Multi-channel dispensing system

A system for aspirating generally precise and/or predetermined microfluidic quantities of one or more fluids from one or more fluid sources or dispensing precise and/or predetermined microfluidic quantities of said one or more fluids to one or more targets, comprising:

• a plurality of valves adapted to be opened and closed at a predetermined frequency and duty cycle;
• a plurality of nozzles coupled to a respective one of said plurality of valves and adapted to be immersed in said one or more fluid sources;
• a positive displacement pump in hydraulic communication with said plurality of valves for drawing predetermined quantities of said one or more fluids from said one or more fluid sources and/or for providing predetermined quantities of said one or more fluids to said one or more targets;
• a manifold positioned intermediate said plurality of valves and said positive displacement pump and including a plurality of channels in hydraulic communication with a respective one of said plurality of valves;
• and
• a controller for individually controlling the frequency/duty cycle of said plurality of valves to achieve balanced output and/or to achieve individual or sequential dispensing/aspirating of precise and/or predetermined quantities of said one or more fluids.

An apparatus for dispensing and aspirating one or more fluids, comprising:

• a plurality of dispensers;
• a direct current fluid source in hydraulic communication with said plurality of dispensers for metering predetermined quantities of said one or more fluids to or from said plurality of dispensers;
• a manifold positioned intermediate said plurality of dispensers and said direct current fluid source and including a plurality of channels in hydraulic communication with a respective one of said plurality of dispensers;
• and
• means for individually controlling each of the dispensers to achieve balanced output and/or to achieve individual or sequential dispensing/aspirating of precise and/or predetermined quantities of said one or more fluids.

A system for dispensing and aspirating predetermined quantities of one or more reagents, comprising:

• a plurality of dispensers with each one of said plurality of dispensers including a respective one of a plurality of drop-on-demand valves adapted to be opened and closed at a predetermined frequency and duty cycle, each one of said plurality of drop-on-demand valves being in communication with a respective one of a plurality of nozzles for dispensing droplets of said one or more reagents onto one or more targets or for aspirating said one or more reagents from one or more sources;
• a positive displacement syringe pump in hydraulic communication with said plurality of drop-on-demand valves and including a stepper motor adapted to decrement or increment a plunger of said positive displacement syringe pump for metering predetermined quantities of said one or more reagents to or from said plurality of dispensers;
• a manifold positioned intermediate said plurality of dispensers and said positive displacement syringe pump and being in hydraulic communication with said plurality of dispensers and said positive displacement syringe pump, said manifold including a supply rail and a plurality of channels in hydraulic communication with a respective one of said plurality of drop-on-demand valves to form an (1×N) array of said plurality of channels for dispensing or aspirating said one or more reagents;
• one or more pressure sensors placed intermediate said manifold and said positive displacement syringe pump and/or at said manifold and/or at said one or more of said plurality of dispensers;
• whereby, said system can provide controlled and/or generally equal quantities and/or flow rates of said one or more reagents to or from one or more of said plurality of dispensers.

A method for substantially balanced multi-channel dispensing, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of dispensers connected to a common supply manifold and including a plurality of valves;
• providing a pump in series with said manifold;
• actuating said pump to displace a predetermined quantity of fluid;
• actuating one or more of said plurality of dispensers to provide a quantity or quantities of said fluid to a target;
• and
• controlling the duty cycle and/or frequency of one or more of said plurality of valves to achieve substantially balanced flow.

A method for sequentially dispensing a fluid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of dispensers connected to a common supply manifold and including a plurality of valves;
• providing a direct current fluid source in series with said manifold;
• actuating said direct current fluid source to sequentially or continuously displace predetermined quantities of fluid;
• actuating said plurality of dispensers sequentially/individually at predetermined intervals to provide a quantity or quantities of said fluid to one or more targets.

A hydraulic system for sequentially dispensing precise and/or predetermined quantities of fluid, comprising:

• a plurality of dispensers connected to a common supply manifold and including a plurality of valves adapted to be activated at predetermined intervals;
• a direct current fluid source in fluid communication with said manifold;
• the output fluid flow rate (Qn) through each one of said plurality of valves of said hydraulic system being substantially in accordance with a transfer function having the form:
• 29 Q n Q t = K s ⁡ ( s + 1 τ ) 1 + K s ⁡ ( s + 1 τ ) = 1 1 + 1 K ⁢ s ⁡ ( s + 1 τ )
• with a characteristic equation given by:
• 30 1 + K s ⁡ ( s + 1 τ ) = 0
• and a gain K given by:
• 31 K = 1 R t ⁢ C ⁢ ⁢ τ
• where, Qt is the input fluid flow rate provided by said direct current fluid source to each one of said plurality of valves, Rt is the flow resistance, C is the elastic capacitance, τ is the inertial or inductive time constant, and s is the Laplacian variable.