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A hybrid valve apparatus for use with an aspiration actuator and a dispensing actuator to transfer fluid from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface. The hybrid valve includes a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition, and a manifold device couple

A hybrid valve apparatus for use with an aspiration actuator and a dispensing actuator to transfer fluid from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface. The hybrid valve includes a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition, and a manifold device coupled to the valve assembly. The manifold device includes a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. On an opposite end of the aspiration conduit is a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition. The manifold device further includes a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port in fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly. When the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, the sample path is fluidly coupled to the dispensing actuator to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug therefrom, while simultaneously being out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. In contrast, in the aspiration condition, the sample path is in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, while being out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator.

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1. A hydraulic hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition; a communication structure having a dispensing orifice; an aspiration ac

1. A hydraulic hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition; a communication structure having a dispensing orifice; an aspiration actuator; a dispensing actuator; and a distribution manifold device providing a liquid aspiration conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first aspiration port for liquid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir through said dispensing orifice of said communication structure defining a discrete sample path containing said driving liquid and extending from the dispensing orifice and through at least a portion of said manifold device for liquid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said manifold device further providing a liquid dispensing conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first dispensing port for liquid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from said dispensing orifice of said communication structure when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the aspiration actuator. 2. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 1, whereinsaid through at least a portion of said manifold includes a primary passage portion of the sample path. 3. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 2, whereinsaid communication structure includes a nozzle member terminating at a said dispensing orifice configured to aspirate said sample slug and dispense said droplet. 4. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 3, whereinsaid primary passage portion is of a transverse cross-sectional area from about 0.2 mm2 to about 0.8 mm2. 5. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 2, whereinsaid manifold device includes a stator face containing the second aspiration port and the second dispensing port, and said valve assembly includes a valve body having a contact face slideably contacting the stator face at a stator-contact interface for sliding sealed contact between the aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path, and the dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path. 6. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 5, whereinsaid contact face of the valve body includes an aspiration channel, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the aspiration channel, in the aspiration condition, and a dispensing channel, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the dispensing channel, in the dispensing condition. 7. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 6, whereinsaid primary passage portion of the sample path includes an upper communication port terminating at the stator face for liquid communication with the aspiration channel in the aspiration condition, and for liquid communication with the dispensing channel in the dispensing condition. 8. The hybrid valve apparatus system as defined by claim 7, whereinsaid communication structure includes a nozzle member terminating at said dispensing orifice to aspirate said sample slug and dispense said droplet. 9. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 6, whereinat least one of said valve body and said manifold device is rotatable about a rotation axis extending substantially perpendicular to the stator-contact interface to rotate said contact face, said aspiration channel and said dispensing channel relative to the stator face between the aspiration condition and the dispensing condition. 10. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 9, whereinsaid dispensing channel and said aspiration channel extend in a direction substantially radially about said rotational axis. 11. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 1, further including:a digitally regulated hydraulic pressure system for liquid communication with the dispensing actuator for precision operation thereof. 12. The hybrid valve assembly as defined by claim 3, whereinsaid nozzle member having one end mounted to said manifold device and fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion. 13. The hybrid valve assembly as defined by claim 1, whereinsaid manifold device includes a first connection region configured to enable connection of the aspiration actuator directly to the manifold device at the first aspiration port. 14. The hybrid valve assembly as defined by claim 13, whereinsaid manifold device includes a second connection region configured to enable connection of the dispensing actuator directly to the manifold device at the first dispensing port. 15. A method of transferring a liquid sample from a liquid sample reservoir to a test site on a target substrate comprising:providing a liquid distribution manifold device defining a liquid aspiration conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first aspiration port for liquid communication with an aspiration actuator and a second aspiration port in liquid communication with a valve assembly, said manifold device further defining a liquid dispensing conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first dispensing port for liquid communication with a dispensing actuator and a second dispensing port in liquid communication with the valve assembly; positioning the valve assembly in an aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the aspiration actuator to a discrete sample path extending from a dispensing orifice and through at least a primary passage portion of said manifold device for liquid communication with said valve assembly, and fluidly decoupling the dispensing actuator from the sample path; in said aspiration condition, actuating the aspiration actuator to aspirate a liquid sample slug from a said sample reservoir into the sample path through said dispensing orifice; positioning the valve assembly in a dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the dispensing actuator to the sample path, and fluidly decoupling the aspiration actuator from the same path; and in said dispensing condition, actuating the dispensing actuator to dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug out of said sample path through said dispensing orifice. 16. The method according to claim 15, whereinsaid primary passage portion of said manifold device having a upper communication port terminating at a stator face of the manifold, said stator face further containing the second aspiration port and the second dispensing port. 17. The method according to claim 16, whereinsaid positioning the valve assembly to the aspiration condition or the dispensing condition includes slideably engaging a contact face of the valve assembly against the stator face of the manifold device at a stator-contact interface, to fluidly couple the aspiration actuator to the primary passage portion of the sample path or fluidly couple the dispensing actuator to the primary passage portion of the sample path, respectively. 18. The method according to claim 17, whereinsaid slideably engaging includes rotating an aspiration channel and a dispensing channel in the contact face of the valve assembly about a rotation axis thereof, relative the stator face, to fluidly couple the upper communication port with the second aspiration port, through the aspiration channel, in the aspiration condition, and fluidly couple the upper communication port with the second dispensing port, through the dispensing channel, in the dispensing condition. 19. The method according to claim 15, whereinsaid primary passage portion having a transverse cross-sectional area from about 0.2 mm2 to about 0.8 mm2. 20. The method according to claim 15, further including:digitally regulated the hydraulic pressure of the dispensing actuator for precision operation thereof. 21. A hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition; an aspiration actuator; a dispensing actuator; and a manifold providing a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port for fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate the liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path, a primary passage portion thereof that extends through at least a portion of said manifold for fluid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said primary passage portion having a transverse cross-sectional area from about 0.2 mm2 to about 0.8 mm2, said manifold further providing a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port for fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from the sample path when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. 22. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, further including:a nozzle member having one end fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion and an opposite end terminating at a dispensing orifice configured to dispense said droplet. 23. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 22, whereinthe one end of said nozzle member being mounted to said manifold and fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion. 24. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, whereinsaid manifold includes a first connection region configured to enable connection of the aspiration actuator directly to the manifold at the first aspiration port. 25. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, whereinsaid manifold includes a second connection region configured to enable connection of the dispensing actuator directly to the manifold at the first dispensing port. 26. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, whereinsaid manifold includes a stator face containing the second aspiration port and the second dispensing port, and said valve assembly includes a valve body having a contact face slideably contacting the stator face at a stator-contact interface for sliding sealed contact between the aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path, and the dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path. 27. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 26, whereinsaid contact face of the valve body includes an aspiration channel, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the aspiration channel, in the aspiration condition, and a dispensing channel, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the dispensing channel, in the dispensing condition. 28. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 27, whereinsaid manifold includes a primary passage defining at least a portion of the sample path, and having an upper communication port terminating at the stator face for fluid communication with the aspiration channel in the aspiration condition, and for fluid communication with the dispensing channel in the dispensing condition. 29. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 28, further including:a nozzle member having one end fluidly coupled to said primary passage and an opposite end terminating at a dispensing orifice configured to dispense said droplet. 30. The hybrid valve apparatus as defined by claim 27, whereinat least one of said valve body and said manifold is rotatable about a rotation axis extending substantially perpendicular to the stator-contact interface to rotate said contact face, said aspiration channel and said dispensing channel relative to the stator face between the aspiration condition and the dispensing condition. 31. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 30, whereinsaid dispensing channel and said aspiration channel extend in a direction substantially radially about said rotational axis. 32. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 21, further including:a digitally regulated hydraulic pressure system for fluid communication with the dispensing actuator for precision operation thereof. 33. A hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising:an aspiration actuator; a dispensing actuator; and a digitally regulated hydraulic pressure system in fluid communication with the dispensing actuator for precision operation thereof; a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition; a manifold providing a fluid aspiration conduit having a first aspiration port for fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate the liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path, a primary passage portion thereof that extends through at least a portion of said manifold for fluid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said manifold device further providing a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port for fluid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from the sample path when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. 34. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 33, further including:a nozzle member having one end fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion and an opposite end terminating at a dispensing orifice configured to dispense said droplet. 35. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 34, whereinthe one end of said nozzle member being mounted to said manifold and fluidly coupled to said primary passage portion. 36. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 33, whereinsaid manifold includes a first connection region configured to enable connection of the aspiration actuator directly to the manifold at the first aspiration port. 37. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 33, whereinsaid manifold includes a second connection region configured to enable connection of the dispensing actuator directly to the manifold at the first dispensing port. 38. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 33, whereinsaid manifold includes a stator face containing the second aspiration port and the second dispensing port, and said valve system includes a valve body having a contact face slideably contacting the stator face at a stator-contact interface for sliding sealed contact between the aspiration condition, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path, and the dispensing condition, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path. 39. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 38, whereinsaid contact face of the valve body includes an aspiration channel, fluidly coupling the second aspiration port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the aspiration channel, in the aspiration condition, and a dispensing channel, fluidly coupling the second dispensing port to the primary passage portion of the sample path through the dispensing channel, in the dispensing condition. 40. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 39, whereinsaid manifold includes a primary passage defining at least a portion of the sample path, and having an upper communication port terminating at the stator face for fluid communication with the aspiration channel in the aspiration condition, and for fluid communication with the dispensing channel in the dispensing condition. 41. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 40, further including:a nozzle member having one end fluidly coupled to said primary passage and an opposite end terminating at a dispensing orifice configured to dispense said droplet. 42. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 39, whereinat least one of said valve body and said manifold is rotatable about a rotation axis extending substantially perpendicular to the stator-contact interface to rotate said contact face, said aspiration channel and said dispensing channel relative to the stator face between the aspiration condition and the dispensing condition. 43. The hybrid valve system as defined by claim 42, whereinsaid dispensing channel and said aspiration channel extend in a direction substantially radially about said rotational axis.