PIEZOELECTRIC DISPENSER WITH A LONGITUDINAL TRANSDUCER AND REPLACEABLE CAPILLARY TUBE
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
공개
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F04B-043/09
B05C-005/00
B05C-011/00
B65D-083/00
출원번호
US-0355150
(2012-01-20)
공개번호
US-0304929
(2012-12-06)
발명자
/ 주소
Ivri, Yehuda
출원인 / 주소
BIODOT, INC.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
0
초록▼
Systems, devices and methods are provided, for acquiring and dispensing predetermined volumes of liquids and, in particular, to a unique piezoelectric dispenser for acquiring and dispensing of small volumes of fluid in an automatic or manual production of DNA arrays and assays, wherein droplets are
Systems, devices and methods are provided, for acquiring and dispensing predetermined volumes of liquids and, in particular, to a unique piezoelectric dispenser for acquiring and dispensing of small volumes of fluid in an automatic or manual production of DNA arrays and assays, wherein droplets are dispensed in a single drop format with volumes that may range from about a few picoliters to several nanoliters. The dispenser can advantageously utilize a disposable capillary tube assembly while desirably retaining the piezoelectric actuator for subsequent further uses, thereby mitigating the possibility of cross contamination of fluids and providing an economical and cost effective approach with reuse of the piezoelectric actuator for further operation such as with a variety of liquids to be dispensed and transferred. A unique longitudinal transducer can transmit radial tube displacement into controlled axial motion of the tube.
대표청구항▼
1. A longitudinal transducer for converting a radial displacement to an axial displacement, comprising: a tube having a length, a wall with a predetermined thickness, a lumen with a predetermined size or diameter, and a tip at a distal end of the tube;a linear or longitudinal piezoelectric actuator
1. A longitudinal transducer for converting a radial displacement to an axial displacement, comprising: a tube having a length, a wall with a predetermined thickness, a lumen with a predetermined size or diameter, and a tip at a distal end of the tube;a linear or longitudinal piezoelectric actuator clamped to the tube at a location proximal of the tip; andan energy source configured to provide at least one voltage pulse to the piezoelectric actuator;wherein actuation of the piezoelectric actuator causes a pressure wave to propagate from said location of the tube toward the tip of the tube such that radial motion at said location of the tube is transmitted as distally extending axial motion of the tip of the tube. 2. The longitudinal transducer of claim 1, wherein the voltage pulse and configuration of the tube are selected such that a peak of the pressure wave is located substantially at the tip of the tube. 3. A method of converting a radial displacement into an axial displacement, comprising: providing a transducer comprising a piezoelectric actuator responsive to a voltage signal;actuating the piezoelectric actuator to provide a generally radial force to a tube of the transducer at a region that is proximal to a distal end of the tube; andconverting radial motion of the tube at said region of the tube to generally axial motion at the distal end of the tube. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein actuating the piezoelectric actuator comprises providing at least one voltage pulse to the piezoelectric actuator. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the piezoelectric actuator comprises a linear or longitudinal piezoelectric actuator that is clamped to the tube. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the axial motion comprises distal axial motion, and wherein on deactivation of a pulse of the voltage signal the distal end of the tube is subjected to a motion in a proximal axial direction, thereby providing an axial oscillation in response to at least one pulsed voltage cycle. 7. A dispenser for transferring a predetermined quantity of a liquid, comprising: a tube that contains a liquid to be dispensed into or onto one or more targets; anda piezoelectric actuator that is operatively coupled to the tube and being responsive to an applied signal for dispensing one or more droplets of the liquid;wherein the tube and the piezoelectric actuator are separable such that the tube may be replaced while allowing for the same piezoelectric actuator to be used with another tube for dispensing another liquid. 8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is mounted on a first side of the tube. 9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein a preloading device is mounted on a second side of the tube which is generally opposed to the first side. 10. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the preloading device comprises a screw. 11. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the preloading device comprises an actuable spring loaded device. 12. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the preloading device is releasable to allow for removal and replacement of the tube. 13. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein actuation of the piezoelectric actuator causes conversion of a radial motion of the tube into an axial motion at a tip of the tube to cause a droplet of predetermined volume to be ejected from the tip. 14. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is spaced from the tube by a sleeve attached to the tube. 15. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the tube is part of a replaceable assembly that comprises the tube and a sleeve that is bonded to the tube. 16. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the dispenser further comprises a first jaw and a second jaw respectively engaged with the piezoelectric actuator and a preloading device. 17. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein the jaws comprise structures that engage a sleeve that is attached to the tube at a predetermined number of locations. 18. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein a lumen of the tube has a generally annular configuration. 19. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the liquid to be dispensed within the tube is axially below the location of the piezoelectric actuator. 20. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the tube has an aperture plate with a generally curved funnel or conical configuration. 21. (canceled) 22. The dispenser of claim 7, in combination with a fluid source that allows acquisition of liquid to be dispensed by the dispenser from the source. 23. The dispenser of claim 7, in combination with an imaging system to visualize and analyze dispensed droplets. 24. (canceled) 25. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the piezoelectric actuator comprises a linear or longitudinal piezoelectric actuator that is camped to the tube. 26. A method of transferring a predetermined quantity of a liquid, comprising: providing a tube from which a liquid is to be dispensed and a linear or longitudinal piezoelectric actuator clamped to the tube;actuating the piezoelectric actuator to eject a droplet of liquid from a distal tip of the tube; andseparating the tube from the piezoelectric actuator and replacing the tube with another tube for dispensing of another liquid while utilizing the same piezoelectric actuator. 27. (canceled) 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the method further comprises aspirating the liquid to be dispensed from a fluid source. 29. (canceled) 30. The method of claim 26, wherein a lumen of the tube has a generally annular configuration. 31. The method of claim 26, wherein actuating the piezoelectric actuator causes conversion of a radial motion of the tube into an axial motion at a tip of the tube to cause a droplet of predetermined volume to be ejected from the tip. 32. A dispenser for transferring a predetermined quantity of a liquid, comprising: a longitudinal transducer, comprising: a tube having a length, a wall with a predetermined thickness, a lumen with a predetermined size or diameter, and a tip at a distal end of the tube; anda piezoelectric actuator operatively coupled to the tube at a location proximal of the tip;an aperture at the tip of the tube; anda liquid to be dispensed into or onto one or more targets and being loaded within the tube;wherein actuation of the piezoelectric actuator causes a pressure wave to propagate from said location of the tube toward the tip of the tube such that radial motion at said location of the tube is transmitted as distally extending axial motion of the tip of the tube, thereby causing a droplet of a predetermined volume to be ejected from the aperture. 33. The dispenser of claim 32, wherein the piezoelectric actuator comprises a linear or longitudinal piezoelectric actuator that is clamped to the tube. 34. The dispenser of claim 32, wherein the dispenser further comprises an energy source configured to provide at least one voltage pulse to the piezoelectric actuator 35. The dispenser of claim 32, wherein the tube and the piezoelectric actuator are separable. 36. (canceled) 37. The dispenser of claim 32, wherein a lumen of the tube has a generally annular configuration. 38. The dispenser of claim 32, in combination with a fluid source that allows acquisition of liquid to be dispensed by the dispenser from the source. 39. (canceled) 40. A method of transferring a predetermined quantity of a liquid, comprising: providing a tube with a liquid to be dispensed, the tube comprising a distal end with a tip and an aperture thereat;providing a piezoelectric actuator in communication with the tube at a location proximal to the tip of the tube;actuating the piezoelectric actuator such that a pressure wave propagates from said location of the tube toward the tip of the tube and radial motion at said location of the tube is transmitted as axial motion of the tip of the tube, thereby causing a droplet of a predetermined volume to be ejected from the aperture. 41. The method of claim 40, wherein the piezoelectric actuator comprises a linear or longitudinal piezoelectric actuator that is clamped to the tube. 42. The method of claim 40, wherein the method further comprises replacing the tube with another tube for dispensing of another liquid. 43. (canceled) 44. The method of claim 40, wherein the method further comprises acquiring the liquid to be dispensed from a fluid source. 45. (canceled) 46. The method of claim 40, wherein a lumen of the tube has a generally annular configuration. 47. The method of claim 40, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is positioned axially above the liquid in the tube. 48. A longitudinal transducer for converting a radial displacement to an axial displacement, comprising: a tube comprising a generally rigid material and having a length, a wall with a predetermined thickness, a lumen with a predetermined size or diameter, and a tip at a distal end of the tube;the rigid material having a modulus of elasticity greater than about 10 GPa;a linear or longitudinal piezoelectric actuator clamped to the tube at a location proximal of the tip; andan energy source configured to provide at least one voltage pulse to the piezoelectric actuator;wherein actuation of the piezoelectric actuator causes a pressure wave to propagate from said location of the tube through the wall of the tube and toward the tip of the tube such that radial motion at said location of the tube is transmitted as distally extending axial motion of the tip of the tube. 49. The longitudinal transducer of claim 48, wherein the rigid material has a modulus of elasticity greater than about 50 GPa. 50. The longitudinal transducer of claim 48, wherein an aperture is at the tip of the tube and a liquid to be dispensed into or onto one or more targets, by the actuation of the piezoelectric actuator, is contained in the tube. 51. The longitudinal transducer of claim 50, wherein the tube and the piezoelectric actuator are separable.
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