Moving Chemical Ingredients Between Tiny Liquid Drops
This patent describes a method for precisely transferring a chemical ingredient from one tiny liquid droplet to another, changing the concentration of that ingredient in both drops.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods for transfer of reagents between droplets”
This patent describes a method for precisely transferring a chemical ingredient from one tiny liquid droplet to another, changing the concentration of that ingredient in both drops. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent outlines a system for processing tiny liquid droplets. It involves starting with a first droplet containing a certain amount of a chemical ingredient, called a reagent, and a second droplet with a different amount of the same reagent. The second droplet might also contain a tiny bead or a biological particle. The core idea is to create specific conditions that cause the reagent to move from the first droplet into the second droplet. This process results in the first droplet having less of the reagent and the second droplet having more, as stated in the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more →. For example, a scientist could use this to add a precise amount of an enzyme from a stock droplet to another droplet containing cells for an experiment.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover methods where the reagent moves from the second droplet to the first droplet, as the transfer is specified as 'from the first droplet to the second droplet'.
- Does not cover processes where the droplets are merged to mix their contents, rather than transferring a reagent between distinct droplets.
- Does not cover the transfer of non-reagent materials, such as entire cells or inert particles, between droplets.
- Does not cover systems that transfer reagents between droplets without causing a decrease in the first droplet's concentration and an increase in the second droplet's concentration.
- Does not cover methods that involve only a single droplet or more than two droplets in a single transfer step.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the ability to direct the transfer of a specific chemical reagent between two distinct droplets, thereby modifying their individual concentrations in a controlled manner, especially when one droplet contains a solid particle or biological material.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Lab-on-a-chip diagnostic devices
High-throughput drug screening platforms
Single-cell analysis systems
Microfluidic reactors for chemical synthesis
Automated DNA/RNA sample preparation
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Precisely controlling chemical reactions and biological assays often requires working with extremely small volumes and exact concentrations. This technology allows for fine-tuned manipulation of reagents within individual micro-droplets, which is crucial for miniaturizing lab experiments. It enables more efficient use of expensive or rare reagents and can speed up processes in drug discovery and diagnostics.
Filed
April 24, 2026
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in microfluidics and lab automation, such as Bio-Rad Laboratories, Dolomite Microfluidics, and Sphere Fluidics, are actively developing technologies for droplet manipulation. These firms create instruments and consumables that enable precise control over tiny liquid volumes for various applications in life sciences and chemistry.
Market impact
This type of technology has enabled the miniaturization of laboratory experiments, moving from large test tubes to tiny droplets. It has significantly impacted fields like drug discovery by allowing thousands of experiments to be performed in parallel with minimal reagent use. It also supports the development of point-of-care diagnostic devices, making complex tests more accessible outside traditional lab settings.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent outlines a system for processing tiny liquid droplets. It involves starting with a first droplet containing a certain amount of a chemical ingredient, called a reagent, and a second droplet with a different amount of the same reagent. The second droplet might also contain a tiny bead or a biological particle. The core idea is to create specific conditions that cause the reagent to move from the first droplet into the second droplet. This process results in the first droplet having less of the reagent and the second droplet having more, as stated in the abstract. For example, a scientist could use this to add a precise amount of an enzyme from a stock droplet to another droplet containing cells for an experiment.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the ability to direct the transfer of a specific chemical reagent between two distinct droplets, thereby modifying their individual concentrations in a controlled manner, especially when one droplet contains a solid particle or biological material.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover methods where the reagent moves from the second droplet to the first droplet, as the transfer is specified as 'from the first droplet to the second droplet'.
- Does not cover processes where the droplets are merged to mix their contents, rather than transferring a reagent between distinct droplets.
- Does not cover the transfer of non-reagent materials, such as entire cells or inert particles, between droplets.
- Does not cover systems that transfer reagents between droplets without causing a decrease in the first droplet's concentration and an increase in the second droplet's concentration.
- Does not cover methods that involve only a single droplet or more than two droplets in a single transfer step.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$29K – $92K
Midpoint $58K · 19.5 yr remaining · industry ×2.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Moving Chemical Ingredients Between Tiny Liquid Drops (U.S. Patent No. 12,735,810). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12735810/systems-and-methods-for-transfer-of-reagents-between-droplets
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Moving Chemical Ingredients Between Tiny Liquid Drops cover?
This patent describes a method for precisely transferring a chemical ingredient from one tiny liquid droplet to another, changing the concentration of that ingredient in both drops.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Precisely controlling chemical reactions and biological assays often requires working with extremely small volumes and exact concentrations. This technology allows for fine-tuned manipulation of reagents within individual micro-droplets, which is crucial for miniaturizing lab experiments. It enables more efficient use of expensive or rare reagents and can speed up processes in drug discovery and diagnostics.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover methods where the reagent moves from the second droplet to the first droplet, as the transfer is specified as 'from the first droplet to the second droplet'.
Patent monitoring