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Publication Number
US-11061045-B2
Publication Date
2021-07-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A matrix droplet extruder includes one or a plurality of reagent containers. Pneumatic connectors are each connectable to a corresponding docking station connector of a docking station that is connectable to a pneumatic generator controllable by a controller to provide pneumatic pressure to the pneumatic docking station connectors. A droplet matrix extrusion surface includes an array of perforations. A liquid management chip has a network of dispensing channels for dispensing reagents from reagent containers through the array of perforations. A pneumatic control network includes pneumatic channels and gates that are controllable by application of the pneumatic pressure to the gates via the pneumatic channels to enable or block dispensing the one or more reagents to repeatedly generate a matrix of droplets when applying the pneumatic pressure to the reagents.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a matrix droplet extruder having a casing, one or a plurality of reagent containers, and a droplet matrix extrusion surface with an array of perforations. The extruder includes a liquid management chip having a network of dispensing channels for dispensing one or more reagents from the reagent containers through the array of perforations.
A pneumatic control network with pneumatic channels and gates is provided, where the gates are enabled or blocked by application of pneumatic pressure to the gates via the pneumatic channels. A plurality of pneumatic connectors on the casing are each connectable to corresponding docking station connectors of a docking station connected to a pneumatic generator controllable by a controller.
When pneumatic pressure is controllably provided to one or more docking station connectors by the controller, the pneumatic control network enables or blocks dispensing of the one or more reagents repeatedly, thereby repeatedly generating a matrix of droplets. The described embodiments further include pneumatic control configured to repeatedly generate the matrix of droplets, and may add a droplet mixing pattern on the droplet matrix extrusion surface, as well as cleaning-fluid reservoirs and inlet/outlet and waste routing for cleaning the extrusion surface.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover two related aspects: a matrix droplet extruder architecture with pneumatic connectors, a liquid management chip, and a pneumatic control network with gates, and a matrix droplet generator that combines a pneumatic pressure generator and docking station with that extruder architecture. Across these independent claims, the core inventive features are the pneumatic connector/docking station interface and controller-controlled pneumatic pressure used to repeatedly enable or block dispensing through a droplet matrix extrusion surface using a liquid management chip and a pneumatic channels-and-gates network.
Pneumatic matrix droplet extruder with controller-controlled pneumatic pressure
A casing, one or a plurality of reagent containers, and a plurality of pneumatic connectors connectable to corresponding pneumatic docking station connectors of a docking station connectable to a pneumatic generator controllable by a controller, where the controller controllably provides pneumatic pressure to one or more of the pneumatic docking station connectors.
Dispensing through droplet matrix extrusion surface using a liquid management chip with dispensing-channel network
A droplet matrix extrusion surface with an array of perforations and a liquid management chip having a network of dispensing channels for dispensing one or more reagents from the one or a plurality of reagent containers through the array of perforations.
Pneumatic control network with gates for repeatedly generating a matrix of droplets
A pneumatic control network comprising pneumatic channels and gates configured to be controlled by application of the pneumatic pressure to the gates via the pneumatic channels, where enabling or blocking dispensing of the one or more reagents repeatedly generates a matrix of droplets.
Matrix droplet generator with pneumatic pressure generator and docking station controlled by controller
A pneumatic pressure generator, a controller configured to control the pneumatic pressure generator, and a docking station having a plurality of pneumatic docking station connectors connected to the pneumatic pressure generator, with the controller programmed to controllably provide pneumatic pressure to one or more of the plurality of pneumatic docking station connectors.
Together, the independent claims require pneumatic pressure generation and controller control routed through docking station connectors to a matrix droplet extruder whose liquid management chip dispenses reagents through an array of perforations. A pneumatic control network with pneumatic channels and gates enables or blocks dispensing to repeatedly generate a matrix of droplets.
Stated Advantages
Enables repeatedly generating a matrix of droplets by controllably enabling or blocking dispensing using pneumatic pressure.
Documented Applications
Point-of-care diagnostics sample analysis system using a matrix droplet extruder and an analysis module to read results from reagent dot positions.
A standalone reagent dot printing system using pre-extruded slides.
A standalone sample processing system for using preprinted sample slides.
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