Abstract: A composite wall for an oEWOD or EWOD device is provided. The composite wall comprising: a substrate; a conductor layer provided on the substrate; a dielectric layer provided on the conductor layer; a port extending through the composite 5 wall; and an insulator configured to separate a microdroplet from the conductor layer as the microdroplet passes through the port. A method of manufacturing the composite wall is also provided.

Abstract: A method of detecting the interactions between a biological entity and a molecule, the method comprising providing an array of first microdroplets into a microfluidic chip; wherein each microdroplet contains at least one bead and each bead having a bound photocleavable molecule; providing an array of second microdroplets into the microfluidic chip; wherein each microdroplet contains at least one biological entity; holding the entire first and second arrays of microdroplets; illuminating at least a subset of the first microdroplets containing at least one bead with an illumination source configured to photo-cleave the molecule; subsequently merging at least one subset of the first array of microdroplets with at least one subset of the second microdroplets to form an array of merged microdroplets; and detecting a change in an optical signal from the merged microdroplets using an optical system to indicate the interactions between the biological entity and the molecule.

Abstract: A device for manipulating a microdroplet using optically mediated electrowetting is provided. The device comprising a microfluidic space bounded by: a first composite wall comprising: a first substrate; a first conductor layer on the substrate; a photoactive layer on the first conductor layer; and a first continuous dielectric layer on the photoactive layer having thickness of less than 20 nm; a second composite wall comprising: a second substrate; and a second conductor layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A device for manipulating many hundreds or thousands of microdroplets into an array using EWOD or oEWOD is provided. The device comprises: i) a chip comprising a first region for receiving and manipulating microdroplets; a second region comprising the array and a plurality of electrowetting pathways leading to the array; ii) a microdroplet source configured to provide microdroplets of a predetermined target diameter; iii) a channel configured to provide fluid communication between the microdroplet source and the first region of the chip; and iv) a pressure source configured to move the microdroplets between the microdroplet source and the first region of the chip. The electrowetting pathways on the chip are centre to centre separated by at least double the predetermined target diameter of the microdroplets from the microdroplet source. Furthermore, the controller is configured to enable synchronous movement of the microdroplets in the electrowetting pathways by application of EWOD or oEWOD force.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating one or more microdroplets into an array using EWOD or oEWOD is provided. The apparatus comprises: a) a chip for manipulating microdroplets comprising: i) a plurality of electrowetting pathways leading to the array; and ii) one or more waste electrowetting pathways leading to a waste outlet; b) a detector for detecting one or more microdroplets with a distinct characteristic, said detector configured to obtain a measured dataset relating to the distinct characteristic of the detected microdroplet; c) a storage module configured to store and maintain a stored dataset associated with the characteristic measured by the detector; and d) a controller configured to receive the stored dataset from the storage module and the obtained measured dataset to determine whether the measured dataset is associated with a desired or undesired characteristic.

Abstract: A device is provided which comprises: i) a chip comprising a first region for manipulating a plurality of microdroplets; ii) a microdroplet source for providing the microdroplets; iii) a channel having a distal end, which extends in a first direction into the chip, and a proximal end, which is in fluid communication with the microdroplet source; and iv) a pressure source for moving the microdroplets from the microdroplet source along the channel and into the first region of the chip. The pressure source is configured to enable the movement of the microdroplets from the microdroplet source into the proximal end of the channel at a first velocity. Furthermore, the distal end of the channel is fluted or blunted such that the microdroplets move from the distal end of the channel into the first region of the chip at a velocity which is lower than the first velocity.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for verifying the trustworthiness of code prior to issuing code-signing certificates may include (1) receiving a request from a software publisher to sign code, the request including a copy of the code and a digital signature that verifies the integrity of the code, (2) prior to signing the code, verifying the trustworthiness of the code based at least in part on an analysis of the copy of the code included within the request, (3) upon verifying the trustworthiness of the code, signing the code by generating a digitally signed trustworthiness certificate for the code that certifies that the code is trustworthy, and then (4) providing the trustworthiness certificate to the software publisher to enable the software publisher to attest that the code is trustworthy. Various additional methods, systems, and encoded computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating code-specific code-signing certificates may include (1) receiving a code-signing request from a software publisher to sign code, the code-signing request including both information that uniquely identifies the code and metadata that identifies at least one characteristic of the code, (2) signing the code by generating a unique, code-specific digital certificate for the code that is valid only for the code in question and includes at least a portion of the metadata contained within the code-signing request, and then (3) providing the code-specific digital certificate to the software publisher to enable the software publisher to attest that the code originated from the software publisher and has not been altered since leaving the software publisher's possession. Various additional methods, systems, and encoded computer-readable media are also disclosed.