Method for analyzing droplets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016290992-A1
Application number	US-201615187204-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 20, 2016
Priority date	Jan 25, 2012
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for analyzing droplets is described. The droplets can be received on an outer surface region of a sampler surface disposed on a substrate, wherein the sampler surface is increasingly less hydrophobic along a radial direction toward the center of the sampler surface. Next, the droplets can be aggregated and moved toward the center of the sampler surface. The droplets can then be received at an inner surface region of the sampler surface. Next, the droplets can be analyzed using an analysis mechanism in an area in the inner surface region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for analyzing droplets, the method comprising:
receiving the droplets on an outer surface region of a sampler surface disposed on a substrate, wherein the sampler surface is increasingly less hydrophobic along a radial direction toward the center of the sampler surface; aggregating and moving the droplets toward the center of the sampler surface; receiving the droplets at an inner surface region of the sampler surface; and analyzing the droplets using an analysis mechanism in an area in the inner surface region.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface region is micro-patterned to create a wettability gradient which is distributed axisymmetrically.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the wettability gradient increases in an inward radial direction.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface region comprises a set of micro-patterned concentric rings.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sampler surface receives a gas-phase sample that condenses into the liquid droplets.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the outer surface region facilitates condensing of at least a component in the received gas-phase sample into the liquid-phase droplets on the sampler surface.

Assignees

• Univ California

Inventors

• Davis Cristina
• Bardaweel Hamzeh
• Zamuruyev Konstantin
• Delplanque Jean-Pierre
• Kenyon Nicholas J

Classifications

• A61B5/4845

  Toxicology, e.g. by detection of alcohol, drug or toxic products (A61B5/4848 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N1/2202

  involving separation of sample components during sampling · CPC title

• G01N2001/002

  Devices for supplying or distributing samples to an analysing apparatus · CPC title

• G01N2001/4033

  sample concentrated on a cold spot, e.g. condensation or distillation · CPC title

• G01N2021/035

  Supports for sample drops · CPC title