Method and apparatus for forming a dilution by fluid dispersion

A system for creating a dilution series, comprising:

• at least one first conduit configured to aspirate and dispense a sample to be diluted;
• a first pressure source, configured to prime the at least one first conduit with a solvent and configured to aspirate a sample into the primed first conduit, wherein the first pressure source provides laminar flow conditions that cause the sample to disperse in the solvent in the at least one first conduit;
• at least one second conduit configured to dispense a solvent;
• a second pressure source for dispensing a solvent from the at least one second conduit;
• and
• a controller configured to instruct said first and second pressure sources to dispense said aspirated sample and said solvent at substantially the same time.

A method of creating a dilution series, comprising:

• providing a plurality of vessels;
• providing a sample in at least a first vessel;
• aspirating at least a portion of the sample into at least one first conduit;
• permitting the aspirated sample to disperse into solvent contained within the at least one first conduit, wherein dispersion of the sample occurs at least by convection;
• dispensing at least a portion of the dispersed sample from the at least one first conduit into at least a second vessel;
• and
• dispensing a solvent into at least the second vessel from at least one second conduit.

A method of creating a dilution series using a pressure driven pumping syringe based liquid handler, comprising:

• providing a plurality of vessels, wherein at least a first vessel includes a sample and at least a second vessel includes a diluent;
• aspirating a diluent into at least one conduit;
• aspirating at least a portion of the sample from at least the first vessel into the at least one conduit containing the aspirated diluent such that the sample disperses in the diluent;
• and
• dispensing at least a portion of the dispersed sample from the at least one conduit into at least the second vessel containing the diluent to form a dilution of the sample.

A method of creating a dilution series using a pressure driven pumping syringe based liquid handler, comprising:

• providing a plurality of vessels, wherein at least a first vessel includes a sample and at least a second vessel includes a diluent;
• aspirating at least a portion of the sample into at least one conduit;
• permitting the aspirated sample to disperse into diluent contained within the at least one conduit;
• dispensing a first portion of the dispersed sample from the at least one conduit into a waste receptacle;
• and
• dispensing a second portion of the dispersed sample from the at least one conduit into at least the second vessel.