Tecan Trading Ag

Joseph Mamone

Marc Nathan Feiglin

Michael Benjamin Franklin

Timothy Francis Lee

Anne R Kopf-Sill

Howard Gamper

Ian Fitzpatrick

Mark Rob

Phillip Duncan

Marc N Feiglin

Marc Rob

In a method of deducing the number of repeat units in a selected short tandem repeat (STR) in a genomic sample, at least a single stranded target DNA generated from a genomic sample comprising a selected STR, an STR probe (P1,P1'), a reference probe (P2), and two blockers (B1,B2) are provided, and at least three differential hybridization experiments are carried out, based on which the number of STR probe oligonucleotides (P1,P1&#x2032;) bound per target DNA strand in each differential hybridization experiment is determined. The method further comprises the step of comparing these numbers of STR probe oligonucleotides (P1,P1&#x2032;) bound per target DNA strand in the differential hybridization experiments for deducing the number of repeat units in the selected STR on the single stranded target DNA strand. Also disclosed are kits for carrying out STR genotyping by differential hybridization.

STR genotyping by differential hybridization

A biological sample processing system () includes a liquid droplet manipulation instrument () with an electrode array () for inducing a movement of a liquid droplet () by electrowetting; a substrate (); and a control unit (). An electrode selector () of the control unit () is configured to individually select and provide each electrode () of the electrode array () with a voltage. The control unit () includes a central processing unit () for individually selecting at least one electrode () and for providing the selected electrode(s) () with an individual voltage pulse. The biological sample processing system () also includes a cartridge () with a container ().

Manipulating the size of liquid droplets in digital microfluidics

Liquid droplet manipulation instrument has electrode array for inducing movement of a droplet by electrowetting, substrate supporting the array and control with electrode selector connected to a voltage control. The selector selects each electrode and provides each with a controlled voltage. The control includes central processing unit for providing the selected electrode with an individual voltage pulse which is a drive voltage or a ground voltage or a stop voltage. The control defines a path for movement of a liquid portion of a larger volume that covers more than one electrode by the simultaneous selection of a group of two or more subsequent drive electrodes and to provide each selected drive electrode with a drive voltage pulse along the path. The control simultaneously provides a group of two or more electrodes adjacent to or identical with the pulsed drive electrodes, with a ground or stop voltage pulse.

A cartridge () comprises a working film () for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with an electrode array () when the working film () of the cartridge () is placed on said electrode array (). The cartridge () comprises a body (&#x2033;) with a number of wells () configured to hold therein reagents () or samples ('); a flexibly deformable top structure () impermeable to liquids and configured to seal a top side of the wells (); a piercable bottom structure () impermeable to liquids and configured to seal a bottom side of the wells (); a working film () located below a lower surface () of the body (&#x2033;), the working film () being impermeable to liquids and comprising a hydrophobic upper surface (); a peripheral spacer (&#x2033;) located below the lower surface () of the body (&#x2033;) and connecting the working film () to the body (&#x2033;); a gap () between the lower surface () of the body (&#x2033;) and the hydrophobic upper surface () of the working film (), the gap () being defined by the peripheral spacer (&#x2033;); and a number of piercing elements () located below piercable bottom structures () and configured to pierce the piercable bottom structures () for releasing reagents or samples (&#x2032;) from the wells () into the gap (). Also disclosed is a system () with an electrode array () onto which the cartridge () can be placed.

Growing community of inventors

Hillsborough, NJ, United States of America

Joseph Mamone