Methods and devices for storing and dispensing liquids

• Main Authors: KALE SAMESH, SQUINTO STEPHEN P, AKKAPEDDI PRASAD R, HUBBARD ALLYN, SPRINGHORN JEREMY P, ROLLINS SCOTT
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.06.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMBINATORIAL CHEMISTRY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; LIBRARIES, e.g. CHEMICAL LIBRARIES, IN SILICOLIBRARIES; MEASURING; METALLURGY; MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS, e.g. MICROMECHANICALDEVICES; MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PHYSICS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TESTING; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

In a liquid handling system including a liquid handling substrate having a plurality of channels for conducting a liquid sample in said substrate, where the channels terminate in a plurality of exit ports in an outer surface of the substrate for transfer of a quantity of the liquid sample. The handling system also includes a liquid storage and dispensing substrate having a plurality of separable cartridges corresponding to the channels, with each cartridge terminating at a microelectro mechanical system (MEMS) comprising a laminate of glass, silicon and a piezoelectric substance. The handling system further includes a liquid detecting system comprising a light emitting diode and a photo-detector, where each channel includes a reservoir in communication with a corresponding cartridge creating an interface therebetween. The handling system enables a method for storing and dispensing liquids including drawing a liquid sample into the channels either by capillary action, vacuum, electoosmotic flow, a minipump or any combination thereof, storing the liquid sample into the cartridge, and dispensing the liquid sample.