Microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of liquid volumes separated by spacers
First Claim
1. A microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the microfluidic probe head comprising:
- an inlet and an outlet;
a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel;
a fluid bypass fluidly connected to the first fluid channel at a first bypass junction and to the second fluid channel at a second bypass junction, the first bypass junction and the second bypass junction are located on opposing ends of the fluid bypass;
a spacer insertion unit fluidly connected to the first fluid channel at a spacer junction located between the inlet and the first bypass junction, the spacer insertion configured to insert the spacers into the first fluid channel between liquid volumes in a timed fashion to provide the sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers;
a spacer control unit located inside a body of the microfluidic probe head to synchronize the insertion of the spacers into the first fluid channel by the spacer insertion unit with an aspiration rate of the spacers into the second fluid channel;
at least one blocking element in the first bypass junction of the first fluid channel for redirecting the spacers from the first fluid channel into the fluid bypass, the at least one blocking element comprising a plurality of bars;
a valve device fluidly connected to liquid supplies located outside the body of microfluidic probe head and fluidly connected to the first fluid channel, the valve device feeds liquid volumes received from the liquid supplies into the first fluid channel; and
an inlet control unit located inside the body of the microfluidic probe head for fluidly connecting the inlet to one of the liquid supplies, the inlet control unit controls the valve device for feeding the liquid volumes into the first fluid channel and forming a sequence of separate liquid volumes, wherein a volume of each separate liquid volume is specified by the inlet control unit,wherein the first fluid channel delivers the sequence of separate liquid volumes from the inlet toward a deposition area, the fluid bypass allows the spacers to be removed from the first fluid channel obtaining a free sequence of separate liquid volumes without spacers, the first fluid channel delivers the free sequence of separate liquid volumes to the deposition area, and the second fluid channel delivers the removed spacers from the fluid bypass to the outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers. The microfluidic probe head includes: an inlet, an outlet, a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel and a fluid bypass connecting the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. The first fluid channel delivers the sequence of separate liquid volumes from the inlet toward a deposition area, the fluid bypass allows the spacers to be removed from the first fluid channel obtaining a free sequence of separate liquid volumes without spacers, the first fluid channel delivers the free sequence of separate liquid volumes to the deposition area, and the second fluid channel delivers the removed spacers from the fluid bypass to the outlet. The present invention also provides a microfluidic probe and method for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes.
10 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the microfluidic probe head comprising:
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an inlet and an outlet; a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel; a fluid bypass fluidly connected to the first fluid channel at a first bypass junction and to the second fluid channel at a second bypass junction, the first bypass junction and the second bypass junction are located on opposing ends of the fluid bypass; a spacer insertion unit fluidly connected to the first fluid channel at a spacer junction located between the inlet and the first bypass junction, the spacer insertion configured to insert the spacers into the first fluid channel between liquid volumes in a timed fashion to provide the sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers; a spacer control unit located inside a body of the microfluidic probe head to synchronize the insertion of the spacers into the first fluid channel by the spacer insertion unit with an aspiration rate of the spacers into the second fluid channel; at least one blocking element in the first bypass junction of the first fluid channel for redirecting the spacers from the first fluid channel into the fluid bypass, the at least one blocking element comprising a plurality of bars; a valve device fluidly connected to liquid supplies located outside the body of microfluidic probe head and fluidly connected to the first fluid channel, the valve device feeds liquid volumes received from the liquid supplies into the first fluid channel; and an inlet control unit located inside the body of the microfluidic probe head for fluidly connecting the inlet to one of the liquid supplies, the inlet control unit controls the valve device for feeding the liquid volumes into the first fluid channel and forming a sequence of separate liquid volumes, wherein a volume of each separate liquid volume is specified by the inlet control unit, wherein the first fluid channel delivers the sequence of separate liquid volumes from the inlet toward a deposition area, the fluid bypass allows the spacers to be removed from the first fluid channel obtaining a free sequence of separate liquid volumes without spacers, the first fluid channel delivers the free sequence of separate liquid volumes to the deposition area, and the second fluid channel delivers the removed spacers from the fluid bypass to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification