Automated sample processor

A method of manipulating liquids comprising the steps of:

• providing a liquid handling device comprising:
• a cylindrical actuator cavity in a substrate, the actuator cavity intersected by two or more actuator channels;
• one or more chambers each with an access channel adapted to connect to a separate one of the actuator channels;
• an actuator comprising a cylindrical body having a cylinder axis and having therein a liquid-handling compartment with, arrayed along the cylinder axis, a first end and a second end, the liquid-handling compartment being closed at the second end, a dispensing channel located at the second end and traversing the cylindrical body, the dispensing channel adapted to be separately rotatably aligned with the actuator channels, wherein the liquid-handling compartment is adapted to receive in a seal-tight manner a plunger that operates to confine an effective chamber defined by the plunger and the second end by moving toward the second end or to expand the effective chamber by moving toward the first end;
• and
• the plunger;
• operating the actuator of the liquid handling device to align the dispensing channel with one of said actuator channels;
• operating the plunger to move fluid from a thereby connected chamber into the actuator compartment;
• operating the actuator to align the dispensing channel with a second said actuator channel;
• and
• operating the plunger to move fluid from the actuator compartment to a thereby connected second said chamber.

A liquid handling device comprising:

• a cylindrical actuator cavity in a substrate, the actuator cavity intersected by two or more actuator channels;
• one or more chambers each with an access channel adapted to connect to a separate one of the actuator channels, wherein one or more of the chambers are formed within the substrate;
• an actuator comprising a cylindrical body having a cylinder axis and having therein a liquid-handling compartment with, arrayed along the cylinder axis, a first end and a second end, the liquid-handling compartment being closed at the second end, a dispensing channel located at the second end and traversing the cylindrical body, the dispensing channel adapted to be separately rotatably aligned with the actuator channels, wherein the liquid-handling compartment is adapted to receive in a seal-tight manner a plunger that operates to confine an effective chamber defined by the plunger and the second end by moving toward the second end or to expand the effective chamber by moving toward the first end;
• and
• the plunger.