Cartridge and system for manipulating samples in liquid droplets

1. A cartridge ( 1 ) with a working film ( 10 ) and at least one piercing element ( 13 ) 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 ′), each well ( 5 ) comprising a top opening ( 72 ), and a bottom opening ( 73 ) for releasing a liquid from the well ( 5 );

b) a piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal at least one of the bottom openings ( 73 ) of the wells ( 5 );

c) 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 );

d) a peripheral spacer ( 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 ″); and

e) 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 );

wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) further comprises

f) at least one top piercing system ( 60 ), each located within at least one of the wells ( 5 ) for releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from said at least one well ( 5 ) into the gap ( 12 );

wherein each top piercing system ( 60 ) comprises a piston ( 61 ) and a piercing element ( 13 ), the piston ( 61 ) being configured to be movable within said well ( 5 ) while providing a seal between the piston ( 61 ) and the inner wall of the well ( 5 ), and the piercing element ( 13 ) being configured as a thorn ( 63 ) located at a front side ( 74 ) of the piston ( 61 ) and being configured to pierce the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) for releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from said at least one well ( 5 ) into the gap ( 12 ) upon moving the piston ( 61 ) within the well ( 5 ) toward its bottom opening ( 73 ).

2. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) is configured as a piercable foil ( 79 ) that is sealingly attached to the lower surface ( 4 ) of the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″).

3. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 2 , wherein the piercable foil ( 79 ) is sized to seal the bottom openings ( 73 ) of all wells ( 5 ) of the body ( 2 , 2 ′, 2 ″).

4. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a front side ( 74 ) of the piston ( 61 ) of the at least one top piercing system ( 60 ) is adapted in shape to a shape of an inner bottom ( 76 ) of the well ( 5 ) into which the at least one top piercing system ( 60 ) is integrated.

5. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the inner bottom ( 76 ) of the well ( 5 ) which comprises the at least one top piercing system ( 60 ) is configured as a taper-bottom, and wherein the front side ( 74 ) of the piston ( 61 ) of said at least one top piercing system ( 60 ) is configured as a complementary tapered front side ( 74 ).

6. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the inner bottom ( 76 ) of the well ( 5 ), which comprises the at least one top piercing system ( 60 ) is configured as a flat bottom, and wherein the front side ( 74 ) of the piston ( 61 ) of said at least one top piercing system ( 60 ) is configured as a complementary flat front side ( 74 ).

7. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the thorn ( 63 ) comprises a neck portion ( 69 ) and a tip portion ( 70 ) with the tip, the tip portion ( 70 ) being configured to pierce the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ).

8. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the thorn ( 63 ) comprises at least one guiding channel ( 75 ) for providing an outlet path for releasing the reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from the well ( 5 ) when the thorn ( 63 ) of the top piercing system ( 60 ) has pierced the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ).

9. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the tip ( 70 ) of the thorn ( 63 ) is Phillips head shaped.

10. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the top piercing system ( 60 ) comprises at least one gasket ( 62 ) attached to an upper part ( 66 ) of the piston ( 61 ) for sealingly abutting the inner wall of the well ( 5 ).

11. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one gasket ( 62 ) is an O-ring, or a quad-ring, or a bellow.

12. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the piston ( 61 ) and the thorn ( 63 ) of the top piercing system ( 60 ) are made as a single injection molded piece.

13. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) further comprises a thorn relief spacer layer ( 64 ) that is attached to a lower side of the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) and that comprises a relief opening ( 71 ) situated below the bottom opening ( 73 ) of the well ( 5 ), said relief opening ( 71 ) providing an additional space for the thorn ( 63 ) after piercing the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ), and providing an outlet path for releasing the reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) into the gap ( 12 ).

14. Cartridge ( 1 ) according to claim 13 , further comprising a rigid cover ( 17 ) that is attached to a lower side of the thorn relief spacer layer ( 64 ), said rigid cover ( 17 ) enclosing the gap ( 12 ) on a side opposite to the working film ( 10 ) and comprising at least one cover hole ( 18 ) which is situated below the bottom opening ( 73 ) of the well ( 5 ) and below the relief opening ( 71 ) of the thorn relief spacer layer ( 64 ).

15. Cartridge ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral spacer ( 9 ) surrounds a part or the entire foot print of the cartridge ( 1 ) and is attached to the lower surface ( 4 ) of the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ).

16. Cartridge of claim 15 , wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) comprises at least one intermediate spacer ( 15 ) configured reaching from the peripheral spacer ( 9 ) of one side of the cartridge ( 1 ) to the peripheral spacer ( 9 ) of another side of the cartridge ( 1 ) or as a separate element located within the area of the gap ( 12 ), the intermediate spacer ( 15 ) being attached to the lower surface ( 4 ) of the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ).

17. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the working film ( 10 ) is configured as a monolayer of a hydrophobic material.

18. 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.

19. A system ( 40 ) for liquid droplet manipulation, the system 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 ( 20 ) and for providing the electrodes ( 44 ) with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets ( 23 ) by electrowetting, wherein the system ( 40 ) is configured to receive on top of the electrodes ( 44 ) a cartridge ( 1 ) with a working film ( 10 ) and at least one piercing element ( 13 ) 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 ′), each well ( 5 ) comprising a top opening ( 72 ), and a bottom opening ( 73 ) for releasing a liquid from the well ( 5 );

b) a piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal at least one of the bottom openings ( 73 ) of the wells ( 5 );

c) 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 );

d) a peripheral spacer ( 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 ″); and

e) 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 );

wherein the cartridge ( 1 ) further comprises

f) at least one top piercing system ( 60 ), each located within at least one of the wells ( 5 ) for releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from said at least one well ( 5 ) into the clap ( 12 );

wherein each top piercing system ( 60 ) comprises a piston ( 61 ) and a piercing element ( 13 ), the piston ( 61 ) being configured to be movable within said well ( 5 ) while providing a seal between the piston ( 61 ) and the inner wall of the well ( 5 ), and the piercing element ( 13 ) being configured as a thorn ( 63 ) located at a front side ( 74 ) of the piston ( 61 ) and being configured to pierce the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) for releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from said at least one well ( 5 ) into the gap ( 12 ) upon moving the piston ( 61 ) within the well ( 5 ) toward its bottom opening ( 73 ).

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the system ( 40 ) comprises actuating elements ( 41 ) for actuating the piston ( 61 ) of at least one top piercing system ( 60 ) of a cartridge ( 1 ) for releasing reagents, treatment liquids, oil, reaction liquids or sample containing liquids into the gap ( 1 2 ) of the cartridge ( 1 ).

21. The system of claim 19 , 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.

22. A method of releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from a well ( 5 ) of a cartridge ( 1 ) with a working film ( 10 ) and at least one piercing element ( 13 ) 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 method comprises the following steps:

providing a cartridge ( 1 ) which 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 ′), each well ( 5 ) comprising a top opening ( 72 ), and a bottom opening ( 73 ) for releasing a liquid from the well ( 5 );

b) a piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal at least one of the bottom openings ( 73 ) of the wells ( 5 );

c) 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 );

d) a peripheral spacer ( 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 ″);

e) 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 ); and

f) at least one top piercing system ( 60 ), each located within at least one of the wells ( 5 ) for releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from said at least one well ( 5 ) into the gap ( 12 ); wherein each top piercing system ( 60 ) comprises a piston ( 61 ) and a piercing element ( 13 ), the piercing element ( 13 ) being configured as a thorn ( 63 ) located at a front side ( 74 ) of the piston ( 61 );

moving the piston ( 61 ) within said well ( 5 ) toward its bottom opening ( 73 ) while providing a seal between the piston ( 61 ) and the inner wall of the well ( 5 );

piercing the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) with the thorn ( 63 ); and

releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from said at least one well ( 5 ) into the gap ( 12 ) upon moving the piston ( 61 ) within the well ( 5 ).

23. A system configured to perform a method of releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from a well ( 5 ) of a cartridge ( 1 ) with a working film ( 10 ) and at least one piercing element ( 13 ) 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 method comprises the following steps:

providing a cartridge ( 1 ) which 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 ′), each well ( 5 ) comprising a top opening ( 72 ), and a bottom opening ( 73 ) for releasing a liquid from the well ( 5 );

b) a piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) impermeable to liquids and configured to seal at least one of the bottom openings ( 73 ) of the wells ( 5 );

c) 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 );

d) a peripheral spacer ( 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 ″);

e) 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 ); and

f) at least one top piercing system ( 60 ), each located within at least one of the wells ( 5 ) for releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from said at least one well ( 5 ) into the gap ( 12 ); wherein each top piercing system ( 60 ) comprises a piston ( 61 ) and a piercing element ( 13 ), the piercing element ( 13 ) being configured as a thorn ( 63 ) located at a front side ( 74 ) of the piston ( 61 );

moving the piston ( 61 ) within said well ( 5 ) toward its bottom opening ( 73 ) while providing a seal between the piston ( 61 ) and the inner wall of the well ( 5 );

piercing the piercable bottom structure ( 8 ) with the thorn ( 63 ); and

releasing a reagent or sample ( 6 , 6 ′) from said at least one well ( 5 ) into the gap ( 12 ) upon moving the piston ( 61 ) within the well ( 5 ).