Apparatus and method for transferring liquids

An apparatus for transferring liquid, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a first plate comprising a plurality of individual wells containing said liquid, said wells being formed in said first plate on a first side thereof, wherein a second side of said first plate is free of openings;
• (b) a second plate comprising a first side and a second side and a plurality of transfer elements, each transfer element comprising an aperture in said second plate, wherein said apertures are capable of being electrically activated, said second plate being adapted for simultaneously transferring precise amounts of a liquid from said first plate to a sample receiving plate by electrically activating said apertures, said second side of said second plate being sealingly attached to the first side of said first plate;
• and
• (c) electrodes for electrically activating said aperture.

A method for transferring liquid, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a first plate comprising a plurality of individual wells containing said liquid, said wells being formed in said first plate on a first side thereof,
• (b) providing a second plate comprising a first side and a second side and a plurality of transfer elements, each transfer element comprising an aperture in said second plate, wherein said apertures are capable of being electrically activated, said second plate being adapted for simultaneously transferring precise amounts of a liquid from said first plate to a sample receiving plate by electrically activating said apertures,
• (c) sealingly attaching said second side of said second plate to the first side of said first plate,
• (d) positioning said apertures adjacent to an array of sample receiving plate, and
• (e) electrically activating said apertures.

A method for transferring liquid, said method comprising:

• (a) attaching, to a multiwell plate having liquid contained in the wells thereof, a second plate comprising a first side and a second side and a plurality of apertures therethrough, each of said apertures being at least partially comprised of an electroconductive material, each of said apertures being aligned with a corresponding well of said multiwell plate, said second plate comprising on said second side one or more attaching elements and said second plate being attached to the top of said multiwell plate by said attaching element,
• (b) inverting said multiwell plate attached to said second plate so that liquid is disposed at each of said apertures, the dimensions of said apertures being such that liquid does not exit said apertures,
• (c) positioning said apertures adjacent to an array of sample receiving reservoirs of a microfluidic network in a third plate wherein each of said microfluidic networks has an electrode connected to an electrode adjacent one of said apertures,
• (d) applying an electric potential across said electrodes causing a portion of said liquid to exit said apertures and enter a corresponding sample receiving reservoir.