Apparatus and methods for cleaning and priming droplet dispensing devices
First Claim
1. A method for cleaning and priming a droplet dispensing device for dispensing a fluid reagent for synthesis, said dispensing device comprising a plurality of nozzles aligned in at least one row, said method comprising:
- (a) sealingly engaging a dispensing surface of said dispensing device comprising said nozzles to form a chamber adjacent said dispensing surface,(b) introducing a wash fluid into said chamber and removing said wash fluid from said chamber, and(c) applying a vacuum individually to at least a portion of the plurality of said nozzles within said chamber wherein the vacuum is sufficient to prime said portion of the plurality of said nozzles with the fluid reagent to be dispensed and wherein the vacuum is applied to said portion of the plurality of said nozzles by means of individual vacuum sources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cleaning and priming a droplet dispensing device having a plurality of nozzles aligned in at least one row. A dispensing surface of the dispensing device comprising the nozzles is sealingly engaged to form a chamber adjacent the dispensing surface. A wash fluid is introduced into the chamber and removed from the chamber. A priming vacuum is applied individually, and preferably, simultaneously, to at least a portion of the plurality of the nozzles. Optionally, a wash fluid is subsequently introduced into the chamber and removed from the chamber to rinse the dispensing surface.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for cleaning and priming a droplet dispensing device for dispensing a fluid reagent for synthesis, said dispensing device comprising a plurality of nozzles aligned in at least one row, said method comprising:
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(a) sealingly engaging a dispensing surface of said dispensing device comprising said nozzles to form a chamber adjacent said dispensing surface, (b) introducing a wash fluid into said chamber and removing said wash fluid from said chamber, and (c) applying a vacuum individually to at least a portion of the plurality of said nozzles within said chamber wherein the vacuum is sufficient to prime said portion of the plurality of said nozzles with the fluid reagent to be dispensed and wherein the vacuum is applied to said portion of the plurality of said nozzles by means of individual vacuum sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for cleaning and priming a droplet dispensing device to dispense a fluid reagent for synthesis of a biopolymer, said device comprising a plurality of nozzles aligned in at least one row, said method comprising:
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(a) sealingly engaging a dispensing surface of said droplet dispensing device comprising said nozzles to form a chamber below said dispensing surface, (b) introducing a wash fluid into said chamber and applying a vacuum to said chamber sufficient to remove said wash fluid from said chamber, (c) applying a vacuum simultaneously and individually to each of the plurality of said nozzles within said chamber wherein the vacuum is sufficient to prime said nozzles with the fluid reagent to be dispensed and wherein the vacuum is applied to said nozzles by means of individual vacuum sources, (d) introducing a rinse fluid into said chamber and applying a vacuum to said chamber sufficient to remove said rinse fluid from said chamber, and (g) drying said nozzles and said dispensing surface by applying a vacuum to said chamber sufficient to dry said nozzles and said dispensing surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for cleaning and priming a droplet dispensing device for dispensing a fluid reagent for synthesizing a biopolymer, said dispensing device comprising a plurality of nozzles aligned in at least one row, said method comprising:
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(a) sealingly engaging a dispensing surface of said dispensing device comprising said nozzles to form a chamber below said dispensing surface, (b) introducing a wash fluid into said chamber in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said dispensing surface of said chamber and removing said wash fluid from said chamber in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to said dispensing surface, and (c) applying a vacuum simultaneously and individually to at least a portion of the plurality of said nozzles wherein the vacuum is sufficient to prime said portion of the plurality of said nozzles with the fluid reagent to be dispensed and wherein the vacuum is applied to said portion of the plurality of said nozzles by means of individual vacuum sources. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for cleaning and priming a droplet dispensing device for dispensing a fluid reagent for synthesizing a biopolymer, said device comprising a plurality of nozzles aligned in at least one row, said method comprising:
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(a) sealingly engaging a dispensing surface of said droplet dispensing device comprising said nozzles to form a chamber below said dispensing surface, (b) introducing a wash fluid into said chamber from the periphery of said chamber and applying a vacuum to said chamber from approximately a center thereof wherein the intensity of said vacuum is sufficient to remove said wash fluid from said chamber, (c) applying a vacuum simultaneously and individually to each of the plurality of said nozzles wherein the vacuum is sufficient to prime said nozzles with the fluid reagent to be dispensed and wherein the vacuum is applied to said nozzles by means of individual vacuum sources, (d) introducing a rinse fluid into said chamber from the periphery of said chamber and applying a vacuum to said chamber from approximately a center thereof wherein the intensity of said vacuum is sufficient to remove said rinse fluid from said chamber, and (e) applying a vacuum to said chamber from approximately a center thereof wherein the intensity of said vacuum is sufficient to dry said nozzles and said dispensing surface.
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Specification