Micro-array fluid dispensing apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A micro-dispensing nozzle comprising:
- a housing with at least one exit orifice;
a magnetostrictive valve in proximity to said orifice, said magnetostrictive valve having an open state and a closed state;
a means for applying a magnetic field to said magnetostrictive valve, said magnetostrictive valve changing shape in response to said magnetic field, said changing shape causing said orifice to change states.
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Abstract
A system and method for dispensing pico-liter amounts of fluid through a mechanical nozzle using a magnetostrictive device that changes dimensions under an applied magnetic field. This device, with the possible help of a bias magnet, can be used to open and close the end of a fluid dispensing nozzle. An X-Y positioner can position a slide beneath the nozzle to produce a micro-array of fluid spots. The magnetostrictive nozzle can dispense fluid quantities as low as 50 pico-liters and operate at a rate of up to 10 kHz.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A micro-dispensing nozzle comprising:
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a housing with at least one exit orifice;
a magnetostrictive valve in proximity to said orifice, said magnetostrictive valve having an open state and a closed state;
a means for applying a magnetic field to said magnetostrictive valve, said magnetostrictive valve changing shape in response to said magnetic field, said changing shape causing said orifice to change states. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. A magnetostrictive valve to control pico-liter flow from a fluid containing housing said valve comprising a magnetostrictive rod extending into an exit orifice of said housing, said valve being extended to close said exit orifice by a bias magnetic field, said rod responding to an applied control magnetic field to contract allowing said exit orifice to open.
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15. A magnetostrictive valve method comprising the steps of:
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placing a piece of magnetostrictive material in proximity to an exit orifice of a fluid containing housing;
maintaining pressure on fluid in said fluid containing housing;
applying a magnetic field to said magnetostrictive material to cause said magnetostrictive material to change shape, whereby said exit orifice is blocked or un-blocked according to said magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification