Temperature controlled microfabricated two-pin liquid sample dispensing system
AssigneeTeragenics, Inc.
InventorsJohn Gilbert, Sebastian Bohm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cooled liquid sample dispensing system comprises a pair of pins for holding a droplet of liquid therebetween and a cooling element. Each pin includes a tip spaced predetermined distance from the other pin to define a sample acquisition region. The pins acquire and hold a droplet of the liquid sample in the sample acquisition region formed in the space between the tips and apply the droplet to a selected sample handing system. The cooling element, when activated, cools the droplet of liquid to reduce evaporation.
Claims41
A fluid handling system, comprising:
- a pin assembly comprising a plurality of components for handling a fluid;
- and
- a cooling element for cooling one of said components of the pin assembly, whereby a fluid to be handled by the pin assembly is cooled so as to reduce evaporation.
A liquid dispensing system for transferring liquids, comprising a pin-type liquid dispensing assembly and a cooled holder.
A method for reducing evaporation in a fluid handling system for handling for fluid, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pin assembly comprising one or more pins;
- and
- lowering the temperature of the pin to reduce evaporation of the fluid.
A system for handling a liquid sample, comprising:
- a holder;
- a first pin coupled to the holder and having a first tip;
- a second pin coupled to the holder and having a second tip spaced a predetermined separation distance from the first tip to define a sample acquisition region for holding the liquid sample;
- and
- a temperature control element for controlling the temperature of said first and second pin.
A fluid handling system, comprising
- a pin assembly for handling a fluid, and
- a temperature control element coupled to the pin assembly for controlling the temperature of the pin assembly.
The fluid handling system of claim 34, further comprising a driver coupled to said fulcrum region for moving said second pin.
A method for handling a fluid, comprising
- providing a pin assembly for handling the fluid, and
- controlling the temperature of the pin assembly.
A fluid handling system, comprising
- a pin assembly for handling the fluid, and
- a temperature control system coupled to the pin assembly for controlling the temperature of the pin assembly.
A pin assembly, comprising
- a first microfabricated pin,
- a second microfabricated pin, and
- a holder for holding the first and second pins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.