Three-dimensional digital microfluidic system

Abstract

A three-dimensional digital microfluidic system comprises a first plate with a first electrode, a second plate with a second electrode, and a microfluidic drop in between the first and the second electrode. The electrodes are able to be actuated in sequence such that the microfluidic drop is able to be transported. A bridge plate is able to be included.

1 . A three-dimensional digital microfluidic system comprising:
 a. a first plate with a first electrode;   b. a second plate with a second electrode; and   c. a microfluidic drop in between the first and the second electrode, wherein the first plate is non-parallel to the second plate.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is facing the second electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprises a gap between the first plate and the second plate. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the gap is in the range of 1 μm to 10 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprises a first gap at a first side larger than a second gap of the second side of the first plate and the second plate. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises at least one droplet actuating electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic droplet is manipulated by actuating in sequence of the electrodes on either or both plates. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic droplet is in physical contact with either one of the first plate and the second plate. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic droplet is in physical contact with both of the first and the second plate. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic droplet is actuated by the electrodes on the first plate, the second plate, or a combination thereof 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrowetting actuation mechanism to control a motion of the microfluidic droplet. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first plate comprises a first body and the second plate comprises a second body facing each other, wherein a first gap at one end between the first and the second plate is larger than a second gap at the opposite end between the first and the second plate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  further comprises a controlling unit controlling a movement of the microfluidic droplet, such the microfluidic droplet is able to be moved to be in a physical contact with either one of the first plate or the second plate or both. 
     
     
         16 . A three-dimensional digital microfluidic system comprising:
 a. a first plate with a first electrode;   b. a second plate with a second electrode;   c. a bridge plate with a third electrode facing the first and the second electrodes, wherein the bridge plate comprises at least a first portion overlapping with the first plate and at least a second portion overlapping with the second plate; and   d. a first gap between the first plate and the bridge plate and a second gap between the bridge plate and the second plate, wherein the first gap is larger than the second gap.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  further comprises a microfluidic droplet. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the microfluidic droplet is sandwiched between the first plate and the bridge plate. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the microfluidic droplet is sandwiched between the second plate and the bridge plate. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the microfluidic droplet is only in physical contact with the bridge plate. 
     
     
         21 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method of using a three-dimensional digital microfluidic system comprising moving a microfluidic droplet between a first plate and a second plate by actuating at least one of electrodes on the first, the second plate, or both, wherein the electrodes on the first plate and the second plate are facing each other, wherein the first and the second plate are non parallel to each other. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising moving the microfluidic droplet from a sandwiched configuration having physical contacts with both of the first and the second plates to a single contact configuration having physical contact with one of the first or the second plate. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising moving the microfluidic droplet from a single contact configuration having physical contact with one of the first or the second plate to a sandwiched configuration having physical contacts with both of the first and the second plates. 
     
     
         27 - 30 . (canceled)