Microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of liquid volumes separated by spacers

A microfluidic probe for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the microfluidic probe comprising:

• a microfluidic probe head including an inlet, an outlet, a first fluid channel, a second fluid channel, and a fluid bypass connecting the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel;
• a plurality of liquid supplies fluidly connectable to the inlet of the microfluidic probe head;
• and
• a control unit for selectively, fluidly connecting the inlet to one of the plurality of liquid supplies.

A method for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the method comprising:

• delivering via a first fluid channel the sequence of separate liquid volumes from an inlet toward a deposition area;
• removing from the first fluid channel the spacers separating the separate liquid volumes from one another via a fluid bypass that connects the first fluid channel and a second fluid channel, thereby obtaining a free sequence of separate liquid volumes without spacers;
• delivering the free sequence of separate liquid volumes to the deposition area;
• and
• delivering the removed spacers from the fluid bypass to an outlet via the second fluid channel.