Microdosing device and method for operating same

A microdosing device array consisting of a plurality of microdosing devices arranged side by side and adapted to be addressed individually, said microdosing devices comprising:

• a pressure chamber which is at least partly delimited by a displacer;
• an actuating device for actuating the displacer, the volume of the pressure chamber being adapted to be changed by actuating the displacer,
• a media reservoir which is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber via a first fluid line;
• an outlet opening which is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber via a second fluid line;
• a means for detecting the position of the displacer;
• and
• a control means which is connected to the actuating device and to the means for detecting the position of the displacer and which controls the actuating device on the basis of the detected position of the displacer or on the basis of displacer positions detected during at least one preceding dosing cycle so as to cause the discharge of a defined volume of fluid from the outlet opening,
• wherein the control means comprises means for controlling the actuating device with a signal of low edge steepness so as to cause the displacer to move from a first position to a predetermined second position, said second position of the displacer defining a larger volume of the pressure chamber than said first position;
• and
• that the control means comprises means for controlling the actuating device with a signal of high edge steepness so as to cause the displacer to move from the second position to the first position for discharging in this way a defined volume of fluid from the outlet opening.

A pipetting device comprising:

• a pressure chamber which is at least partly delimited by a displacer;
• an actuating device for actuating the displacer, the volume of the pressure chamber being adapted to be changed by actuating the displacer,
• an outlet opening which is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber via a fluid line;
• a means for detecting the position of the displacer;
• and
• a control means which is connected to the actuating device and to the means for detecting the position of the displacer and which controls the actuating device on the basis of the detected position of the displacer or on the basis of displacer positions detected during at least one preceding pipetting cycle so as to cause a defined volume of fluid to be sucked in through and/or discharged from the outlet opening, wherein
• the control means comprises means for controlling the actuating device with a signal of low edge steepness so as to cause the displacer to move from a first position to a predetermined second position, said second position of the displacer defining a larger volume of the pressure chamber than said first position, and
• the control means comprises means for controlling the actuating device with a signal of high edge steepness so as to cause the displacer to move from the second position to the first position for discharging in this way a defined volume of fluid from the outlet opening.

A pipetting device array consisting of a plurality of pipetting devices arranged side by side and adapted to be addressed individually, said pipetting devices comprising:

• a pressure chamber which is at least partly delimited by a displacer,
• an actuating device for actuating the displacer, the volume of the pressure chamber being adapted to be changed by actuating the displacer,
• an outlet opening which is in fluid communication with the pressure chamber via a fluid line;
• a means for detecting the position of the displacer;
• and
• a control means which is connected to the actuating device and to the means for detecting the position of the displacer and which controls the actuating device on the basis of the detected position of the displacer or on the basis of displacer positions detected during at least one preceding pipetting cycle so as to cause a defined volume of fluid to be sucked in through and/or discharged from the outlet opening, wherein
• the control means comprises means for controlling the actuating device with a signal of low edge steepness so as to cause the displacer to move from a first position to a predetermined second position, said second position of the displacer defining a larger volume of the pressure chamber than said first position, and
• the control means comprises means for controlling the actuating device with a signal of high edge steepness so as to cause the displacer to move from the second position to the first position for discharging in this way a defined volume of fluid from the outlet opening.