Hybrid valve apparatus and method for fluid handling
First Claim
1. A hydraulic hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
- a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition;
a communication structure having a dispensing orifice;
an aspiration actuator;
a dispensing actuator; and
a distribution manifold device providing a liquid aspiration conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first aspiration port for liquid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir through said dispensing orifice of said communication structure defining a discrete sample path containing said driving liquid and extending from the dispensing orifice and through at least a portion of said manifold device for liquid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said manifold device further providing a liquid dispensing conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first dispensing port for liquid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from said dispensing orifice of said communication structure when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the aspiration actuator.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid valve apparatus for use with an aspiration actuator and a dispensing actuator to transfer fluid from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface. The hybrid valve includes a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition, and a manifold device coupled to the valve assembly. The manifold device includes a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. On an opposite end of the aspiration conduit is a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition. The manifold device further includes a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port in fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly. When the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, the sample path is fluidly coupled to the dispensing actuator to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug therefrom, while simultaneously being out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. In contrast, in the aspiration condition, the sample path is in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, while being out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator.
-
Citations
43 Claims
-
1. A hydraulic hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
-
a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition;
a communication structure having a dispensing orifice;
an aspiration actuator;
a dispensing actuator; and
a distribution manifold device providing a liquid aspiration conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first aspiration port for liquid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir through said dispensing orifice of said communication structure defining a discrete sample path containing said driving liquid and extending from the dispensing orifice and through at least a portion of said manifold device for liquid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said manifold device further providing a liquid dispensing conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first dispensing port for liquid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from said dispensing orifice of said communication structure when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the aspiration actuator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of transferring a liquid sample from a liquid sample reservoir to a test site on a target substrate comprising:
-
providing a liquid distribution manifold device defining a liquid aspiration conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first aspiration port for liquid communication with an aspiration actuator and a second aspiration port in liquid communication with a valve assembly, said manifold device further defining a liquid dispensing conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first dispensing port for liquid communication with a dispensing actuator and a second dispensing port in liquid communication with the valve assembly;
positioning the valve assembly in an aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the aspiration actuator to a discrete sample path extending from a dispensing orifice and through at least a primary passage portion of said manifold device for liquid communication with said valve assembly, and fluidly decoupling the dispensing actuator from the sample path;
in said aspiration condition, actuating the aspiration actuator to aspirate a liquid sample slug from a said sample reservoir into the sample path through said dispensing orifice;
positioning the valve assembly in a dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the dispensing actuator to the sample path, and fluidly decoupling the aspiration actuator from the same path; and
in said dispensing condition, actuating the dispensing actuator to dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug out of said sample path through said dispensing orifice. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
-
a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition;
an aspiration actuator;
a dispensing actuator; and
a manifold providing a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port for fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate the liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path, a primary passage portion thereof that extends through at least a portion of said manifold for fluid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said primary passage portion having a transverse cross-sectional area from about 0.2 mm2 to about 0.8 mm2, said manifold further providing a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port for fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from the sample path when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
-
33. A hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
-
an aspiration actuator;
a dispensing actuator; and
a digitally regulated hydraulic pressure system in fluid communication with the dispensing actuator for precision operation thereof;
a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition;
a manifold providing a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port for fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate the liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path, a primary passage portion thereof that extends through at least a portion of said manifold for fluid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said manifold device further providing a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port for fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from the sample path when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
Specification