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US 2006/0240566 A1Published application
Delivery of metered amounts of liquid materials
AssigneesThe Public Health Research Institute of the City of New York, Inc., a New York corporation, New Jersey Institute of Technology, a New Jersey University
InventorsTimothy Chang, Peter Tolias
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Abstract
Techniques for the delivery of metered amounts of liquid material include the use of a pin, such as an optical fiber. A sample of the liquid material may be placed on the tip of the pin for delivery to a target area, such as a specific location on a microarray, in a contactless manner. Light transmitted through the pin may be detected to facilitate accurate measuring of the pin's position.
Claims13
A method of depositing a metered drop of liquid onto a target area of a surface comprising:
- moving a pin having a tip downwardly toward a target area;
- causing the metered drop of liquid to adhere to the tip of the pin as the pin moves toward the target area;
- sensing when the tip containing the drop is approximately a predetermined depositing distance above the target area;
- and
- vibrating the pin to separate the drop of liquid material from the tip, whereupon the drop is deposited onto the target area, and the pin remains out of contact with said surface, wherein said depositing method is controlled by a programmed processor.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.