Fluid dispensing apparatus

• US 9,914,124 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2013
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sakura Finetek USA Incorporated (Sakura Finetechnical Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sakura Finetek USA Incorporated (Sakura Finetechnical Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bui, Xuan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Durand, Paul R
• Assistant Examiner(s): NICHOLS II, ROBERT K
• Application Number:
  US13/914,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20130284761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,737 Days
• Field of Search: 222144, 222207, 222325, 2221811
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0605 check valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0265 using valves to interrupt or meter fluid flow, e.g. using solenoids or metering valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/527 for a plurality of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/00446 the means being located at the bottom of the container or of an enclosure surrounding the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1002 the direction of the pressure stroke being substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the container B05B11/1009, B05B11/1015 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1015 actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke B05B11/1011 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1016 the outlet valve having a valve seat located downstream a movable valve element controlled by a pressure actuated controlling element B05B11/1022, B05B11/1023 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1069 the valve being made of a resiliently deformable material or being urged in a closed position by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/08 of the diaphragm or bellows type
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1002 Reagent dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a fluid reservoir and a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes a housing and a deformable member that define a metering chamber that is configured to receive a predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir. The deformable member is deformed from a rest position to an eject position and the deformation causes the volume of the metering chamber to change which results in a change in fluid pressure within the metering chamber. An increase in the fluid pressure within metering chamber causes a predetermined volume of fluid within the metering chamber to be ejected and a decrease in the fluid pressure within the metering chamber causes fluid to be drawn into the metering chamber from the reservoir.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing system, comprising:

a cartridge mounting assembly having a plurality of fluid dispensing cartridge mounting stations each of which includes a cartridge mounting feature;

a plurality of fluid dispensing cartridges each including a reservoir and a fluid dispensing assembly comprising an alignment surface, and a dispensing assembly housing extending from the alignment surface, the dispensing assembly housing comprising a metering chamber, a piston and a deformable member that is configured to alter the volume of the metering chamber when deformed by the piston, the cartridges being mounted to respective mounting stations;

at least one actuator that is operable to apply a force to the piston of one of the plurality of dispensing cartridges; and

a sample support assembly configured to support a plurality of tissue samples substantially below the fluid dispensing assembly,

wherein the cartridge mounting feature comprises a shape to match a corresponding horizontal cross-sectional shape of the alignment surface of the fluid dispensing assembly,

wherein the dispensing assembly of each of the plurality of fluid dispensing cartridges comprises a key that is operable to be received within an aperture in each of the plurality of fluid dispensing cartridge mounting stations,

wherein each of the plurality of fluid dispensing cartridge mounting stations includes a cartridge retaining feature configured to selectively interlock with a cartridge feature, and

wherein the cartridge feature is a mounting tab and the cartridge retaining feature is a slot configured to receive the mounting tab and to provide a friction fit between the mounting tab and the slot, wherein the slot is integrally formed with a bottom wall of each of the plurality of fluid dispensing cartridge mounting stations and the friction fit between the mounting tab and the slot becomes tighter as the mounting tab is inserted further into the slot toward the bottom wall.

2. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the cartridge mounting feature is an aperture.

3. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the cartridge mounting feature is an indentation.

4. The fluid dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the cartridge mounting assembly includes at least two mounting stations having differently shaped cartridge mounting features.