Cartridge and system for manipulating samples in liquid droplets

1. A cartridge ( 1 ) with a working film ( 10 ) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with an electrode array ( 20 ) when the working film ( 10 ) of the cartridge ( 1 ) is placed on said electrode array ( 20 ),

wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) comprises:

a) a body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) that comprises an upper surface ( 3 ), a lower surface ( 4 ), and a number of wells ( 5 ) configured to hold therein reagents ( 6 ) or samples ( 6 ′);

b) a flexibly deformable top structure ( 7 ) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal a top side of the wells ( 5 );

c) a piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal a bottom side of the wells ( 5 );

d) a working film ( 10 ) located below the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″), the working film ( 10 ) being impermeable to liquids and comprising a hydrophobic upper surface ( 11 );

e) a peripheral spacer ( 9 , 9 ′, 9 ″) located below the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) and connecting the working film ( 10 ) to the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″);

f) a gap ( 12 ) between the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) and the hydrophobic upper surface ( 11 ) of the working film ( 10 ), the gap ( 12 ) being defined by the peripheral spacer ( 9 , 9 ′, 9 ″); and

g) a number of piercing elements ( 13 ) located below piercable bottom structures ( 8 ) and configured to pierce the piercable bottom structures ( 8 ) for releasing reagents or samples ( 6 , 6 ′) from the wells ( 5 ) into the gap ( 12 ).

2. The cartridge of claim 1 ,

wherein the body ( 2 ) comprises a flat lower surface ( 4 ), the body ( 2 ) being configured as a plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or as a frame structure ( 2 ″) with a central opening ( 14 ).

3. The cartridge of claim 2 ,

wherein the flexibly deformable top structure ( 7 ) is configured as a flexible foil that is sealingly attached to the upper surface ( 3 ) of the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

4. The cartridge of claim 3 ,

wherein the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) is configured as a piercable bottom portion of the body ( 2 ) that is integrated in the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

5. The cartridge of claim 2 ,

wherein the flexibly deformable top structure ( 7 ) is configured as a flexible top portion of the body ( 2 ) that is integrated in the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

6. The cartridge of claim 5 ,

wherein the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) is configured as a piercable foil that is sealingly attached to the lower surface ( 4 ) of the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

7. The cartridge of claim 2 ,

wherein the peripheral spacer ( 9 ) is configured as a peripheral rim ( 9 ′) that surrounds an area of the gap ( 12 ) and that is integrally formed with the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

8. The cartridge of claim 7 ,

wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) comprises intermediate spacers ( 15 ) located within the area of the gap ( 12 ) and integrally formed with the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

9. The cartridge of claim 7 ,

wherein the piercing elements ( 13 ) are located within the area of the gap ( 12 ) and close to the peripheral rim ( 9 ′), the piercing elements ( 13 ) being attached to the peripheral rim ( 9 ′) and/or to the to the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

10. The cartridge of claim 2 ,

wherein the peripheral spacer ( 9 ) is configured as a separate peripheral element ( 9 ″) that surrounds the gap ( 12 ) and that is attached to the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

11. The cartridge of claim 10 ,

wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) comprises intermediate spacers ( 15 ) configured as separate elements located within the area of the gap ( 12 ) and attached to the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ) of the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

12. The cartridge of claim 10 ,

wherein the piercing elements ( 13 ) are located within the area of the gap ( 12 ) and are integrally formed with the separate peripheral element ( 9 ″) that surrounds the gap ( 12 ).

13. The cartridge of claim 7 ,

wherein the working film ( 10 ) is attached to the peripheral rim ( 9 ′) of the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

14. The cartridge of claim 1 ,

wherein the working film ( 10 ) is configured as a monolayer of a hydrophobic material.

15. The cartridge of claim 1 ,

wherein the working film ( 10 ) is configured as a monolayer of electrically non-conductive material, the upper surface ( 11 ) of the working film ( 10 ) being treated to be hydrophobic.

16. The cartridge of claim 1 ,

wherein the working film ( 10 ) is configured as a laminate comprising a lower layer and a hydrophobic upper layer, the lower layer being electrically conductive or non-conductive.

17. The cartridge of claim 2 ,

wherein the central opening ( 14 ) of the frame structure ( 2 ″) is configured as a depression in the upper surface ( 3 ) leaving a bottom portion ( 16 ) of the body ( 2 ) that is integrally formed with the frame structure ( 2 ″) to form the substantially flat lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 ).

18. The cartridge of claim 2 ,

wherein the central opening ( 14 ) of the frame structure ( 2 ″) is configured as a through hole penetrating the entire frame structure ( 2 ″).

19. The cartridge of claim 18 ,

wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) comprises a rigid cover ( 17 ) attached to the frame structure ( 2 ″), the rigid cover ( 17 ) closing the gap ( 12 ) on a side opposite to the working film ( 10 ), a lower surface of the rigid cover ( 17 ) being flush with the lower surface ( 4 ) of the frame structure ( 2 ″).

20. The cartridge of claim 19 ,

wherein the rigid cover ( 17 ) has the same extension as the frame structure ( 2 ″) and comprises a number of holes ( 18 ) located below the wells ( 5 ), the holes ( 18 ) having a size and shape sufficient to allow the piercing elements ( 13 ) to abut and pierce a respective piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) of a well ( 5 ).

21. The cartridge of claim 18 ,

wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) comprises a rigid cover ( 17 ) and a cover layer ( 19 ), the rigid cover ( 17 ) and the cover layer ( 19 ) being attached to the frame structure ( 2 ″) in a way that the rigid cover ( 17 ) closes the gap ( 12 ) on a side opposite to the working film ( 10 ), a lower surface of the rigid cover ( 17 ) being flush with the lower surface ( 4 ) of the frame structure ( 2 ″).

22. The cartridge of claim 2 ,

wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) is configured as a plate-like structure ( 2 ′) and comprises a cover layer ( 19 ), the cover layer ( 19 ) being attached to the body ( 2 ) in a way that the cover layer ( 19 ) closes the gap ( 12 ) on a side opposite to the working film ( 10 ), a lower surface of the cover layer ( 19 ) being flush with the lower surface ( 4 ) of the plate-like structure ( 2 ′).

23. The cartridge of claim 21 ,

wherein the cover layer ( 19 ) is configured as a piercable foil that is sealingly attached to the lower surface ( 4 ) of the frame structure ( 2 ″).

24. The cartridge of claim 23 ,

wherein the cover layer ( 19 ) is electrically conductive and is hydrophobic at least on a surface directed to the gap ( 12 ), the cartridge ( 1 ) comprising an electrical ground connection ( 54 ) that is connected to the cover layer ( 19 ) and that is attachable to a ground potential source.

25. The cartridge of claim 2 ,

wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) comprises at least one optical fiber ( 21 ) or window ( 22 ) for bringing light to a droplet ( 23 ) in the gap ( 12 ) and/or for guiding light away from a droplet ( 23 ) in the gap ( 12 ).

26. The cartridge of claim 1 ,

wherein the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) comprises a specimen intake ( 24 ) that comprises an intake recess ( 25 ) and an intake device ( 26 ), the intake device ( 26 ) being at least partially positionable in an active position in the intake recess ( 25 ).

27. The cartridge of claim 26 ,

wherein the intake device ( 26 ) comprises:

(a) a cylinder tube ( 27 ) with a first end ( 28 ) and with a second end ( 29 ),

(b) a plunger ( 30 ) that is insertable on the first tube end ( 28 ) and that is movable in the cylinder tube ( 27 ), and

(c) a sealing foil ( 31 ) that sealingly closes the second end ( 29 ) of the cylinder tube ( 27 ).

28. The cartridge of claim 1 ,

wherein the piercing elements ( 13 ) are located below a well ( 5 ) or an intake recess ( 25 ), the piercing elements ( 13 ) being configured to pierce at least the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) when actuated by an actuating element ( 41 ) of a system ( 40 ) for liquid droplet manipulation.

29. The cartridge of claim 10 ,

wherein the working film ( 10 ) is attached to the peripheral rim ( 9 ′) or to the separate peripheral element ( 9 ″) of the plate-like structure ( 2 ′) or frame structure ( 2 ″).

30. The cartridge of claim 22 ,

wherein the cover layer ( 19 ) is configured as a piercable foil that is sealingly attached to the lower surface ( 4 ) of the frame structure ( 2 ″) or of the plate-like structure ( 2 ′).

31. System ( 40 ) for liquid droplet manipulation, the system ( 40 ) comprising a substrate ( 42 ) with an electrode array ( 20 ) and a central control unit ( 43 ) for controlling the selection of individual electrodes ( 44 ) of the electrode array ( 43 ) and for providing the electrodes ( 44 ) with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets ( 23 ) by electrowetting,

wherein the system ( 40 ) comprises at least one cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 1 and wherein the wherein the working film ( 10 ) of cartridge ( 1 ) is on top of the electrodes ( 44 ).

32. The system of claim 31 ,

wherein the system ( 40 ) comprises actuating elements ( 41 ) for actuating piercing elements ( 13 ) of the cartridge ( 1 ), the piercing elements ( 13 ) being configured for piercing at least the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) of the cartridge ( 1 ) and thus for releasing reagents, treatment liquids, reaction liquids or sample containing liquids into the gap ( 12 ) of the cartridge ( 1 ).

33. The system of claim 31 ,

wherein the system ( 40 ) comprises actuating elements ( 41 ) for actuating flexibly deformable top structures ( 7 ) of the cartridge ( 1 ), the flexibly deformable top structures ( 7 ) being configured to be pushed inwards by an actuating element ( 41 ) and to thereby reduce the internal volume of the inner chamber of an intake recess ( 25 ) or the internal volume of a well ( 5 ) for releasing lysate, reagents, treatment liquids, or reaction liquids to the gap ( 12 ) of the cartridge ( 1 ).

34. The system of claim 32 ,

wherein the actuating elements ( 41 ) are configured as plungers that are slidingly movable in guiding channels ( 45 ) and that are agitated by an agitation mechanism ( 46 ).

35. The system of claim 34 ,

wherein the agitation mechanism ( 46 ) for agitating the actuating elements ( 41 ) is configured as one of a wax pump bladder, a solenoid driven or clamping mechanism driven lever ( 51 ).

36. The system of claim 35 ,

wherein the agitation mechanism ( 46 ) for agitating the actuating elements ( 41 ) is configured as a clamping mechanism driven lever ( 51 ), the clamping mechanism ( 52 ) being hand driven and configured to press the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) of the cartridge ( 1 ) onto the substrate ( 42 ) and electrode array ( 20 ) of the system ( 40 ).

37. The system of claim 31 ,

wherein the substrate ( 42 ) comprises an abutment surface ( 47 ) which is offset to a surface level ( 48 ) of the electrodes ( 44 ) such that a peripheral rim ( 9 ′) or separate peripheral element ( 9 ″) of the cartridge ( 1 ) to which the working film ( 10 ) is attached is movable beyond the surface level ( 48 ) of the electrodes ( 44 ) for stretching the working film ( 10 ) on the electrodes ( 44 ).

38. The system of claim 31 ,

wherein the substrate ( 42 ) comprises a surface ( 49 ) which is offset to a surface level ( 48 ) of the electrodes ( 44 ) such that at least a part of the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″) or of the spacer ( 9 ) of the cartridge ( 1 ) to which the working film ( 10 ) is attached is movable beyond the surface level ( 48 ) of the electrodes ( 44 ) for stretching the working film ( 10 ) on the electrodes ( 44 ).

39. The system of claim 31 ,

wherein the substrate ( 42 ) comprises an electrically insulating film, layer or cover ( 50 ) that is applied to the electrode array ( 20 ), that covers all individual electrodes ( 44 ) of the electrode array ( 20 ) and that separates the individual electrodes ( 44 ) from each other.

40. The system of claim 33 ,

wherein the actuating elements ( 41 ) are configured as plungers that are slidingly movable in guiding channels ( 45 ) and that are agitated by an agitation mechanism ( 46 ).