System for dispensing microvolume quantities of liquids
First Claim
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1. A microvolume liquid handling system for dispensing small quantities of liquids, comprising:
- pump means for pumping a first liquid;
microdispenser means for dispensing microvolumes of a second liquid, said first liquid and said second liquid separated by a compressible fluid, dispensing of said second liquid resulting in a pressure change of said first liquid and said second liquid;
a pressure sensor for converting said pressure change in at least one of said first liquid and said second liquid into a signal;
tubing means for connecting said pump means to said pressure sensor and said pressure sensor to said microdispenser means; and
means for converting the signal into an indication of fluid volume dispensed.
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Abstract
A low volume liquid handling system is described which includes a microdispenser employing a piezoelectric transducer attached to a glass capillary, a positive displacement pump for priming and aspirating liquid into the microdispenser, controlling the pressure of the liquid system, and washing the microdispenser between liquid transfers, and a pressure sensor to measure the liquid system pressure and produce a corresponding electrical signal. The pressure signal is used to verify and quantify the microvolume dispensed and is used to perform automated calibration and diagnostics on the microdispenser.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A microvolume liquid handling system for dispensing small quantities of liquids, comprising:
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pump means for pumping a first liquid; microdispenser means for dispensing microvolumes of a second liquid, said first liquid and said second liquid separated by a compressible fluid, dispensing of said second liquid resulting in a pressure change of said first liquid and said second liquid; a pressure sensor for converting said pressure change in at least one of said first liquid and said second liquid into a signal; tubing means for connecting said pump means to said pressure sensor and said pressure sensor to said microdispenser means; and means for converting the signal into an indication of fluid volume dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for dispensing liquid droplets, comprising:
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a microdispenser, said microdispenser further comprising a capillary, a dispensing nozzle at a jetting end of said capillary, an inlet end opposite of said jetting end, and a piezoceramic attached to the glass capillary; a pressure sensor; a first tubing connecting said inlet end of said microdispenser to said to said pressure sensor; a second tubing; a valve connected by said second tubing to said pressure sensor, said valve capable of alternatively coupling said pressure sensor to a pump and said pump to a system liquid reservoir; said pressure sensor further comprising at least one piezoresistive element capable of producing an analog signal proportional to the pressure of a liquid present in said pressure sensor; an analog-to-digital converter for converting said analog signal into a digital signal; means for producing from said digital signal an indication of a volume of liquid dispensed from said microdispenser.
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Specification