Acoustically mediated fluid transfer methods and uses thereof
First Claim
1. A non-contact method for transferring small amounts of source fluid, said method comprising propagating an acoustic wave from an acoustic liquid deposition emitter through a source fluid containment structure into a source fluid, wherein:
- a) said acoustic liquid deposition emitter is in contact with said source fluid containment structure through a coupling medium which is interposed between said acoustic liquid deposition emitter and a first surface of said source fluid containment structure, b) said source fluid is on a second surface of said source fluid containment structure that is opposite said acoustic liquid deposition emitter, and c) said acoustic wave causes controlled ejection of at least one droplet of said source fluid from said pool.
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Abstract
Acoustic waves are used to transfer small amounts of fluid in a non-contact manner. Acoustic waves are propagated through a pool of a source fluid in such a manner that causes the ejection of a single micro-droplet from the surface of the pool. The droplet is ejected towards a target with sufficient force to provide for contact of the droplet with the target. Because the fluid is not contacted by any fluid transfer device such as a pipette, the opportunities for contamination are minimized. Methods may be employed to transfer fluids from an array of source sites to an array of target sites, thereby enabling the precise automation of a wide variety of procedures including screening and synthesis procedures commonly used in biotechnology.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A non-contact method for transferring small amounts of source fluid, said method comprising propagating an acoustic wave from an acoustic liquid deposition emitter through a source fluid containment structure into a source fluid, wherein:
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a) said acoustic liquid deposition emitter is in contact with said source fluid containment structure through a coupling medium which is interposed between said acoustic liquid deposition emitter and a first surface of said source fluid containment structure, b) said source fluid is on a second surface of said source fluid containment structure that is opposite said acoustic liquid deposition emitter, and c) said acoustic wave causes controlled ejection of at least one droplet of said source fluid from said pool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A non-contact method for transferring small amounts of a source fluid to a separate target structure, said method comprising activating a piezoelectric transducer thereby propagating an acoustic wave through a coupling medium which is interposed between said piezoelectric transducer and a first surface of a source fluid containment structure, wherein
a) said source fluid is contained on a second surface of said source fluid containment structure that is opposite said piezoelectric transducer, b) said target is positioned to receive a droplet of fluid ejected from said source fluid as a result of propagation of said acoustic wave through said source fluid.
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45. A method for transferring small amounts of a source fluid from a pool selected from one of a plurality of pools of source fluid located on a first surface of a source fluid containment structure, to a separate target structure without physically contacting said source fluid, said method comprising propagating an acoustic wave through said source fluid such that a single droplet of fluid is ejected from the surface of said pool with sufficient energy to bring said droplet into contact with said target, wherein
a) said acoustic wave is propagated from a piezoelectric transducer, b) said piezoelectric transducer is in contact with said source fluid containment structure via a coupling medium interposed between said piezoelectric transducer and a second surface of said source fluid containment structure, c) said second surface of said source fluid containment structure is opposite said pool, and d) said target is opposite said surface of said pool.
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46. An apparatus for performing non-contact transfer of small amounts of source fluid, said apparatus comprising an acoustic liquid deposition emitter and a stage wherein:
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a) said stage supports a source fluid containment structure, b) said source fluid containment structure being supported such that said acoustic liquid deposition emitter is in operative contact with said source fluid containment structure when a coupling medium is interposed there between. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An apparatus for performing non-contact transfer of small amounts of source fluid to a target, said apparatus comprising an acoustic liquid deposition emitter and a stage wherein:
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a) said stage is configured to support a source fluid containment structure whereby the acoustic liquid deposition emitter is coupled to a first surface of the source fluid containment structure by a coupling medium interposed between said acoustic liquid deposition emitter and said first surface of the source fluid containment structure, such that b) an acoustic wave generated by said acoustic liquid deposition emitter and transmitted through said coupling medium to said first surface of the source fluid containment structure and thereafter propagates through said source fluid containment structure into a pool of source fluid on a second surface of said source fluid containment structure opposite said acoustic liquid deposition emitter, causing controlled ejection of at least one droplet of said source fluid from said pool.
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57. A system for performing non-contact transfer of small amounts of source fluid, comprising:
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a source fluid containment structure;
a movable stage, configured to support the source fluid containment structure;
an acoustic liquid deposition emitter in operative contact with the source fluid containment structure;
a coupling medium interposed between the deposition emitter and the source fluid containment structure;
a fluid level detector for detecting a level or volume of fluid in a source fluid containment structure;
a lens in operative association with the acoustic liquid deposition emitter for focusing an acoustic wave; and
a computer in operable communication with the acoustic liquid deposition emitter for varying one or more of frequency of the acoustic wave;
voltage of an energy source used to excite the acoustic liquid deposition emitter;
duration of an energy source used to excite the acoustic liquid deposition emitter, or location of the stage relative to the acoustic deposition emitter; and
wherein the computer comprises a computer implemented algorithm for adjusting one or more of;
frequency of the acoustic wave;
voltage of an energy source used to excite the acoustic liquid deposition emitter;
duration of an energy source used to excite the acoustic liquid deposition emitter, or location of the stage relative to the acoustic deposition emitter in response to a change in fluid level or volume detected by the fluid level detector.
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Specification