Hybrid valve apparatus and method for fluid handling
First Claim
1. A liquid transfer apparatus for transferring a sample liquid slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
- an aspiration source;
a dispensing source;
a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition;
a manifold device providing a liquid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port, in liquid communication with the aspiration source, and a second aspiration port, said manifold device further providing a liquid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port, in liquid communication with the dispensing source, and a second dispensing port; and
a liquid communication structure defining a dispensing orifice, said liquid communication structure and said manifold device cooperating to define a discrete sample path extending from the dispensing orifice and through at least a portion of said manifold device;
said valve assembly and said manifold device being cooperatively associated such that;
in said aspiration condition, the second aspiration port is fluidly coupled to said discrete sample path to enable selective aspiration of a liquid sample slug directly through said dispensing orifice, from the reservoir, and into at least a portion of the sample path, while the second dispensing port is fluidly decoupled from the sample path to prevent liquid communication with the dispensing source, andin said dispensing condition, the second dispensing port is fluidly coupled to the sample path to enable selective dispensing of at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug directly from said dispensing orifice to the test site, while the second aspiration port is fluidly decoupled from the sample path to prevent liquid communication with the aspiration source.
5 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.
98 Citations
40 Claims
-
1. A liquid transfer apparatus for transferring a sample liquid slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
-
an aspiration source; a dispensing source; a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition; a manifold device providing a liquid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port, in liquid communication with the aspiration source, and a second aspiration port, said manifold device further providing a liquid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port, in liquid communication with the dispensing source, and a second dispensing port; and a liquid communication structure defining a dispensing orifice, said liquid communication structure and said manifold device cooperating to define a discrete sample path extending from the dispensing orifice and through at least a portion of said manifold device; said valve assembly and said manifold device being cooperatively associated such that; in said aspiration condition, the second aspiration port is fluidly coupled to said discrete sample path to enable selective aspiration of a liquid sample slug directly through said dispensing orifice, from the reservoir, and into at least a portion of the sample path, while the second dispensing port is fluidly decoupled from the sample path to prevent liquid communication with the dispensing source, and in said dispensing condition, the second dispensing port is fluidly coupled to the sample path to enable selective dispensing of at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug directly from said dispensing orifice to the test site, while the second aspiration port is fluidly decoupled from the sample path to prevent liquid communication with the aspiration source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17)
-
-
15. The liquid transfer apparatus as defined in 14, further including
a digitally regulated hydraulic pressure system which supplies a computer-selectable liquid pressure head to the ink-jet printing valve to effectively alter the dispensing range.
-
16. The liquid transfer apparatus as defined in 14, wherein
said ink-jet printing valve is adapted to articulate the voltages that are pulse width-independent to enable improved dispensing precision.
-
18. A liquid transfer apparatus for selectively and independently transferring a plurality of sample liquid slugs from a plurality of reservoirs to a plurality of test sites on a substrate surface, said transfer apparatus comprising:
-
a plurality of aspiration actuators; a plurality of dispensing actuators; a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition; a manifold device providing a plurality of liquid aspiration conduits each having a first aspiration port, in liquid communication with a corresponding aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port, said manifold device further providing a plurality of liquid dispensing conduits each having a first dispensing port, in liquid communication with a corresponding dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port; and a liquid communication structure defining a plurality of dispensing orifices, said liquid communication structure and said manifold device cooperating to define a plurality of respective discrete sample paths extending from a corresponding dispensing orifice and through a respective at least a portion of said manifold device; said valve assembly and said manifold device being cooperatively associated such that; in said aspiration condition, a respective second aspiration port is fluidly coupled to a respective discrete sample path to enable selective and independent aspiration of a respective liquid sample slug directly through a respective dispensing orifice, from a respective reservoir, and into at least a portion of the corresponding sample path, while a respective second dispensing port is fluidly decoupled from the respective sample path to prevent liquid communication with a respective dispensing actuator, and in said dispensing condition, the respective second dispensing port is fluidly coupled to the respective sample path to enable selective and independent dispensing of at least one respective droplet of the respective liquid sample slug directly from the corresponding dispensing orifice to a test site, while the respective second aspiration port is fluidly decoupled from the respective sample path to prevent liquid communication with the respective aspiration actuator. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A liquid transfer apparatus for transferring a sample liquid slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:
-
an aspiration source; a dispensing source; a manifold device providing a liquid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port, in liquid communication with the aspiration source, and a second aspiration port terminating at a stator face of said manifold device, said manifold device further providing a liquid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port, in liquid communication with the dispensing source, and a second dispensing port also terminating at said stator face; a liquid communication structure defining a dispensing orifice, said liquid communication structure and said manifold device cooperating to define a discrete sample path extending from the dispensing orifice and through at least a portion of a primary passage portion of said manifold device; and a valve assembly including a valve body having a contact face slideably contacting the manifold device stator face at a stator-contact interface for sliding sealed contact between an aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to said primary passage portion of the sample path to enable selective aspiration of a liquid sample slug from the reservoir into at least a portion of the sample path through said dispensing orifice, while fluidly decoupling the second dispensing port from the said primary passage portion of the sample path to prevent liquid communication with the dispensing source, and a dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to said primary passage portion of the sample path to enable selective dispensing of at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from said dispensing orifice, while fluidly decoupling the second aspiration port from said primary passage portion of the sample path to prevent liquid communication with the aspiration source. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A liquid transfer apparatus for selectively and independently transferring a plurality of sample liquid slugs from a plurality of reservoirs to a plurality of test sites on a substrate surface, said transfer apparatus comprising:
-
a plurality of aspiration actuators; a plurality of dispensing actuators; a manifold device providing a plurality of liquid aspiration conduits each having a first aspiration port, in liquid communication with a corresponding aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port terminating at a stator face of said manifold device, said manifold device further providing a plurality of liquid dispensing conduits each having a first dispensing port, in liquid communication with a corresponding dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port also terminating at a stator face of said manifold device; a liquid communication structure defining a plurality of dispensing orifices, said liquid communication structure and said manifold device cooperating to define a plurality of respective discrete sample paths extending from a corresponding dispensing orifice and though a respective at least a portion of a respective primary passage portion of said manifold device; and a valve assembly including a valve body having a contact face slideably contacting the manifold device stator face at a stator-contact interface for sliding sealed contact between an aspiration condition, fluidly coupling a respective second aspiration port to a respective discrete sample path to enable selective and independent aspiration of a respective liquid sample slug from a respective reservoir into the corresponding sample path through a respective dispensing orifice, while fluidly decoupling a respective second dispensing port from the respective sample path to prevent liquid communication with a respective dispensing actuator, and a dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the respective second dispensing port to the respective sample path to enable selective and independent dispensing of at least one respective droplet of the respective liquid sample slug from the corresponding dispensing orifice, while fluidly decoupling the respective second aspiration port from the respective sample path to prevent liquid communication with the respective aspiration actuator. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
Specification