CARTRIDGE AND SYSTEM FOR MANIPULATING SAMPLES IN LIQUID DROPLETS

A cartridge (1) for manipulating samples in liquid droplets with an electrode array (20) when a working film (10) of the cartridge (1) is placed on said electrode array (20). The cartridge (1) comprises a body (2,2',2") with a lower surface (4) and a number of wells (5) configured to hold therein reagents (6) or samples (6'). Each well (5) comprises a bottom opening (73) for releasing a liquid from the well (5). The cartridge (1) comprises a piercable bottom structure (8) configured to seal bottom openings (73) of the wells (5); a working film (10) located below the lower surface (4) of the body (2,2',2"), the working film (10) comprising a hydrophobic upper surface (11); a peripheral spacer (9) connecting the working film (10) to the body (2,2',2"); and a gap (12) between the lower surface (4) of the body (2,2',2") and the hydrophobic upper surface (11) of the working film (10), the gap (12) being defined by the peripheral spacer (9). The cartridge further comprises at least one top piercing system (60), each located within at least one of the wells (5). Each top piercing system (60) comprises a piston (61) and a piercing element (13), the piston (61) being configured to be movable within said well (5) while proving a seal between the piston (61) and the inner wall of the well (5), and the piercing element (13) being configured to pierce the piercable bottom structure (8) for releasing a reagent or sample (6,6') from said at least one well (5) into the gap (12) upon moving the piston (61) within the well (5) toward its bottom opening (73). L'invention concerne une cartouche (1) pour manipuler des échantillons dans des gouttelettes liquides avec un réseau d'électrodes (20) lorsqu'un film actif (10) de la cartouche (1) est placé sur ledit réseau d'électrodes (20). La cartouche (1) comprend un corps (2, 2', 2") avec une surface inférieure (4) et plusieurs puits (5) conçus pour y retenir des réactifs (6) ou des échantillons (6'). Chaque puits (5) comprend une ouverture inférieure (73) pour libérer un liquide du puits (5). La cartouche (1) comprend une structure inférieure pouvant être percée (8) et conçue pour étanchéifier les ouvertures inférieures (73) des puits (5) ; un film actif (10) situé sous la surface inférieure (4) du corps (2, 2', 2"), le film actif (10) comprenant une surface supérieure hydrophobe (11) ; un matériau tampon périphérique (9) reliant le film actif (10) au corps (2, 2', 2") ; et un vide (12) entre la surface inférieure (4) du corps (2