Platform for liquid droplet formation and isolation

1. A platform for liquid droplet formation and isolation, the platform comprising:

a generator structure, a fluid-exchange structure, and a manipulator structure each defining a respective portion of a collection chamber, the generator, fluid-exchange, and manipulator structures vertically aligned on a substrate to form the collection chamber;

the generator structure configured to form liquid droplets from a stream of liquid received at a generator inlet and provide the liquid droplets to the fluid-exchange structure;

the fluid-exchange structure connected to the generator structure to receive the liquid droplets, in a carrier liquid held in the collection chamber, the fluid-exchange structure further connected to the manipulator structure to provide the carrier liquid with the liquid droplets via a fluid-exchange outlet;

the manipulator structure connected to the fluid-exchange outlet to receive the liquid droplets in the carrier liquid via a manipulator inlet, the manipulator structure defining a manipulator chamber connected to the manipulator inlet and having a first outlet and a second outlet, the defined manipulator chamber including a filter capable of filtering the liquid droplets from the carrier liquid, wherein the first outlet enables removal of the liquid droplets filtered from the carrier liquid and the second outlet enables removal of the carrier liquid filtered.

2. The platform of claim 1 wherein the generator structure defines:

a middle liquid channel arranged to allow the stream of liquid to flow into the generator structure; and

a first and a second gas channel each on a respective side of the middle liquid channel, wherein the middle liquid channel and the first and second gas channels converge at a junction within the generator structure.

3. The platform of claim 2 wherein the generator structure is configured to form the liquid droplets by dripping, the dripping resulting from convergence of the stream of liquid from the middle liquid channel and gas streams from the first and second gas channels.

4. The platform of claim 3 wherein the dripping occurs at the junction where the middle liquid channel and the first and second gas channels converge.

5. The platform of claim 3 wherein the gas streams are air streams.

6. The platform of claim 2 wherein the stream of liquid enters the middle liquid channel as a jetted liquid stream.

7. The platform of claim 6 wherein a diameter of the liquid droplets formed by the generator structure is approximately the same as a diameter of the jetted liquid stream.

8. The platform of claim 2 wherein the middle liquid channel has a smaller height dimension than height dimensions of both the first and second gas channels to enable surrounding the stream of liquid with gas from the first and second gas channels.

9. The platform of claim 1 wherein the generator structure, fluid-exchange structure, and manipulator structure form an integrated platform on the substrate.

10. The platform of claim 9 wherein the integrated platform further includes a glass slide bonded to a bottom surface of the generator structure, and wherein:

the manipulator structure is disposed on the substrate;

a bottom surface of the glass slide is bonded to a top surface of the manipulator structure; and

a bottom surface of the fluid-exchange structure is bonded to a top surface of the generator structure.

11. The platform of claim 1 wherein the carrier liquid is immiscible.

12. The platform of claim 1 wherein the carrier liquid is oil.

13. The platform of claim 1 wherein a wall of the fluid-exchange structure defines a gas venting outlet at a portion of the collection chamber.

14. The platform of claim 1 wherein the generator structure is composed of:

a Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer that defines a middle liquid channel and first and second gas channels on each side of the middle liquid channel; and

a glass slide bonded to the PDMS layer to form a confined microchannel layout.

15. The platform of claim 1 wherein the manipulator chamber includes one or more columns between a top interior surface of the manipulator chamber and a bottom interior surface of the manipulator chamber.

16. The platform of claim 1 wherein the manipulator chamber further defines first and second side channels that connect to the first outlet.

17. The platform of claim 1 wherein the first and second outlets of the manipulator structure are configured to accept respective syringes for collecting the liquid droplets filtered from the carrier liquid and the carrier fluid filtered.

18. An apparatus for liquid droplet formation and isolation, the apparatus comprising:

means for forming liquid droplets from a stream of liquid;

means for receiving the liquid droplets from the means for forming the liquid droplets and for storing the liquid droplets in a carrier liquid; and

means for receiving the liquid droplets in the carrier liquid and for filtering and enabling removal of the liquid droplets filtered from the carrier liquid and for enabling removal of the carrier liquid filtered.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the means for forming liquid droplets defines:

a middle liquid channel arranged to allow the stream of liquid to flow into the means for forming liquid droplets; and

a first and a second gas channel each on a respective side of the middle liquid channel, wherein the middle liquid channel and the first and second gas channels converge at a junction within the means for forming the liquid droplets.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the middle liquid channel has a smaller height dimension than height dimensions of both the first and second gas channels to enable surrounding the stream of liquid with gas from the first and second gas channels.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the means for forming liquid droplets, the means for receiving the liquid droplets, and the means for receiving the liquid droplets in the carrier liquid form an integrated platform on a substrate.