Microfluidic transfer pin
First Claim
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1. A microfluidic liquid dispenser assay system comprising:
- a target receptacle comprising a platen, the platen comprising a first planar surface, a first opening on the first planar surface, an opposing planar surface, and a second opening on the opposing planar surface, wherein the target receptacle is a through-hole;
at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to the target receptacle, the at least one transfer pin having a slot for holding the microfluidic sample; and
a pin tip at an end of the transfer pin structured to cooperate with the first opening in the target receptacle, the pin tip having a high voltage potential for transferring the sample from the at least one transfer pin to the target receptacle; and
a voltage control module configured to apply the high voltage potential to the pin tip to encourage wetting of a liquid bridge between the pin tip and the through-hole;
wherein the through-hole extends from the first opening on the first planar surface of the platen to the second opening on the opposing planar surface of the platen, and wherein the through-hole is submersed in a liquid that is immiscible with the microfluidic sample.
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Abstract
A liquid dispenser for a microfluidic assay system is described. The dispenser includes at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to a target receptacle. A pin tip at one end of the transfer pin is structured to cooperate with an opening in the target receptacle. The tip uses a high voltage potential to transfer the sample from the pin to the receptacle.
291 Citations
83 Claims
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1. A microfluidic liquid dispenser assay system comprising:
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a target receptacle comprising a platen, the platen comprising a first planar surface, a first opening on the first planar surface, an opposing planar surface, and a second opening on the opposing planar surface, wherein the target receptacle is a through-hole; at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to the target receptacle, the at least one transfer pin having a slot for holding the microfluidic sample; and a pin tip at an end of the transfer pin structured to cooperate with the first opening in the target receptacle, the pin tip having a high voltage potential for transferring the sample from the at least one transfer pin to the target receptacle; and a voltage control module configured to apply the high voltage potential to the pin tip to encourage wetting of a liquid bridge between the pin tip and the through-hole; wherein the through-hole extends from the first opening on the first planar surface of the platen to the second opening on the opposing planar surface of the platen, and wherein the through-hole is submersed in a liquid that is immiscible with the microfluidic sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for use in dispensing a microfluidic sample of a liquid, the method comprising:
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providing at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to a target receptacle, one end of the transfer pin having a slot holding the microfluidic sample and a pin tip structured to cooperate with an opening in the target receptacle; initiating transfer of the sample from the at least one transfer pin tip and the target receptacle when the sample contacts the target receptacle; and applying a high voltage potential between the pin tip and the target receptacle to transfer the sample from the at least one transfer pin to the target receptacle, wherein the target receptacle is a through-hole and submersing the target receptacle in a liquid that is immiscible with the microfluidic sample. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A microfluidic assay system comprising:
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at least one liquid sample storage device including a plurality of target receptacles, the at least one liquid sample storage device comprising a platen, the platen comprising a first planar surface, a first opening on the first planar surface, an opposing planar surface, and a second opening on the opposing planar surface, wherein a least one of the plurality of target receptacles is a through-hole; and a microfluidic liquid dispenser having; i. a high voltage supply that develops a high voltage potential; ii. at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to the first opening on the first planar surface, the at least one transfer pin having a slot for holding the microfluidic sample, one end of the transfer pin having a pin tip structured to cooperate with an opening in the target receptacle; iii. a voltage controller configured to apply the high voltage potential to the pin tip to encourage the wetting of a liquid bridge between the pin tip and the through-hole; and iv. a dispenser positioning module that positions the liquid dispenser to enable the transfer pin to cooperate with one of the target receptacles for transferring the sample, wherein the through-hole extends from the first opening on the first planar surface of the platen to the second opening on the opposing planar surface of the platen, and wherein at least one of the plurality of target receptacles is submersed in a liquid that is immiscible with the microfluidic sample. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A method for use in dispensing a microfluidic sample of a liquid into a target receptacle wherein the target receptacle is a through-hole, the through-hole extending from a first opening on a first planar surface of a platen to a second opening on an opposing planar surface of the platen, the method comprising:
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providing a microfluidic liquid dispenser, the dispenser including; at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to the target receptacle, the at least one transfer pin having a slot for holding the microfluidic sample; a pin tip at one end of the transfer pin structured to cooperate with the first opening in the target receptacle, the pin tip having a high voltage potential for transferring the sample from the at least one transfer pin to the target receptacle; and a voltage control module configured to apply the high voltage potential to the pin tip to encourage the wetting of a liquid bridge between the pin tip and the through-hole; applying the high voltage potential to encourage the wetting of the liquid bridge between the pin tip and the through-hole to thereby dispense the microfluidic sample; and submersing the target receptacle in a liquid that is immiscible with the microfluidic sample. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78)
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79. A method for use in dispensing a microfluidic sample of a liquid into a target receptacle wherein the target receptacle is a through-hole, the through-hole extending from the first opening on one planar surface of a platen to a second opening on an opposing planar surface of the platen, the method comprising:
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providing a microfluidic assay system including; at least one liquid sample storage device including a plurality of target receptacles; and a microfluidic liquid dispenser having; i. a high voltage supply that develops a high voltage potential; ii. at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to a first opening on a target receptacle, the at least one transfer pin having a slot for holding the microfluidic sample, one end of the transfer pin having a pin tip structured to cooperate with an opening in the target receptacle; iii. a voltage controller configured to apply the high voltage potential to the pin tip to encourage wetting of a liquid bridge between the pin tip and the through-hole; and iv. a dispenser positioning module that positions the liquid dispenser to enable the transfer pin to cooperate with the target receptacle for transferring the sample; and applying the high voltage potential to encourage the wetting of the liquid bridge between the pin tip and the through-hole, thereby dispensing the microfluidic sample; and submersing the plurality of target receptacles in a liquid that is immiscible with the microfluidic sample. - View Dependent Claims (80, 81)
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82. A method for use in dispensing a microfluidic sample of a liquid, the method comprising:
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submersing a target receptacle in a liquid that is immiscible with the microfluidic sample to form a submersed target receptacle; providing at least one transfer pin for transferring a microfluidic sample of liquid to the submersed target receptacle, one end of the transfer pin having a pin tip structured to cooperate with an opening in the submersed target receptacle; initiating transfer of the sample from the at least one transfer pin tip to the target receptacle when the sample contacts the submersed target receptacle; and applying a high voltage potential between the pin tip and the submersed target receptacle for transferring the sample from the at least one transfer pin to the submersed target receptacle, wherein the target receptacle is a through-hole. - View Dependent Claims (83)
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Specification