METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING DROPLETS BY ELECTROWETTING-BASED TECHNIQUES

摘要

A method for splitting a droplet into two or more droplets includes providing a starting droplet on a surface comprising an array of electrodes and a substantially co-planar array of reference elements. The electrode array comprises at least three electrodes comprising a first outer electrode, a medial electrode adjacent to the first outer electrode, and a second outer electrode adjacent to medial electrode. The starting droplet is initially disposed on at least one of the three electrodes and at least partially overlaps at least one other of the three electrodes. The method further includes activating each of the three electrodes to spread the starting droplet across the three electrodes, and de-activating the medial electrode to split the starting droplet into first and second split droplets. The first split droplet is thereby disposed on the first outer electrode and the second split droplet is disposed on the second outer electrode.