# US 2009/0260458 A1 · High throughput dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260458 A1 - Document ID: US20090260458A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/105,198 - Filed: 2008-04-17 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-17 - Inventors: Victor Joseph; Joseph F. Rogers; Kumar Kastury - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260458A1 ## CPC - B01L 3/0293: {for liquids} - B01L 3/0217: {of the plunger pump type} - B01L 3/563: {Joints or fittings; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors} - B01L 7/00: Heating or cooling apparatus (autoclaves B01J3/04); Heat insulating devices - B01L 2200/021: Adjust spacings in an array of wells, pipettes or holders, format transfer between arrays of different size or geometry - B01L 2300/0819: Microarrays; Biochips - B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates - B01L 2300/0838: Capillaries - B01L 2300/165: Specific details about hydrophobic, oleophobic surfaces - B01L 2400/0406: capillary forces - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - G01N 35/1065: {Multiple transfer devices} - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract The invention is directed to systems and methods for transferring nano-quantities of fluid samples using a high throughput or ultra high throughput dispenser. Such samples may be transferred from a first location and reformatted for being transferred to a second location. The invention may transfer a predetermined volume of sample quickly and accurately. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dispenser comprising: (a) an array of capillaries for transfer of aqueous samples, said array comprising: a plurality of separate capillary channels each comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to draw a predetermined volume of sample from a sample source; and a pressure source capable of operably connecting to the first ends of the plurality of separate capillary channels wherein the pressure source may effect a transfer of the predetermined volume of sample entirely from the first end to the second end; and (b) a support structure orienting the first end as a first footprint and orienting the second end as a second footprint, wherein the first footprint and second footprint have a different area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the sample source is a multi-well plate comprising a plurality of source wells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the sample source is at least one of: a 96, 384 or 1536 microtiter plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the sample source is a microtiter plate for holding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) samples. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of separate capillary channels comprises at least one of: 96 capillary channels, 384 capillary channels, or 1536 capillary channels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of separate capillary channels includes a plurality of separate capillary tubes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the plurality of separate capillary tubes is made of glass, plastic, or a polymer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of separate capillary channels is fabricated using at least one of the following methods: UV polymerization lithography, micro injection molding, hot embossing, graytone lithography or x-ray lithography. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of separate capillary channels comprises one or more preloaded reagents. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the predetermined volume of sample is up to 100 nL ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first footprint has a greater area than the second footprint. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first end is adapted to draw the predetermined volume of sample from the sample source using capillary action. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pressure source is a positive pressure chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The dispenser of claim 13 wherein the positive pressure chamber exerts a positive pressure greater than 3 atm into the plurality of separate capillary channels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the second ends are directed to one or more sample receiving location. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the sample receiving location is a microchip or microarray. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the plurality of capillary channels is capable of dispensing a hydrophilic liquid sample and hydrophobic liquid sample at the same time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A dispensing kit comprising the array of capillaries of claim 1 and instructions for use thereof. ### Claim 19 A method of transferring of aqueous samples, comprising: receiving a sample from a sample source to a plurality of separate capillary channels each comprising a first end and a second end; drawing a predetermined volume of sample through the first end of each of the plurality of separate capillary channels using capillary action; applying positive pressure to the first end of each of the plurality of separate capillary channels; dispensing the entire predetermined volume of sample through the second end of each of the plurality of separate capillary channels to a sample receiving location. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 further comprising flipping the plurality of separate capillary channels to a degree sufficient for applying positive pressure to the first ends. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the predetermined volume of sample drawn through the first end of each of the plurality of separate capillary channels is the substantially same volume. ### Claim 22 A dispenser comprising: (a) an array of capillaries for transfer of aqueous samples, said array comprising: a plurality of separate capillary channels each comprising a first end and a second end; and (b) a support structure orienting the first end as a first footprint and orienting the second end as a second footprint, wherein each of the plurality of separate capillary channels have the substantially same volume capacity, wherein the first end is adapted to draw the same predetermined volume of sample from a sample source, and wherein the first footprint and second footprint have a different area. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein each of the plurality of separate capillary channels is effective to transfer the entire predetermined volume of sample from the first end to the second end. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the sample source is a multi-well plate comprising a plurality of source wells. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the sample source is at least one of: a 96, 384 or 1536 microtiter plate. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the sample source is a microtiter plate for holding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) samples. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the plurality of separate capillary channels comprises at least one of: 96 capillary channels, 384 capillary channels, or 1536 capillary channels. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the plurality of separate capillary channels includes a plurality of separate capillary tubes. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the plurality of separate capillary channels is fabricated using at least one of the following methods: UV polymerization lithography, micro injection molding, hot embossing, graytone lithography or x-ray lithography. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the predetermined volume of sample is up to 100 nL. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the first footprint has a greater area than the second footprint. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the first end is adapted to draw the predetermined volume of sample from the sample source using capillary action. ### Claim 33 (depends on 23) The dispenser of claim 23 wherein each of the plurality of separate capillary channels is effective to transfer the entire predetermined volume of sample using positive pressure from the first end. ### Claim 34 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the second ends are directed to one or more sample receiving location. ### Claim 35 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the sample receiving location is a microchip or microarray. ### Claim 36 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the lengths of the plurality of separate capillary channels are substantially the same. ### Claim 37 (depends on 22) The dispenser of claim 22 wherein the lengths of the plurality of separate capillary channels are substantially different. ### Claim 38 An array of capillaries for transfer of aqueous samples, comprising: a plurality of separate capillary channels each comprising a first end and a second end; and a support structure orienting the first ends as a first footprint and orienting the second ends as a second footprint, wherein the first end is adapted to draw a predetermined volume of sample from a sample source, wherein the second end is adapted to dispense the predetermined volume of sample to a sample receiving location wherein both the second end and the sample receiving location are adapted to remain substantially stationary during the dispensing, and wherein the first footprint and second footprint have a different area. ### Claim 39 A system for dispensing comprising: a sample source; an array of capillaries for transfer of a sample from the sample source, the array of capillaries comprising: a plurality of separate capillary channels each comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to draw a predetermined volume of sample from the sample source, a pressure source capable of operably connecting to the first ends of the plurality of separate capillary channels wherein the pressure source may effect a transfer of the predetermined volume of sample entirely from the first end to the second end, and a support structure orienting the first ends as a first footprint and orienting the second ends as a second footprint, wherein the first footprint and second footprint have a different area; a sample receiving location for receiving the predetermined volume of sample from the second end, wherein the sample receiving location contacts a temperature block; and an optical detection device directed to the sample receiving location. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The system of claim 39 wherein the sample source is a multi-well plate comprising a plurality of source wells. ### Claim 41 (depends on 39) The system of claim 39 wherein the sample source is at least one of: a 96, 384 or 1536 microtiter plate. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The system of claim 39 wherein the sample source is a microtiter plate for holding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) samples. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The system of claim 39 wherein the sample receiving location is a microchip or microarray. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) The system of claim 39 wherein the sample receiving location is used for fluorescent assay. ### Claim 45 (depends on 39) The system of claim 39 wherein the temperature block provides heat to the sample receiving location. ### Claim 46 A sample transfer block, comprising: a plurality of separate capillary channels embedded therein, each comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adapted to draw a predetermined volume of sample from a sample source; a pressure source capable of operably connecting to the first ends of the plurality of separate capillary channels wherein the pressure source may effect a transfer of the predetermined volume of sample entirely from the first end to the second end; and a support structure orienting the first ends as a first footprint and orienting the second ends as a second footprint, wherein the first footprint and second footprint have a different area. ### Claim 47 (depends on 1) The dispenser of claim 1 wherein an individual channel of said plurality is coated with a hydrophobic coating. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The dispenser of claim 47 wherein the individual channel comprises a tip that is coated with said hydrophobic coating.