# US 2013/0153677 A1 · Liquid droplet dispenser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0153677 A1 - Document ID: US20130153677A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/820,273 - Filed: 2011-09-07 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-07 - Assignees: University of Limerick - Inventors: Gabriel Leen; Bernard Bryce - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130153677A1 ## CPC - B01L 3/0268: {using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries} - B05B 1/002: {designed to reduce the generation or the transmission of noise or to produce a particular sound; associated with noise monitoring means} - B05B 1/02: designed to produce a jet, spray, or other discharge of particular shape or nature, e.g. in single drops, {or having an outlet of particular shape}(B05B1/26, B05B1/28, B05B1/34 take precedence) - B05B 17/0607: {generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers} - B05B 17/0615: {spray being produced at the free surface of the liquid or other fluent material in a container and subjected to the vibrations} - G01N 35/1004: {Cleaning sample transfer devices} - G01N 35/1009: {Characterised by arrangements for controlling the aspiration or dispense of liquids} - B01L 2200/0615: Loss of fluid by dripping - B01L 2200/0684: Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles - B01L 2200/146: Employing pressure sensors - B01L 2300/044: pierceable, e.g. films, membranes - B01L 2300/0627: Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated - B01L 2300/0832: cylindrical, tube shaped - B01L 2300/0848: Specific forms of parts of containers - B01L 2300/12: Specific details about materials - B01L 2300/14: Means for pressure control - B01L 2300/165: Specific details about hydrophobic, oleophobic surfaces - B01L 2300/18: Means for temperature control - B01L 2400/0436: acoustic forces, e.g. surface acoustic waves [SAW] - B01L 2400/0439: ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements - B01L 2400/0481: squeezing of channels or chambers - B01L 2400/0487: fluid pressure, pneumatics - G01N 2035/00425: {Heating or cooling means associated with pipettes or the like, e.g. for supplying sample/reagent at given temperature} - G01N 2035/1034: {Transferring microquantities of liquid} - G01N 2035/1048: {using the transfer device for another function} - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - 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 An apparatus for dispensing droplets comprises a dispensing tip with an orifice having a cross sectional area in the range of 0.00002 mm2 to 0.03 mm2. An actuator assembly comprising an actuator element engages with and disengage from the tip and, when engaged, couples acoustic energy to liquid in the tip to expel the liquid through the orifice as a droplet. The actuator assembly includes one or more piezo elements, which may be in the form of piezo stacks. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly comprises a plurality of jaws adapted to move to engage with the dispensing tip for dispensing. This allows side loading of the tip followed by movement of the actuator assembly to engage the tip. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-38. (canceled) ### Claim 39 A dispensing apparatus for dispensing droplets, the apparatus comprising: a dispensing tip having a fluid passage with an orifice, an actuator assembly comprising an actuator element and being arranged to engage with and disengage from the tip, wherein said orifice has a cross sectional area in the range of 0.00002 mm2 to 0.03 mm2, and wherein the actuator is adapted to, when engaged, couple acoustic energy to liquid in the fluid passage to eject said liquid through the orifice as a droplet by applying a static mechanical pressure against the tip, said static mechanical pressure being a bias force upon which the actuator applies a pressure wave. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the actuator assembly includes one or more piezo elements. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the piezo elements are in the form of piezo stacks. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the actuator assembly comprises an interface for contacting the dispensing tip and for transferring acoustic energy from the actuator element to the tip. ### Claim 43 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the actuator assembly comprises an inertial mass for the actuator element to act against in order to couple pressure waves into the dispensing tip. ### Claim 44 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a mechanism for amplifying actuator element movement. ### Claim 45 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a mechanism for amplifying actuator element movement; and wherein said mechanism comprises a base and a pivoting link arm one end of which is acted upon by the actuator element and the other end of which has a face for engagement with the tip. ### Claim 46 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the actuator assembly is adapted to provide controlled heating in the region of the orifice only. ### Claim 47 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the dispensing tip is adapted for storage of liquid before dispensing. ### Claim 48 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the dispensing tip is in a funnel configuration, having an upper reservoir and a lower liquid-containing portion having the orifice. ### Claim 49 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the inner surface of the tip at the orifice is funnel-shaped, extending inwardly and downwardly, and bending downwardly to a smaller angle to axial at the orifice. ### Claim 50 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the dispensing tip further comprises a means of venting and connection to a pressure control system; and/or the dispensing tip has a membrane which may be punctured for use; and/or the material of the dispensing tip is polypropylene. ### Claim 51 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the apparatus further comprises a sensor arranged to sense liquid dispensing from the dispensing tip, a controller, and feedback means in the controller for dynamically controlling the actuator assembly and/or liquid pressure, and/or liquid temperature, in response to sensing of liquid dispensing. ### Claim 52 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the system is a biomedical liquid dispensing system. ### Claim 53 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the apparatus further comprises means to apply a positive back pressure to space within the tip to provide a continuous flow of liquid from the orifice, and the actuator assembly is adapted to apply acoustic energy to break said stream. ### Claim 54 (depends on 39) The dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein the controller is adapted to control the apparatus with the steps of applying: negative liquid back pressure to prevent dripping, positive liquid back pressure to blow out a small quantity of liquid, negative liquid back pressure, and acoustic energy pulses to the dispensing tip to create pressure waves for droplet dispensing. ### Claim 55 (depends on 39) A liquid dispensing method performed with a dispensing apparatus of claim 39, the method comprising the steps of providing a liquid in the dispensing tip and operating the actuator assembly to cause drops to exit the dispensing tip orifice. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The method as claimed in claim 55, wherein a primer liquid which is immiscible with a liquid of interest is contained in the tip ### Claim 57 A dispensing tip comprising a liquid-containing body with a lower fluid passage having an external surface for engaging an actuator assembly and an orifice having a cross sectional area in the range of 0.00002 mm2 to 0.03 mm2.