Integrated sample-processing system
First Claim
1. A system for delivering fluid to a sample holder comprisinga fluid source, a positive displacement pump connected to the fluid source, a dispenser assembly having an orifice, and a conduit path extending from the pump to the orifice of the dispenser assembly, wherein operation of the positive displacement pump provides non-contact deposition of fluid aliquots having a volume of less than about 5 microliters per aliquot without closing or constricting the conduit path between the deposition of successive fluid aliquots.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an integrated sample-processing system and components thereof for preparing and/or analyzing samples. The components may include a transport module, a fluidics module, and an analysis module, among others.
172 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for delivering fluid to a sample holder comprising
a fluid source, a positive displacement pump connected to the fluid source, a dispenser assembly having an orifice, and a conduit path extending from the pump to the orifice of the dispenser assembly, wherein operation of the positive displacement pump provides non-contact deposition of fluid aliquots having a volume of less than about 5 microliters per aliquot without closing or constricting the conduit path between the deposition of successive fluid aliquots.
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20. A fluid dispensing system comprising
an array of at least eight dispense tips, each dispense tip being connected to a separate syringe pump, a fluid source bank, the fluid source bank having plural fluid reservoirs, and a changeable fluid conduit network capable of permitting: - (a) each of at least eight of the pumps to be connected to a separate fluid reservoir, (b) each of at least eight of the pumps to be connected to the same fluid reservoir, and (c) any subset of pumps to be connected to the same fluid reservoir while one or more other pumps are connected to another fluid reservoir, wherein the dispense tips are configured to dispense droplets in a range of volumes less than about 5 microliters per droplet without contacting the droplets to a surface.
- View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A device for dispensing fluid to a sample or sample holder, the device comprising
a fluid reservoir, a syringe pump device connected to the fluid reservoir, and a dispense element operatively connected to the pump device, wherein the pump device drives fluid incrementally to the dispense element with sufficient velocity and acceleration so that a fluid aliquot of less than about five microliters separates from the dispense element without contacting the sample or the sample holder.
Specification