Method and device for removing particles from liquid and placing them into a holding device

A handheld wand capable of removing a plurality of zebrafish or zebrafish eggs from a liquid and placing the zebrafish or zebrafish eggs into discrete receptacles of a holding fixture, comprising:

• a wand head having a bottom face with a first array of openings suitable for holding zebrafish or zebrafish eggs, the first array suitable for immersion in a liquid and adapted for registration with a second array defined by the discrete receptacles of the holding fixture;
• a gas outlet in fluid communication with the first array of openings, the gas outlet adapted for applying a negative gas pressure to the first array so as to be able to capture zebrafish or zebrafish eggs at the first array of openings;
• a gas inlet in fluid communication with the first array, the gas inlet adapted for allowing gas to enter the first array so as to be able to release zebrafish or zebrafish eggs from the first array of openings;
• a means for controlling the flow of gas through the gas outlet and gas inlet;
• and
• a handle connected to the handheld wand.

A method of removing a plurality of zebrafish or zebrafish eggs from a liquid and placing the zebrafish or zebrafish eggs into one or more discrete receptacles of a holding fixture, the method comprising:

• contacting a wand head with the liquid, the wand head having a bottom face with a first array of openings suitable for holding the zebrafish or zebrafish eggs and adapted for registration with a second array defined by the discrete receptacles of a holding fixture;
• drawing some of the liquid through the first array of openings by using negative pressure in order to capture and retain the zebrafish or zebrafish eggs in contact with the openings of the first array;
• moving the first array or the holding fixture relative to the other while retaining the zebrafish or zebrafish eggs in contact with the first array of openings so as to bring the first array into registration with the second array;
• and
• releasing the zebrafish or zebrafish eggs from the first array of openings and into the one or more discrete receptacles of the holding fixture.