 1713, and 17t by the lm9 an ^ sub-drops and the stimulators to break the liquid into two. The four configurations are energized, and the configuration electrode mo and the configuration electrode ^electrode 1712 are removed and stretched into the liquid column, as shown in Fig. 7 ,, so the droplet 1750 configuration electrode and the mi _ angle removal excitation are broken. Two sub-droplets, generating the necessary hydrophobic force. Figure 17c illustrates that the L-shaped 'm50 of the electric m50 is re-energized, === since the two pulling electrodes have longer electrode contacts, the diagonal cut of the droplets 22 201244825 is efficient and advantageous. The pulling capillary force on the droplets is lower than the conventional one, which can lower the cutting voltage and can be made even larger. Due to the cutting of the system, it is necessary to exceed the saturation voltage of the electric dust (for example, docking for transmission: relying on the drop ====: to find the South to be more careful, 'so do not exceed Yu and Lai. So = cut the ugly option' In order to keep the cutting voltage low and electric any drop. (4) Cut the job can be cut in the way of robbing in the ew〇d micro-electrode array structure, in the open face 1870^: Χ 2 2 仏 仏 士 士 士 士The liquid column. Next, 'exciting two preselected configuration electrodes 18==: cutting the droplet 1870 and positioning its center to the two thin electrodes i said === Fig. 8C. The coffee key is that there is sufficient overlap between the outer and outer i to have sufficient capillary force to be in a certain embodiment. When the liquid column 1 is cut into a plurality of liquid droplets, the sister passively cuts. The other method and the active cutting are both adopted by the present invention. When the droplet is stretched into two, ij; r, L, when the power or the main power is used to disconnect the starting droplet from the main utilization power, When the length of the liquid column is very heavy, the 'optimized length is not important. Whether it is The dynamic cutting also performs the final step of the cutting process, arranging the electrodes _ and being positioned by 23 1 激 to position the droplets into the desired configuration electrode. In another embodiment, the passive 4 active cutting passes through the surface The microelectrode array structure is performed under the open surface of Open 201244825. Figure 18C illustrates the completion of the cut when the droplet is cut into two sub-liquids 1870. Figures 19A-19B illustrate the basic merging and mixing operations performed under the EW0D microelectrode array structure. One embodiment of the invention. In the present invention, the terms "merging," and "mixing" are used interchangeably to mean a combination of two or more droplets. This is due to & It is not always possible to directly or immediately cause the initial separation of the component(s) of (4) to be completely mixed. In Fig. 19A, two droplets 1950 and 1951 are initially located on corresponding configuration electrodes 1910 and 1912, respectively, and at least one is located therebetween. The configuration electrode j911 is separated. The two droplets 1950 and 1951 are partially overlapped with the centrally disposed electrical 'pole 1911. As shown in Fig. 19B, the excitation is performed on the two configuration electrodes 191 and 1912, and the electrode is placed in the center. Excitation, droplets 195 and 1951 move across each other on central configuration electrode 1911 and then merge into a larger droplet 1953. In the EWOD microelectrode array structure, analyte and reagent mixing is a decisive step. A solid mixing chamber that produces mixing by delivering two droplets to the same 'electrode. Rapid mixing of droplets with minimal space greatly increases productivity. Typically, effective droplet mixing requires 8 (2 x 4) The electrode moves the mixed droplets along the determined path between the 8 electrodes to accelerate the mixing. Therefore, in the mixing operation, there is an urgent need for an effective mixing of droplets that does not require a large space for the mixing operation. the way. However, as the microfluidic device is approaching the alternative nanoliter mode, the reduced volumetric flow rate and very low Reynolds number will make it difficult to achieve liquid mixing within a reasonable time frame. Improving mixing depends on two principles: the ability to create eddy currents in such a small range, or alternatively, the ability to create multiple layers for fast mixing. The EWOD microelectrode array structure provides an order of magnitude active droplet-based mixing that is one order of magnitude faster than passive mixing by diffusion. 20A-20C depict an active mixing process that implements droplet manipulation based on an EWOD microelectrode array structure by non-uniform geometric motion to create eddy currents. As shown in Fig. 2a, the droplets 2050, 2070 can be deformed into a desired shape by manipulating the electrode. As shown in Fig. 2A, the droplets are illustrated as droplets 2051, and droplets 2070' by energizing the arrangement electrodes 2051 and 2071. The excitation center then configures electrode 2060 to pull droplets 2050', 2070 into hybrid configuration electrode 2060 (labeled black) as shown in FIG. p 24 201244825 In Figure 2GBt, the H region indicates the heterogeneous configuration of the heterogeneous (four) and the outline. These energized electrodes can be used to deform the two droplets 2〇5〇, and 2〇7〇, and pull them into the central configuration electrode 2060. The temporary excitation step shown in Fig. 2B also contributes to the smooth mixing movement of the two droplets. The black area of Figure 2B_2〇ct and the shape of the deformed droplets are only for the purpose of Example*. In another embodiment, these shapes may be of any type as needed. A map and 21B depict a microelectrode array mixer for improving the mixing speed. In an embodiment, a non-uniform reciprocating mixer can be used to accelerate the mixing of the droplets. This can be accomplished by energizing a set of microelectrodes to create an irreversible pattern, wherein the irreversible pattern destroys the symmetry of the two loops to improve the mixing speed. The initial state is illustrated in Figure 21A, wherein the droplet 2150 contains the sample and reagent and is located on top of the configuration electrode 2140. The first step for uneven reciprocal mixing is to energize the configuration electrode 2160 to deform the droplet 2150 in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 21B. Then, the configuration electrode 2160 is de-energized, and the configuration electrode 214 is energized to pull the droplet back to the initial position shown in Fig. 21A. Reciprocating mixing can be performed multiple times to achieve an optimized blending effect. Further, the shapes of the arrangement electrodes 2140 and the deformed droplets in FIGS. 21A and 21B are for illustrative purposes only. In one embodiment, these shapes may be of any type as long as they have the ability to create eddy currents or, alternatively, have the ability to create multiple layers. In another embodiment of the EWOD based droplet mixing process, Figure 22 illustrates a loop mixer for improving mixing speed. This can be accomplished by exciting a sequence of smaller microelectrodes to create an irreversible level loop, where the irreversible level loop destroys the symmetry of the vertical layer loop to accelerate mixing. One embodiment as shown in Fig. 22 is to form eight configuration electrodes (2210, 2220, 2230, 2240, 2250, 2260, 2270, and 2280) surrounding the droplets 2290, and then sequentially align the arrangement electrodes one by one in a loop manner. . For example, 'in the first step, the configuration electrode 2210 is energized for a shorter period of time' to cause a change in surface tension and a loop is generated inside the droplet 2290 on the configuration electrode 2210. Next, the configuration electrode 2210 is de-energized, and then the next adjacent configuration electrode 2220 is energized. The loop excitation process is repeated by all eight configuration electrodes (2210 to 2280) to create a level loop inside the droplet 2290. This 25 201244825 loop current excitation can be performed as needed. In another embodiment, the loop flow can be mixed in a clockwise, counterclockwise or alternate manner to achieve the best mixing effect. In still another embodiment, the shape of the arrangement electrodes 22iq to (4) may be other types and the shape of the shape is only for the purpose of illustration. In this embodiment, the loop mixing may be any winding design as long as they have a generation The ability to vortex, or alternatively, the ability to create multiple layers. In the coherent mode, a mixer of small size (2x2 configuration electrodes) is realized in the EW0D microelectrode array structure to generate multiple layers to accelerate the mixed layer, and the combiner is for low aspect ratio (<1) The situation is especially useful. Aspect ratio refers to the ratio of the gap between the electrode plate and the ground plate to the electrode size. A low aspect ratio means that it is more difficult to generate eddy currents in the liquid slab, and thus the ability to produce multiple layers becomes more important. ® 23A-23E illustrates an embodiment in which diagonal blending and diagonal cutting are utilized. In Fig. 23A, the black droplet 2351 at the arrangement electrode 2314 is mixed with the white droplet 235 在 at the arrangement electrode 2311. The temporary configuration electrode 2310 will become the mixing chamber and will be energized to pull in two droplets 2351 and 235〇. In order to initiate multi-layer mixing, the first step is to merge two droplets along the diagonal. The diagonal direction of the droplets may be 45 degrees or 135 degrees, but then the direction of the diagonal cut needs to be perpendicular to the merge operation. Fig. 23B shows that the first drop of the droplet 2351 and the droplet 2350 becomes black and white droplet 2352. Due to the low Reynolds number and low aspect ratio, the droplet 2352 has a static mixing of simple base = diffusion, which results in a longer mixing time, so the mixed droplets are shown as half white and half black, the second step is The diagonal cut is performed, as shown in Fig. 23C, and the diagonal of the starting droplet 2352 is mixed at 9 degrees. While the temporary placement electrode 2310 is de-energized, the configuration electrodes 2312 and 2313 and other temporary configuration electrodes are energized to cut the droplet 2352 diagonally into two sub-droplets 2353 and 2354, as shown in Fig. 23C. The details of the diagonal cut have been discussed in the previous diagonal cutting process. Due to the low mixing rate, the two sub-droplets 2353 and 2354 maintain a black/white stack in the same orientation after the wire is cut. Then, the third step of multi-layer mixing is to move the two droplets back to the starting configuration electrode to blend and cut diagonally. In Fig. 23D, the droplet 2354 is moved from the arrangement electrode 2312 to the next adjacent arrangement electrode 2311. The droplet 2353 moves from the placement electrode 2313 to the lower 26 201244825 pole 2314. The electrodes 2311 and 2314 can be energized and electronically illuminated. f is to be lying in the miscellaneous to avoid droplets Z can cause two droplets 2353 and 2354 to physically contact at the same time: the latter two droplets may merge together. In one embodiment, the temporary assignments = 15 and 2316 are first energized 'to create a guard zone between the two droplets' to prevent any sound from occurring while the two droplets are moving toward the desired electrode. After the droplet editing and shifting of the electrode coffee and the 2315 towel, a liquid droplet is moved into the arrangement electrodes 2311 and 2314. This process can be repeated to multiply the necessary number of layers at the second rate of productivity. As a repetition from the first - recorded lion =), 2353 and 2354 merged along the diagonal into a liquid (four) coffee. Figure shows the microfluidic operation after the multi-layer mixed loop. Continuous microfluidic operation in the control side of the way to talk about the lack of money for the transfer of sisters. The figure (4) is produced in the figure. Such as = _ bridge 2415. When the bridge 2415 and the target are configured to be electrically charged, the pole 2460 is in the middle. The Terry Bridge is characterized by a micro-electrode line and a droplet-based system. It has all the advantages of the channel ‘; there is, the bridge configuration electrode is energized, the liquid will pass through the consideration. At the same time, it also "== to the liquid receiver i (dead ν〇1·). Once the head: with 7 snow 0 = the liquid filling in the configuration electrode 2460 is automated, that is, the broken bridge ^ configuration斤 = All microelectrodes are filled with liquid, it will stop the fine flow of liquid from the reservoir, because = 27 201244825 j process is not important. Can pass the appropriate (5) break point to accurately control the liquid 2430 The resulting microelectrode 2416 removes the excitation and then removes the excitation from the bridge, and the liquid 2Γ30 ί 10 is disconnected. This process will make sure that most of the liquid that will be bridged will be pulled back to the ΐίϊϋ0 ground solution &24930 will pass through the configuration electrode 2460 The 'electrode' of the microelectrode 2460 includes a number of electrodes, which can define other sizes and shapes of the electrodes to be produced.

Inch ^ shape. 2C illustrates the disappearance of the liquid bridge, and the _excitation = and configuration electrode 2460 produces a liquid 2430.履 a»Z4iU (four) 所示 Figure 24D shown in an embodiment, the same can be generated using the same liquid = after the excitation, the bridge with the excitation 2417 and the target configuration, the body flows from the bridge into the area of the lake. The bridge configuration electrode 241 is energized to energize the electrodes _ and 2471 to cause the liquid to break and the liquid liquids 2470 and 2430' are as shown in the ® 24E. This cutting process produces two sub-liquids of different sizes as long as the dimensions of the configuration electrodes 2461 and 2471 are pre-calculated to the desired size. - In another embodiment, Figures 25A-25C illustrate a mixing process that is performed by continuous flow microfluidic operation. Figure 25A illustrates the flow of liquid from the reservoirs 2510 and 252 through the bridges 2515 and 2525 and the excitation configuration electrodes 2516 and 2526' to the mixing chamber 2530. Here, the liquid associated with the configuration electrodes 2516 and 2526 is changed in shape for better mixing, and in addition, the size of the liquid is also different for ratio mixing. There is a gap between the configuration electrodes 2516 and 2526 to prevent premature mixing. Once the liquid fills the configuration electrodes 2516 and 2526, the configuration electrode 2530 (10 x 10 microelectrodes) is energized and the two liquids will be mixed as shown in Figure 25B. Then, the two bridge electrodes are removed and excited as shown in Fig. 25C. In this simple hybrid microfluidic operation, virtually all of the basic microfluidic operations are interpreted as (1) production: liquids 2516 and 2526 are produced from reservoirs 2510 and 2520 in a precise manner; (2) cutting : liquid 2516 and liquid 2510 are cut, liquid 2526 and liquid 2520 are cut; (3) transport: bridges 2515 and 2525

28 201244825 Transport liquid to the mixing chamber: Mix in fen. It is obvious that this combination of liquid _ and (d) is in the 2530 small size microelectrode. The implementation of the monthly method, because the resolution of the accuracy depends on the implementation of this method can be implemented in different ways. Among them, the square microelectrode array is described as being f, and its f pole forms the configuration electrode 26t4, which is in the vicinity of ^==6 (4). In a known manner, the square microelectrode in Fig. 26c The array, in which one of the intersecting edges of the hexagonal microelectrodes, has an advantage along the configuration electrode, but this only occurs on the x-axis. It is also possible to brew the microelectrode three without being limited to the three shapes discussed herein. The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, and it is appreciated that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. J is in the form of a simple description of the drawing. Fig. 1A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a conventional sandwiched EW〇D system. Fig. 1B is a schematic view showing a conventional grasping on a two-dimensional electrode array (10). Fig. 2 is a view showing a microelectrode array. The figure in which the configured-electrode in the microelectrode array can be configured in various shapes and sizes. p 3A 疋 differently shaped configuration electrodes and utilizing the microelectrode array structure [ο. Figure 3B is a diagram of a conventional physical engraving structure; Figure 3C is a diagram of a configuration electrode illustrating an amplifying portion of the reservoir and the configuration electrode 29 201244825 points. Figure 4 is a mixture of 彡, _ _, shot mixing = product adjustable and transparent top plate 'to accommodate the widest range (10) Figure 5A, 5B and 5C is a description of the ground grid (gr〇undgrid) coplanar 钍 = and 6B is the common ground of the ground pad (ground _): Figure, ^ A 曰, 7B and 7C are coplanar structures of the programmable grounding == Figure 8疋 illustrates the diagram of the hybrid board; 罔' Figure 9A, 9B And 9C illustrate the loading of the sample; Figures 9D and 9E illustrate that the loaded sample is self-determined on the reservoir. Figure 10 is a view showing the formation of liquid mesh under the EW0D microelectrode array structure; Figure 11A is a diagram illustrating the use of droplets. The aliquot technique produces a map of the droplets; solid, FIG. 11B is a diagram illustrating the preparation of the sample by the droplet halving technique; FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the ability of the liquid direction to be excited based on the biliary microelectrode array structure; 13A, 13B, and 13C are diagrams illustrating the use of the Ε-microelectrode-based bridging technique to deliver droplets; the early configurations of Figures 14A, 14B, and 14C are diagrams illustrating the excitation of the _microelectrode array; < The electrode cutting of the electrode 15B and ^ is to illustrate the droplet cutting based on the surface microelectrode array structure. The fine images 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D of the droplets based on the surface microelectrode array structure are illustrative of the _ microdroplet-based occlusion graph; the surface morphogram of the w I peach σ structure is shown in Fig. 1 FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B are diagrams illustrating the merging/mixing of two droplets based on the _microelectrode array structure; FIGS. 2A, 2B and 20C are diagrams illustrating the structure based on the 雠 microelectrode array Non-uniform 30 201244825 Plane moving to achieve rapid mixing of droplets; EW〇D ^ Figure 22 shows the loop mixer not based on the surface micro-electrical structure is a sound map; ~ Figure 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D 23E and 23F are diagrams illustrating a multilayer mixer based on the EW0D microelectrode array structure; Figs. 24A, 24B and 24C are diagrams illustrating the generation of droplets by excitation of a continuous flow; Figs. 24D and 24E are driving fluids driven by a flow of practice 25A, 25B, and 25C are diagrams of droplet merging/mixing by continuous flow driving; FIG. 26A illustrates a square microelectrode array; FIG. 26β illustrates a hexagonal microelectrode array; and FIG. 26C illustrates An array of square microelectrodes in a wall monument layout. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS] 100 microfluidic element 120, 121 glass bottom plate 121 lower bottom plate 130 controllable electrode 140 ground electrode 160 hydrophobic film 170 dielectric insulator 180, 371, 372, 720, 730, 1030, 1035, 1410, 1411, 2604, 2606 electrode 200 electrode array 200 210, 311, 510, 520, 52 610, 710, 1140, 2416, 2605 microelectrode 220, 230, 240, 260, 270, 760, 76 762, 763, 790, 1040, 1120 , 123 1232, 1233, 1234, 1235, 1237, 1239, 1260, 1330, 1340, 1370, 1510, 15U, 1512, 1610, 16Η, 1612, 1615, 31 201244825 1616, 1710, 17U, 1712, 1713, 1714 , 1715, 1716, 1820, 1840, 1910, 1911, 1912, 205, 2071, 2060, 2140, 2160, 2210-2280, 2310, 23Η, 2312, 2313, 2314, 2315, 2316, 2417, 2460, 2461, 2471 215, 2526, 2526, 2530, 2601 1115, 1130, 1145, 1150, 1160, 1250, 1350, 1450, 1550, 1551', 1552', 1650, 1651, 1652, 1750, 175, 1752, 1850, 1870, 1950, 195, 1953, 2050, 2070, 2050', 2051', 2060, 2070', 2150, 2290, 2350, 2351, 2352, 2353, 2354, 2355, 2356 Droplets 320, 330, 33, 332, 920, 941, 1015, 1030, 2410, 2510, 2520 reservoir 340 transport path 350 detection window 360, 2530 mixing chamber 410 top plate 420 electrode plates 511, 531 ground lines 515, 615 , 715, 1170, 1360 gap 611 ground pad 711, 840 electrode 740 arrow 810 switch 820 cover 821 electrode plate 880 grounding grid 915 top plate 910 input 璋 930 reagent 950 sample

32 201244825 970 coplanar electrode plate 980 passive cover 1180 blood cells 1420, 1421, 1422, 1615, 1616 electrode column 1860 liquid column 2470, 2430, 2516, 2526 liquid 2415, 2515, 2525 bridge 2603 microelectrode array 33

Claims (1)

201244825 VII. Patent application scope: Manipulating the bottom plate of the array formed by the microelectrodes in the D-micro-array array, the micro-electrodes are set = 2 = the top surface of the substrate covered by the layer; wherein each micro-electrode Connecting two grounding members; wherein the dielectric insulating layer and the grounding member are provided with a hydrophobic layer to form a surface hydrophobic with the droplet; μ plurality of microelectrodes are disposed to form a microfluid Shape and size layout, wherein the -group configuration electrode lays an n-th electrode' comprising a plurality of micro-electrodes arranged in an array; and at least adjacent to the first-arrangement electrode; the droplet arrangement and the electrode The top portion and the portion of the second adjacent configuration electrode overlap; the predetermined driving voltage is violently removed from the excitation - one or more selections along the selected ambiguity, and the fabric is placed on the electrode - one or more 减 minus L, - The method of cleaning 1 further includes manipulating the number of microelectrodes of the configuration electrode to control the size and shape of the droplets. π electric electrode 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the configuring electrode comprises at least one micro-element, wherein the set of configuration electrodes has a surface drip path and a designated functional electrode/"σ to, a detection window, a waste reservoir, The solution is in 5/21, 4=the method described] wherein the layout of the microfluidic component includes: two and electric i: J: room, detection window, waste storage, manipulation process _ E_ In the electrode array, (a) constructing a bottom plate including an array of a plurality of microelectrodes, the microelectrode 34. 201244825 is placed on the ground element of the substrate covered by the interlayer of the Wei-Wei layer, where ^^2 = hydrophobic layer to form a surface that is hydrophobic with the droplets; component, and /ίίίίΓ micro-electrode Wei-filament to produce micro-fluid cattle Layout according to the shape and size of the ..., 所述, 所述 帝 搞 搞 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , The electrodes are adjacent; the: i is placed in the first-configured electrode portion and the second adjacent configuration electrode is overlapped; (6) the material-disposing electrode removes the excitation, and the second will configure the electrode to be excited to move the droplet from the first Configuring the electrode to pull to the second configuration electrode; and - (d) sequentially energizing or removing the energized configuration electrode to drive the droplet edge by sequentially applying a driving voltage excitation or removing the excitation one or more selected j-poles The path of k is moved to manipulate one or a droplet between a plurality of configuration electrodes. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising splitting the droplet by using three configuration electrodes, the droplet of the towel on the first (disposed) electrode of the towel (four) being substantially adjacent to the two second adjacent configurations The electrodes overlap, comprising: (〇 configuring two temporary configuration electrodes, the temporary configuration electrode comprising a plurality of microelectrode lines covering the droplets loaded on the first configuration electrode; (ii) exciting the two temporary Configuring electrodes; fiii) exciting row by row to move toward the two second adjacent configuration electrodes, and removing excitation from the line closest to the center to substantially align toward the two second adjacent configuration electrodes Pulling the droplets; and (iv) removing the excitation of the two temporary configuration electrodes, energizing the two second adjacent configuration electrodes. 8. The method of claim 6 further comprising splitting the droplet by utilizing three configuration electrodes, wherein the droplet is loaded on the first configuration electrode at the center, and the two adjacent configuration electrodes are not associated with the droplet Overlapping, comprising: (a) configuring two temporary configuration electrodes 'the temporary configuration electrode comprising a plurality of microelectrode lines covering droplets loaded on the first configuration electrode; 35 201244825 (b) stimulating the two Temporarily arranging the electrodes; (c) exciting the rows one by one to move toward the two of the second adjacent configuration electrodes, and removing the excitation from the line closest to the center to substantially align the electrodes toward the two of the second. Pulling the droplets; and # (d) removing the excitation of the two temporary configuration electrodes, energizing the two second electrodes. π 9. The method of claim 6, further comprising: by using three configuration cracks, wherein the droplets are partially overlapped, and wherein the droplets in the Zhongkang-configuration electrode are partially overlapped, Included: (i) removing the excitation first configuration electrode; and liquid quotient (ii) exciting the two second adjacent configuration electrodes to substantially pull and cut 10, as described in claim 7, further including diagonally a line splitting droplet, comprising: l (0 sets the droplet on the first configuration electrode; (ii) removing the excitation from the first configuration electrode, and two diagonal lines overlapping the first alignment Arranging a second adjacent configuration electrode to excite the droplets toward the two second adjacent configuration electrodes arranged diagonally; and (111) pairing the first configuration electrode with two diagonal lines The m _ = arrangement of overlapping regions between the electrodes removes the excitation to have the face gorge into two sub-ranges, including the method of claim 6, and further includes relocating the droplets to the reservoir Eight produces a temporary configuration electrode, wherein the temporary configuration electrode and the reservoir - punch Heavy i, and a portion of the droplet does not overlap with the reservoir; the device is heavy to the counter = the electrode is placed to drag the droplet, so that the droplet and the liquid reservoir «will be combined with the liquid Excitation, 12, in a programmable EW〇D microelectrode array comprising a plurality of microelectrodes 36 201244825 A method of manipulating a droplet, the method comprising: constructing a bottom plate comprising an array of a plurality of microelectrodes, the microelectrodes being disposed on a surface of a substrate covered by an insulating layer; The microelectrode is connected to at least the geotechnical element in the structure; the towel is provided with a hydrophobic layer on the upper part of the grounding and the grounded bull to form a hydrophobic surface; (b) manipulating the plurality of microelectrodes Setting the electrodes to produce microfluids ' ΐ 布局 ΐ 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照 按照At least two adjacent arrangement electrodes 'which are adjacent to the first-arrangement electrode; the droplets are disposed at a portion of the first-position impurity top and the second adjacent arrangement electrode; (C) the configuration is not the first Configuring a third adjacent configuration electrode on which the droplets on the electrode overlap, and 1, (using a driving voltage excitation or removing the excitation one or more selected electrodes to sequentially excite or remove the excitation selected Configuring electrodes to drive The correcting path moves to manipulate a droplet between the plurality of configuration electrodes. The method of claim 12, wherein the method of moving the droplet along the diagonal line configures the drum and the partial liquid stack And arranging a third adjacent to deliver the diagonal of the first configuration electrode and the excitation of the temporary configuration electrode to the third adjacent configuration pole. (Exiting the excitation of the temporary configuration electrode 'and exciting The method of item 12, further comprising: moving the droplets in all directions (1) generating a temporary configuration electrode overlapping with a portion of the droplets, and generating a third adjacent 37 201244825 configuration electrode; _ ( Ii) transporting droplets from the first configuration electrode to the third adjacent configuration electrode by removing the excitation of the first configuration electrode and exciting the temporary configuration electrode; and (11) removing the excitation of the temporary configuration electrode and exciting The third adjacent configuration electrode. The method of claim 6, further comprising a method of coplanar splitting, comprising: (i) configuring a thin strip temporary configuration electrode overlapping the droplet; (ii) removing Exciting the first configuration electrode and exciting the thin strip temporary configuration electrode; (ill) removing the temporary configuration electrode; and (iv) exciting the first configuration electrode and the second adjacent configuration electrode. Π, as in claim 6 The method further includes a method of merging two droplets by using three configuration electrodes, wherein the two first configuration electrodes are separated by the second adjacent configuration electrode, comprising: (i) removing the excitation of the two The first configuration electrode; and (II) the second adjacent configuration electrode in the middle of the excitation. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the method of deforming mixing, comprising: (〇 generating two temporary configuration electrodes to Deforming the shape of the two droplets; (ii) removing the excitation of the two first configuration electrodes and stimulating the two when the electrodes are configured; and (III) removing the excitation of the two temporary configuration electrodes and exciting the middle Arrange the electrodes adjacent to each other. The method of claim 6, further comprising: generating the temporary arrangement electrode to deform the shape of the droplet by causing the accumulating liquid to be mixed with green, the towel package is shaped like a 1 shape; (ii) removing the excitation of the first configuration electrode and exciting the temporary configuration electrode; (Hi) removing the excitation of the temporary configuration electrode and exciting the first configuration electrode iv) repeating the removal excitation of the temporary configuration electrode and the first configuration electrode 38 201244825 and incentives. Acceleration includes the method of arranging the electrode to loop back by (1) arranging the electrode during the production of the multi-ship; and the method of the method of the splicing, and the method of the multi-layer mixing a plurality of electrodes ω) on the matte-initial arrangement to generate a temporary configuration of the first drain _ excitation at the center of the arrangement electrode of the array of 2 χ 2, the filaments being de-energized from the two tw-electrodes on the two And exciting the temporary configuration electrode at the second diagonal position, and exciting the two temporary externally disposed electrodes to the two of the additional temporary configuration electrodes The excitation is removed and the two first-arranged electrodes on the pair of I are energized to complete the transport; (iv) the diagonal position first-excited to combine the diagonal splitting and transport from the two (V111) repeats Combined with the diagonal. 3. The method of claim 6, further comprising: shaping the droplets (1) arranging the first temporary configuration electrode in the reservoir, (1) from the reservoir with the liquid being placed adjacent to the reservoir Configuring Electrode Wires, 39 201244825 (iii) generating a second temporary arrangement electrode overlapping the liquid reconfiguration electrode in the reservoir; ,, approaching adjacent (iv) to the first temporary configuration electrode Exciting; (v) exciting the second temporary configuration electrode removal excitation parallel electrode; and removing the excitation from the nearest adjacent configuration of the adjacent excitation element, and after 庠π - Adjacently arranged electrodes are energized until droplets are generated. The method described further includes the use of droplet halving techniques to produce (i) generating target configuration electrodes for desired droplet sizes. (ii) a reservoir from which the liquid is loaded is configured with a small size phase == to the target configuration electrode, wherein two turns of the small electrode line overlap the reservoir and the target configuration electrode; III) stimulating the target configuration electrode (IV) along the path from the reservoir side to the target-arranged electrode, each small-sized adjacent configuration electrode carrying micro-aliquoted droplets is programmed to excite and remove excitation; and (V) Exciting and removing the excitation sequence of the small-sized adjacent configuration electrodes to generate the desired droplets in the target configuration electrode. 25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of performing pre-calculation of the number of droplets The method of claim 6, further comprising a method for calculating a volume of a droplet loaded on the first-arrangement electrode by a paste liquid fraction technique, comprising: (i) generating a storage configuration electrode; Disposing a temporary arrangement electrode inside the first arrangement electrode; (111) arranging a small-sized adjacent arrangement electrode line from a first configuration 1 pole loaded with droplets connected to the storage arrangement electrode, wherein Both ends of the small-sized adjacent arrangement electrode line overlap with the first configuration electrode and the storage configuration electrode; Civ) exciting the temporary configuration electrode; Cv) exciting the storage configuration electrode; 201244825 The electrode performs excitation and removal excitation; and) the mother small-sized adjacent configuration calculates the excitation and removal excitation sequence of the household configuration electrode, and the method described by the edge=,, the ten-t request item 12 further includes utilizing the first Configuring the tape to perform the 'electrode including the third adjacent arrangement for i); ΪΓ first - arranging the electrode to remove the excitation, and arranging the electrode electrode for the bridge s_ pole wire, and paying for the three adjacent configurations ^ = the method of claim 6, further comprising moving the droplets by column excitation (i) configuring a column-arranged electrode comprising a plurality of columns of micro-electrodes; and exciting the self-excited electrode comprising a plurality of columns of micro-electrodes together with the de-axis (11) All residual droplets on the ship's electrode are punctured by arranging the = excitation of the electrodes along the target direction. The method of claim 6, wherein the liquid reservoir is a liquid. Different configurations for the desired liquid size and miscellaneous target configuration electrodes • i) configuration of the bridge configuration electrode, the bridge configuration electrode including the microelectrode wire and connected 41 201244825 to the reservoir and the target configuration And the (mountain) excitation of the bridge configuration electrode and the target #configuration electrode; the bridge with the nearest bridge f and the target configuration electrode 32, such as =3^ + excitation Configure the electrode to remove the stimulus. And the method of sub-f, and the method of using the continuous flow to control the size of the body 2 = splitting the liquid into the seed (four), the liquid appliance is loaded with the liquid Dazaki - side size and shape standard configuration The second target (VI) having a second sub-liquid size and shape of the sense is used to excite the first target configuration electrode. (4) The method of 6 reliance, including the continued dimensions such as controlled size, including and. And the two liquid_methods are combined, the liquid in which the liquid in the liquid is loaded, (i) the mixed configuration electrode is arranged; the second item is mixed with the first electrode of the mixed arrangement electrode _ greening in the configuration - the bridge configuration electrode The first bridge configuration electrode includes a micro lightning line and is connected to the first-target configuration electrode and the first liquid source L includes a micro-electric (four) ϋ configuration second bridge configuration electrode 'the second bridge configuration electrode includes a Kole line And connecting to the second target configuration electrode and the second liquid source, including the micro-electric first mesh-bridge 1 and the second bridge configuration electrode, and the first-purpose private configuration electrode and the second target Configuring the electrodes for excitation (vi) deactivating the first bridge configuration electrode and the second bridge configuration electrode; and (νι〇 exciting the hybrid configuration electrode. The method, wherein the grounding mechanism has a gap between the two-plane junction bottom plate, the top plate is located above the bottom plate, and the top plate is in the same manner as the method, wherein the grounding mechanism is a passive network 1 The money is based on the grounding mechanism There is a green grounding pad 1 lining, and its method of lying in the county has a grounding 38, as described in the request, the grounding welding _ coplanar structure is designed. Na is the method described in the article 1 'The description of the grounding mechanism is a hybrid structure that combines the double flat and the coplanar structure with a selectable switch. ^ The method of 0 in the middle of the device =: 6 The method further includes loading the liquid into the a stock solution (0 loading the liquid onto the coplanar structure; and (ii) placing a passive cover on the liquid. 4 The method of claim 1 further comprises adapting to a wide range and The grounding mechanism is at the top k of the biplanar structure. The top plate is located at the floor of the bottom plate and has a gap therebetween; and includes: (1) a height of a gap between the top plate and the bottom plate ((1) configuring the configuration The electrode is sized to contact the droplet of the droplet to contact the top plate and the bottom plate; and to liquefy, (iii) configure the size of the configuration electrode to control the droplet size to contact only the bottom plate. Liquid ϋ ΐ ΐ ΐ 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中 其中Arranged in a generally circular, square, hexagonal or honeycomb-shaped stack tablet. Soap bad ice type 43