Dual manifold system and method for fluid transfer
First Claim
1. A dual-manifold assembly for transferring liquid from an array of reservoirs to an array of test sites on a target substrate, comprising:
- a liquid aspiration manifold;
a liquid dispense manifold having a plurality of orifices;
a plurality of conduits for providing fluid connection between said aspiration manifold and said dispense manifold;
a controllable pressure source for urging the liquid from said reservoirs through said plurality of conduits toward said dispense manifold;
a means for ejection of at least one droplet of said liquid, said ejection means mechanically or fluidicly connected to at least one of said plurality of orifices to eject said droplet onto at least one of said test sites, and a fluid switching valve disposed at or between an output of said dispense manifold and said aspiration manifold, said fluid switching valve for providing fluid connection between said fluid conduits and said dispense manifold to permit said liquids to be transferred to said dispense manifold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual-manifold assembly is provided for the rapid, parallel transfer of liquid reagents from a microtiter plate to a solid state microelectronic device having biological sensors integrated thereon. The assembly includes aspiration and dispense manifolds connected by a plurality of conduits. In operation, the aspiration manifold is actuated such that the aspiration manifold is seated onto an array of reagent-filled wells of the microtiter plate. The wells are pressurized to force reagent through conduits toward the dispense manifold. A pressure pulse provided by a standard ink-jet printhead ejects nanoliter-to-picoliter droplets of reagent through an array of printhead orifices and onto test sites on the surface of the microelectronic device.
60 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dual-manifold assembly for transferring liquid from an array of reservoirs to an array of test sites on a target substrate, comprising:
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a liquid aspiration manifold;
a liquid dispense manifold having a plurality of orifices;
a plurality of conduits for providing fluid connection between said aspiration manifold and said dispense manifold;
a controllable pressure source for urging the liquid from said reservoirs through said plurality of conduits toward said dispense manifold;
a means for ejection of at least one droplet of said liquid, said ejection means mechanically or fluidicly connected to at least one of said plurality of orifices to eject said droplet onto at least one of said test sites, and a fluid switching valve disposed at or between an output of said dispense manifold and said aspiration manifold, said fluid switching valve for providing fluid connection between said fluid conduits and said dispense manifold to permit said liquids to be transferred to said dispense manifold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
a base plate;
a gasket member disposed along the periphery of a lower surface of said base plate, said gasket dimensioned for sealing against a periphery of said source plate;
a pressure conduit extending through said base plate for pressurizing said array of liquid-filled reservoirs; and
,a plurality of aspiration conduits extending through said base plate and into said liquid-filled reservoirs for aspirating said liquid from said reservoirs.
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19. A dual-manifold assembly for transferring liquid from an array of reservoirs to an array of test sites on a target substrate, comprising:
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a liquid aspiration manifold, wherein said aspiration manifold includes an array of aspiration subassemblies extending from a base plate and adapted for being received by said array of liquid-filled reservoirs, each subassembly comprising;
a guide member having a first end adapted for being mechanically fastened to said base plate and having a second flanged end extending away from said base plate;
a cap member having a first end adapted for engaging the flanged end of said guide member and a second end having a tapered outer surface for engaging the perimeter of one of said liquid-filled reservoirs; and
,first and second conduits each extending through aligned apertures in said base plate, said guide member and said cap member;
wherein said first conduit terminates at a position above a liquid level of the reservoir and said second conduit terminates at a position below a liquid level of the reservoir, said first conduit providing a means for pressurizing said reservoir to urge liquid through said second conduit toward said dispense manifold;
a liquid dispense manifold having a plurality of orifices;
a plurality of conduits for providing fluid connection between said aspiration manifold and said dispense manifold;
a controllable pneumatic pressure source for urging the liquid from said reservoirs through said plurality of conduits toward said dispense manifold; and
a means for effecting the ejection of at least one droplet of said liquid through at least one of said plurality of orifices and onto at least one of said test sites. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification