Handling liquid samples
Inventors
Curran, Kieran • McGuire, David • Chawke, Brian • Fleming, Paul • Barrett, Brian • Sirr, Noel
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9776182-B2
Publication Date
2017-10-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices, systems and methods for making and handling liquid samples are disclosed.
Core Innovation
Current biological sample processing is described as involving challenges such as handling large volumes, reducing dead volume and cross-contamination when using static well plates, and managing costly consumables. Automation for nano/sub-nano-liter liquid handling is described as limited, creating difficulty in precisely handling small volumes for biological workflows.
The invention discloses an integrated liquid-sample handling platform centered on a capillary metering and dispensing system that uses a capillary tube with an inner surface including a substantially hydrophilic metering region adjacent to a distal end and a substantially hydrophobic limiting region proximally adjacent to the metering region. The outer surface of the capillary tube is substantially hydrophobic, and the system applies sufficient positive pressure to the proximal end to drive an aqueous solution out of the distal end, with an air sheath applying an external air flow to the capillary tube.
The platform further integrates actuator-driven positioning for dispense into stabilization features and includes a reusable carrier-liquid plate for composite liquid cell processing. The reusable carrier-liquid plate includes a thermally controlled vessel with heating/cooling elements and stabilization features, and it enables optical inspection and detection while reducing contamination through reuse without moving composite liquid cells. The disclosed system combines the capillary dispensing system with the reusable composite liquid cell plate and liquid-handling control to support parallel staged processing.
Claims Coverage
The provided partial claim set identifies one independent claim. It specifies a capillary system architecture for driving an aqueous solution from a distal end using positive pressure while using hydrophilic/hydrophobic surface features and an air sheath to manage flow behavior; it further relies on a programmed capillary controller to actuate the pressure source.
Hydrophilic metering region adjacent to hydrophobic limiting region in a hydrophobic outer-surface capillary tube
A capillary tube having a constant internal diameter along its length, where the outer surface is substantially hydrophobic and the inner surface includes a substantially hydrophilic metering region adjacent to a distal end and a limiting region that is substantially hydrophobic and proximally adjacent to the metering region.
Positive-pressure aqueous driving through a programmed capillary controller
A pressure source in fluid communication with a proximal end of the capillary tube, and a capillary controller programmed to cause the pressure source to apply sufficient positive pressure to drive an aqueous solution out of a distal end of the capillary tube.
Air sheath applying external air flow to the capillary tube
An air sheath that applies an external air flow to the capillary tube.
Across the independent claim, inventive coverage is focused on the combination of hydrophilic metering and hydrophobic limiting regions within a hydrophobic outer-surface capillary tube, programmed positive pressure driving of an aqueous solution from the distal end via a pressure source controlled by a capillary controller, and an air sheath applying external airflow to the capillary tube.
Stated Advantages
Reducing dead volume and cross-contamination when using static well plates.
Managing costly consumables.
Enabling precise handling of small volumes for biological workflows.
Enabling optical inspection and detection while reducing contamination through reuse without moving composite liquid cells.
Supporting parallel staged processing.
Documented Applications
Biological sample processing.
Biological workflows.
Composite liquid cell processing.
Optical inspection and detection.
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