Droplet actuator configurations and methods
Droplet actuators for conducting droplet operations, such as droplet transport and droplet dispensing, are provided. In one embodiment, the droplet actuator may include a substrate including, droplet operations electrodes arranged for conducting droplet operations on a surface of the substrate; and reference electrodes associated with the droplet operations electrodes and extending above the surface of the substrate. Other embodiments of droplet actuators and methods of loading and using such droplet actuators are also provided.
1. A droplet actuator comprising a substrate comprising:
(a) a path of two or more droplet operations electrodes configured for conducting one or more droplet operations; and
(b) dedicated reference electrodes arranged alongside the path and inset into and/or interdigitated with one or more droplet operations electrodes.
2. The droplet actuator of claim 1 comprising a reference electrode inset into a droplet operations electrode.
3. The droplet actuator of claim 1 comprising a reference electrode inset between two or more droplet operations electrodes.
4. The droplet actuator of claim 1 comprising a reference electrode interdigitated with a droplet operations electrode.
5. The droplet actuator of claim 1 having a droplet operations electrode configuration as shown in FIG. 5A .
6. The droplet actuator of claim 1 having a droplet operations electrode configuration as shown in FIG. 5B .
7. The droplet actuator of claim 1 having a droplet operations electrode configuration as shown in FIG. 5C .
8. The droplet actuator of claim 1 having a droplet operations electrode configuration as shown in FIG. 5D .
9. The droplet actuator of claim 1 having a droplet operations electrode configuration as shown in FIG. 5E .
10. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises an electrode that is rotationally but not reflectively symmetrical.
11. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises a path and/or array of the electrodes.
12. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises interdigitated electrodes.
13. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes that are not interdigitated.
14. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes having X-fold rotational symmetry, wherein X is 3.
15. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes having X-fold rotational symmetry, wherein X is 4.
16. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes having X-fold rotational symmetry, wherein X is 5.
17. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes having X-fold rotational symmetry, wherein X is 6.
18. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes having X-fold rotational symmetry, wherein X is 7.
19. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes having X-fold rotational symmetry, wherein X is 8.
20. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes having X-fold rotational symmetry, wherein X is 9.
21. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes having X-fold rotational symmetry, wherein X is 10.
22. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises electrodes having X-fold rotational symmetry, wherein X is greater than 10.
23. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises a path and/or array of the electrodes, wherein adjacent electrodes are arranged such that no line can be drawn between two adjacent electrodes without overlapping one or both of the two adjacent electrodes.
24. The droplet actuator of claim 23 wherein the electrodes are not interdigitated.
25. The droplet actuator of claim 23 wherein the electrodes are interdigitated.
26. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises an electrode that is rotationally and reflectively symmetrical, where the rotational symmetry is X-fold and X is 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more.
27. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises a path and/or array of interdigitated electrodes, wherein adjacent interdigitated electrodes are arranged such that no line can be drawn between two adjacent electrodes without overlapping one or both of the two adjacent electrodes.
28. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises a path or array of electrodes, each having a shape that is a section of rotationally and reflectively symmetrical shape, the electrode having X-fold rotational symmetry, where X is 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more.
29. The droplet actuator of claim 1 wherein the droplet operations electrode configuration comprises a path or array of electrodes, each having a shape that comprises a section of a rotationally but not reflectively symmetrical shape, the electrode having X-fold rotational symmetry, where X is 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more.