Spatially variable dielectric layers for digital microfluidics
Inventors
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Assignees
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NucleraNuclera develops automated benchtop platforms and integrated systems for rapid protein expression, optimization, and purification, utilizing cell-free synthesis, digital microfluidics, and software-driven workflows. Their technology enables miniaturized and scalable protein prototyping—including challenging targets such as membrane proteins—directly at the lab bench. Nuclera serves academic and industrial researchers, focusing on reducing turnaround time for functional protein access and streamlining screening and production. The company has secured significant funding to enable broad commercialization, expanded their leadership team to support scale-up, and continues to drive advancements in drug discovery, proteomics, and experimental automation.
Nuclera develops automated benchtop platforms and integrated systems for rapid protein expression, optimization, and purification, utilizing cell-free synthesis, digital microfluidics, and software-driven workflows. Their technology enables miniaturized and scalable protein prototyping—including challenging targets such as membrane proteins—directly at the lab bench. Nuclera serves academic and industrial researchers, focusing on reducing turnaround time for functional protein access and streamlining screening and production. The company has secured significant funding to enable broad commercialization, expanded their leadership team to support scale-up, and continues to drive advancements in drug discovery, proteomics, and experimental automation.
Publication Number
US-11554374-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A digital microfluidic device including an active matrix of propulsion electrodes controlled by thin-film-transistors. The device includes at least two areas of different propulsion electrode densities. One area may be driven by directly-driving the propulsion electrodes from a power supply or function generator. In the first, higher density region; a first dielectric layer covers the propulsion electrodes. The first dielectric layer has a first dielectric constant and a first thickness. In the second, lower density region, a second dielectric layer has a second dielectric constant and a second thickness covering the propulsion electrodes.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a digital microfluidic device comprising an active matrix of propulsion electrodes controlled by thin-film-transistors and including at least two areas of different propulsion electrode densities covered by different dielectric layers. A first dielectric layer having a first dielectric constant and a first thickness covers a first, higher-density region of propulsion electrodes, and a second dielectric layer having a second dielectric constant and a second thickness covers a second, lower-density region of propulsion electrodes, enabling different electrodes to operate at different potentials and frequencies.
The background identifies that traditional EWoD devices use a single dielectric layer across regions with different functions or pixel densities, producing a relatively uniform maximum operating voltage that leads to electrical strain, voltage leakage, and substrate breakdown in high-strain areas such as reservoirs. The present architecture of a spatially variable dielectric addresses these problems by enabling region-specific dielectric properties to preserve functionality in high-strain areas and extend the useful lifetime of the digital microfluidic device.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim identified: one independent claim. The main inventive features relate to electrode populations with differing densities and drive characteristics, a controller providing propulsion voltage, and region-specific dielectric layers.
First plurality of electrodes coupled to switches
A first plurality of electrodes having a first density and operatively coupled to a set of switches.
Controller providing propulsion voltage
A controller operatively coupled to the set of switches and configured to provide a propulsion voltage to at least a portion of the first plurality of electrodes.
Second plurality of electrodes configured for higher voltage
A second plurality of electrodes having a second density and configured to operate at a higher voltage than the propulsion voltage of the first plurality of electrodes.
First dielectric layer covering first plurality
A first dielectric layer having a first dielectric constant and a first thickness, the first dielectric layer covering the first plurality of electrodes.
Second dielectric layer covering second plurality
A second dielectric layer having a second dielectric constant and a second thickness, the second dielectric layer covering the second plurality of electrodes.
The independent claim covers a digital microfluidic device architecture combining distinct electrode populations with corresponding controller-driven propulsion and region-specific dielectric layers that differ in dielectric constant and thickness to permit different operating voltages across regions.
Stated Advantages
Enables different electrodes to operate at different potentials and frequencies.
Preserves functionality in high strain areas, such as adjacent the reservoirs, thereby extending device lifetime.
Allows higher actuation strength in reservoir regions, improving predictability of droplet snap-off and regulation of droplet volume.
Expands the range of materials that can be introduced from the reservoir onto the device.
Prevents catastrophic device failure in high-stress regions by allowing thicker, more robust dielectrics in those areas.
Documented Applications
Lab-on-a-chip applications including sample preparation, assays, and synthetic chemistry.
Mass parallelization of droplet procedures using active matrix arrays to control multiple droplets and execute simultaneous analytical processes.
Rapid droplet dispensing from reservoirs and droplet partitioning.
Use of specialized reservoir electrodes for forming and dispensing droplets to prevent fluid escape from reservoir regions.
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