EP0119573A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microdroplet dispensing apparatus and method
Assignee: Bayer Corp
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Filing: 1984-03-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A microdroplet dispensing apparatus and method useful in biochemical applications are disclosed. The apparatus incorporates a disposable pump element adapted to be removably mounted in operative position and providing a receptacle for the liquid to be dispensed, as well as a restricted orifice through which such liquid is dispensed. The apparatus has actuating means cooperable with the pump element when the latter is in operative position, but which is not exposed to the liquid dispensed. Also provided is means for mounting a petri dish or other target member in a position to receive microdroplets of liquid dispensed from the restricted orifice, such mounting means providing for selective movement of the petri dish along coplanar linear paths normal to each other. A modified form of apparatus provides for the removable mounting of a plurality of pump elements on a rotary table-type support. The apparatus makes possible a variety of different biochemical methods heretofore not possible and which can involve dispensing of a variety of different liquids in a variety of different microquantities.
Inventors
- 👤 Leighton C. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:37
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/02; B01L3/0241; B01L3/0268; G; G01; G01N; G01N1/00; G01N1/28; G01N1/2813; G01N2001/282; G01N35/00; G01N35/10; G01N2035/1027; G01N2035/1034; G01N2035/1041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A microdroplet dispenser useful in biochemical assay procedures, comprising a pump element, means for removably mounting said pump element in operative position, and pump actuating means, said pump element having a chamber portion adapted to contain liquid to be dispensed, a restricted outlet orifice communicating with said chamber, and a resilient deformable wall portion, said pump actuating means comprising a pump engaging portion movable from a retracted position to a projected position in which it causes inward deformation of the deformable wall portion of a pump element in said operative position, said pump actuating means being selectively actuable to cause movement of said pump engaging portion from its retracted to its projected position at a rate effective to cause impactual inward deformation of said pump element wall portion and resultant generation in liquid in said pump element chamber of a pressure pulse causing dispensing of a microdroplet of liquid from the outlet orifice.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A microdroplet dispenser useful in biochemical assay procedures, comprising a pump element, means for removably mounting said pump element in operative position, and pump actuating means, said pump element having a chamber portion adapted to contain liquid to be dispensed, a restricted outlet orifice communicating with said chamber, and a resilient deformable wall portion, said pump actuating means comprising a pump engaging portion movable from a retracted position to a projected position in which it causes inward deformation of the deformable wall portion of a pump element in said operative position, said pump actuating means being selectively actuable to cause movement of said pump engaging portion from its retracted to its projected position at a rate effective to cause impactual inward deformation of said pump element wall portion and resultant generation in liquid in said pump element chamber of a pressure pulse causing dispensing of a microdroplet of liquid from the outlet orifice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
2 The dispenser of Claim 1 wherein said pump actuating means comprises means for returning the pump engaging portion thereof to its retracted position after movement thereof to its projected position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The dispenser of Claim 1 wherein there is means for mounting a taraet number in a position to receive liquid dispensed from the outliet orifice of a pump element in said operative position and there is means providing for adjustment of the relative positions of the outlet orifice and traget member in a plane transverse to the direction in which liquid is dispensed from the outlet orifice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The dispenser of Claim 1 wherein the mounting means for the lump element is carried by a movable support operable to move said pump element toward and away from said operative position and there is menas for mounting a target member in a position to receive liquid dispensed from the outlet orifice of a pump element in said operative position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The dispenser of Claim 1 wherein the pump actuating means comprises means for returning the pump engaging portion thereof to its retracted position after movement thereof to its projected position, and there is means for causing repetitive operation of said lump actuating means to thereby cause dispensing of a succession of microdroplets from the outlet orifice in a given dispensing cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
6 . A microdroplet dispenser useful in biochemical assay procedures, comprising a pump element containing liquid to be dispensed and having a downwardly directed restricted outlet orifice, actuating means for said pump element operable to cause the latter, when actuated by said actuating means, to dispense a microdroplet of the liquid from the orifice, means for mounting a petri dish or the like in a position to receive liquid dispensed from the outlet orifice, and means providing for adjustment in a horizontal direction of the relative positions of the outlet orifice and petri dish.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
6 . A microdroplet dispenser useful in biochemical assay procedures, comprising a pump element containing liquid to be dispensed and having a downwardly directed restricted outlet orifice, actuating means for said pump element operable to cause the latter, when actuated by said actuating means, to dispense a microdroplet of the liquid from the orifice, means for mounting a petri dish or the like in a position to receive liquid dispensed from the outlet orifice, and means providing for adjustment in a horizontal direction of the relative positions of the outlet orifice and petri dish.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
The dispenser of Claim 6 wherein the actuating means comprises a cyclingg type electromagnetic operator and there is means including a source of direct current, a variable frequency pulse generator and a variable pulse width control connected to said operator for selectively supplying the latter with a single or a predetermiend succession of energizing electrical pulses, in response to which a. corresponding single or predetermined succession of microdroplets of liquid are dispensed onto the petri dish in a given position thereof relative to the outlet orifice.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A disposable pump element for a microdroplet liquid dispenser useful in biochemical assay procedures, comprising a receptacle for liquid to be dispensed having a restricted outlet orifice and also having a resilient deformable wall portion, predetermined impactual inward deformation of said wall portion being effective to generate in liquid in said receptable a pressure pulse causing dispensing of a microdroplet of liquid from the outlet orifice.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A disposable pump element for a microdroplet liquid dispenser useful in biochemical assay procedures, comprising a receptacle for liquid to be dispensed having a restricted outlet orifice and also having a resilient deformable wall portion, predetermined impactual inward deformation of said wall portion being effective to generate in liquid in said receptable a pressure pulse causing dispensing of a microdroplet of liquid from the outlet orifice.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
9 . Process of applying predetermined microquantities of liquid to discrete surface portions of an agar medium or the like, comprising dispensing said liquid in microdroplet form onto said surface portions, the number of microdroplets of liquid dispensed onto a given surface portion being that required to provide the predetermined microquantity of said liquid for that surface portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
9 . Process of applying predetermined microquantities of liquid to discrete surface portions of an agar medium or the like, comprising dispensing said liquid in microdroplet form onto said surface portions, the number of microdroplets of liquid dispensed onto a given surface portion being that required to provide the predetermined microquantity of said liquid for that surface portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
Process of claim 9 wherein the discrete surface portions are arranged in spaced relation in at least two spaced, rectilinear, generally parallel series, the same liquid is 'applied to the surface portions in another of said series, the microquantity of liquid applied to one surface portion of a given series being the same as or different from that applied to a next adjacent surface portion in that series.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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