Composite liquid cells
Inventors
Curran, Kieran • Fleming, Paul • GILLHOOLEY SEAMUS, null • Gillhooley, Séamus • KEANE MICHEAL, null • Keane, Micheál • Rosca, Inga • Tuohy, Patrick
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8465707-B2
Publication Date
2013-06-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
A sample handling method may include drawing an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input; discharging the drawn encapsulating liquid (a) onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit comprising a stabilisation feature and (b) proximate to the stabilisation feature, the encapsulating liquid being immiscible with the carrier liquid, so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilised by the stabilisation feature; drawing a sample liquid from a sample-liquid input; and discharging the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a sample handling system that generates and positions composite liquid cells by immiscibly handling a carrier liquid, an encapsulating liquid, and a sample liquid. A controller-driven liquid-handling system draws and discharges liquids in a programmed order, and the encapsulating liquid is discharged onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit. The encapsulating liquid is immiscible with the carrier liquid, so it floats and does not mix with the carrier liquid.
The encapsulating liquid is discharged proximate to a stabilisation feature in the carrier-liquid conduit such that the encapsulating liquid is immobilised by the stabilisation feature. The system then draws a sample liquid and discharges it such that the sample liquid is immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid. This immiscibility prevents the sample liquid from mixing with either liquid while enabling sample isolation within the composite liquid cell concept.
A sample handling method corresponding to the system is also disclosed. The method includes drawing an encapsulating liquid and discharging it onto the free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit with a stabilisation feature, with the encapsulating liquid immiscible with the carrier liquid so it floats and is immobilised by the stabilisation feature. The method further includes drawing and discharging the sample liquid so it is immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and the carrier liquid, thereby preventing mixing.
Claims Coverage
The partial content explicitly provides two independent claims, one for a sample handling system and one for a sample handling method. Across these independent claims, the coverage focuses on sequential drawing and discharge of an immiscible encapsulating liquid and an immiscible sample liquid onto a carrier liquid free surface, with immobilisation of the encapsulating liquid by a stabilisation feature.
Controller-programmed immiscible encapsulating liquid deposition
A controller is programmed to cause the liquid-handling system to draw an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input and discharge the drawn encapsulating liquid onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in the carrier-liquid conduit and proximate to the stabilisation feature, wherein the encapsulating liquid is immiscible with the carrier liquid so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilised by the stabilisation feature.
Immiscible sample-liquid deposition without mixing
The controller is programmed to cause the liquid-handling system to draw a sample liquid from the sample-liquid input and discharge the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.
Method steps for immobilised encapsulating liquid and non-mixing sample deposition
A sample handling method comprising drawing an encapsulating liquid from an encapsulating-liquid input, discharging the drawn encapsulating liquid onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in a carrier-liquid conduit comprising a stabilisation feature and proximate to the stabilisation feature, wherein the encapsulating liquid is immiscible with the carrier liquid so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilised by the stabilisation feature; drawing a sample liquid from a sample-liquid input; and discharging the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.
The independent claims are directed to preventing mixing between immiscible fluids during sequential deposition: an encapsulating liquid is immobilised on a carrier-liquid free surface by a stabilisation feature, and an immiscible sample liquid is subsequently discharged so it does not mix with either the encapsulating liquid or the carrier liquid.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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