Droplet dispensation from a reservoir with reduction in uncontrolled electrostatic charge
AssigneeLabcyte Inc.
InventorsMitchell W. Mutz, David Soong-Hua Lee, George McLendon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices and methods are provided for reducing the uncontrolled electrostatic charges that can alter the volume and/or trajectory of a droplet, which is typically ejected through the application of focused acoustic radiation. Also provided are reservoirs and substrates, e.g., well plates formed from a material that is at least partially nonmetallic or polymeric and either has an electrical resistivity of no more than about 1011 ohm-cm, has a surface electrical resistivity of no more than about 1012 ohm/sq, or both.
Claims87
In a device comprised of a reservoir adapted to contain a fluid and a dispenser for dispensing a fluid droplet from the reservoir, the improvement comprising employing a means for reducing uncontrolled electrostatic charge on the reservoir when the reservoir is prone to accumulate uncontrolled electrostatic charge that alters the volume and/or trajectory of a droplet dispensed therefrom, wherein the means for reducing uncontrolled electrostatic charge is effective to ensure that the volume and/or trajectory of the dispensed droplet do not substantially deviate from a predetermined volume and/or predetermined trajectory.
In a device comprised of a reservoir adapted to contain a fluid, a dispenser for dispensing a fluid droplet from the reservoir, and a substrate positioned to receive the dispensed droplet, the improvement comprises employing a means for reducing uncontrolled electrostatic charge on the substrate when the substrate is prone to accumulate uncontrolled electrostatic charge that alters the volume and/or trajectory of the dispensed droplet, wherein the means for reducing uncontrolled electrostatic charge is effective to ensure that the volume and/or trajectory of the dispensed droplet do not substantially deviate from a predetermined volume and/or predetermined trajectory.
A device for acoustically ejecting a droplet of fluid from a reservoir, comprising:
- a reservoir adapted to contain a fluid;
- an ejector for ejecting a droplet from the reservoir, comprising an acoustic radiation generator for generating acoustic radiation and a focusing means for focusing the acoustic radiation generated;
- and
- a means for positioning the ejector in acoustic coupling relationship to the reservoir;
- and
- a means for reducing any uncontrolled electrostatic charge on the device or a portion thereof that alters the volume andlor trajectory of a droplet ejected from the reservoir, wherein the means for reducing uncontrolled electrostatic charge is effective to ensure that the volume and/or trajectory of the ejected droplet do not substantially deviate from a predetermined volume and/or predetermined trajectory.
A device for acoustically ejecting a droplet of fluid from a reservoir, comprising:
- a reservoir adapted to contain a fluid;
- an ejector for ejecting a droplet from the reservoir, comprising an acoustic radiation generator for generating acoustic radiation and a focusing means for focusing the acoustic radiation generated;
- a means for positioning the ejector in acoustic coupling relationship to the reservoir;
- and
- an optional substrate positioned to receive the ejected droplet,
- wherein the reservoir, the optional substrate, or both are grounded and comprised of a material that either has an electrical resistivity of no more than about 1011 ohm-cm, has a surface electrical resistivity of no more than about 1012 ohm/sq, or both.
In a method for dispensing a droplet from a reservoir containing a fluid, the improvement comprises reducing uncontrolled electrostatic charge on the reservoir when the reservoir is prone to accumulate uncontrolled electrostatic charge that alters the volume and/or trajectory of a droplet dispensed therefrom, wherein uncontrolled electrostatic charge is reduced to a level effective to ensure that the volume and/or trajectory of the dispensed droplet do not substantially deviate from a predetermined volume and/or predetermined trajectory.
In a method for dispensing a droplet from a reservoir containing a fluid on to a substrate, the improvement comprises reducing uncontrolled electrostatic charge on the reservoir and/or the substrate when the reservoir and/or substrate is prone to accumulate uncontrolled electrostatic charge that alters the volume and/or trajectory of the dispensed droplet, wherein the reduction of uncontrolled electrostatic charge is effective to ensure that the volume and/or trajectory of the dispensed droplet do not substantially deviate from a predetermined volume and/or predetermined trajectory.
A method for acoustically ejecting a droplet of fluid from a reservoir, comprising:
- applying focused acoustic radiation in a manner effective to eject a droplet of fluid from the reservoir;
- and
- reducing any uncontrolled electrostatic charge that alters the volume and/or trajectory of the droplet ejected from the reservoir so as to ensure that the volume and/or trajectory of the ejected droplet do not substantially deviate from a predetermined volume and/or predetermined trajectory.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.