Consumable components in fluidic sample dispensing systems and methods

Inventors

Subramanian, Hariharan • Verleye, Michael • LITOW, Micah • Henderson, Chester • Bartel, Rebecca • HO, Penny • STUDENT, James • JAMES, Ben • White, Anthony • Henning, Michael • SUSUZER, Volkan • Turner, Matthew

Assignees

Asp Health Inc • Northwestern University

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods for dispensing a of fluidic sample to each of a plurality of targets are disclosed. An example apparatus for dispensing a fluidic sample includes an inlet port to input a sample material, and a first sample nozzle and a second sample nozzle fluidically coupled to the inlet port to expel the sample material, wherein a tubular junction fluidically couples the inlet port to a first tubular fluid path that terminates in the first sample nozzle and to a second tubular fluid path that terminates in the second sample nozzle, wherein a cross-sectional area of the tubular junction is less than an average cross-sectional area of the first tubular fluid path and the second tubular fluid path, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the tubular junction is selected to draw the sample material from the inlet port into the tubular junction via capillary action.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a sample dispenser for dispensing substantially a same volume of liquid-based sample material to a plurality of targets. The sample dispenser includes an inlet port configured to receive the liquid-based sample material, and first and second tubular structures disposed so that liquid-based sample material can be dispensed toward respective targets.

Each tubular structure has an inner perimeter selected such that capillary action can be induced to fill the tubular structure with the liquid-based sample material via a second opening of the tubular structure. A tubular junction fluidically couples the inlet port to the first and second tubular structures, and the tubular junction includes an average cross-sectional area that is less than an average cross-sectional area of the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure.

Gas nozzles are associated with each tubular structure, with first and second openings of the tubular structures disposed between respective gas nozzles and targets. The gas nozzle is configured to expel gas towards the target, so that after the capillary-induced filling, the tubular structures can be substantially emptied onto their respective targets. The disclosed configurations also include selectable inner perimeter wettability/coatings, restrictors, and inlet-port features including an inlet-port notch for buffer addition and consumable hood features to seal an aerosol opening and prevent cross-contamination, including a stain/dye deposition opening.

Claims Coverage

The document includes one independent claim in the provided relevant claims list. The claim specifies a sample dispenser architecture with capillary filling of two tubular structures coupled to a common inlet via a reduced cross-sectional tubular junction, followed by gas-nozzle expulsion toward respective targets, with substantially same sample volumes delivered to a plurality of targets.

The claim coverage centers on delivering substantially the same volume of a liquid-based sample to multiple targets by inducing capillary fill in first and second tubular structures connected to a common inlet through a reduced-area tubular junction, then expelling material toward targets using gas nozzles, with substantially same inner volumes and proximate second openings.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications