Apparatus for and methods of processing liquids or liquid-based substances

An apparatus for processing liquids or liquid based substances, the apparatus comprising a plurality of volumes at least two of which are defined at least in part by one or more phaseguides inside the volume for controlling aliquoting of one or more liquids or liquid-based substances inside the volume, each volume having at least two inlets, whereby to permit addition of at least two liquids to at least one said volume containing at least one phaseguide, each volume having an upstream and downstream side with respect to a meniscus movement direction defined during filling of the volume with or emptying of the volume of one or more liquids or liquid-based substances, the apparatus including at least one common upstream-side conduit connected to supply a fluid, especially a liquid or liquid-based substance via a plurality of the inlet or extraction conduits.

-26. (canceled)

A method of filling or partially filling a plurality of volumes with a liquid or liquid-based substance, the said volumes being connected in a series, network or array by one or more conduits;

• the series, network or array including upstream and downstream portions when judged with reference to a direction of movement of a fluid-fluid liquid-gas meniscus;
• and the series, network or array including at least two phaseguide, the phaseguides exhibiting differing stabilities from one another, the method comprising arranging the stabilities of the phaseguides to performing a filling step such that overflow of the phaseguides takes place in a predetermined order determined by the phaseguide stabilities.

(canceled)

A method of isolating one or more liquids or liquid-based substances in one or more volumes forming part of a series, network or array, the said volumes being connected in a series, network or array by one or more conduits;

• the volumes including at least an upstream and downstream portion when judged with reference to a direction of movement of a liquid-liquid or liquid-gas meniscus, and the series, network or array including at least one phaseguide positioned distally from the relatively downstream origin of the downstream conduit with respect to at least one branched volume that includes at least one upstream-side phaseguide inside the said volume or upstream from it, the method including the steps of selecting the stability of the said distally positioned phaseguide to be less than the stability of said at least one upstream-side phaseguide and the method including the steps of causing overflow of said phaseguide of less stability, so as partially to empty the conduit while causing retention of liquid or a liquid-based substance in the at least one volume.

-40. (canceled)