Liquid dispensing apparatus
View Patent ↗A liquid dispensing apparatus comprises a liquid reservoir ( 32 ), an outlet port ( 6; 36 ) and driving means for forcing liquid ( 4 ) through the outlet port ( 6, 36 ). The driving means generates a pulse of gas which impinges upon the liquid ( 4 ) in the reservoir ( 32 ) so as to force liquid ( 4 ) through the outlet port ( 6, 36 ). Also disclosed is a cassette comprising a plurality of cartridges for dispensing liquid therefrom. Each cartridge comprises a liquid reservoir ( 32 ) and an outlet member ( 36 ) mounted so as to close an opening ( 34 ) in the liquid reservoir ( 32 ). The outlet member ( 36 ) provides an outlet port through which the liquid can be forced by a pulse of pressurised gas.
1. A cassette comprising a plurality of cartridges for dispensing liquid drops in the range of 10-500 nanoliters therefrom, each cartridge comprising a liquid reservoir and an outlet member attached and adjacent to the liquid reservoir, said outlet member comprising an aperture, and wherein the liquid reservoir contains a quantity of liquid and is closed at one end thereof by a frangible sealing means.
2. The cassette as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least the liquid reservoirs of said cartridges are a unitary structure.
3. The cassette as claimed in claim 2 wherein said outlet member comprises a single aperture.
4. The cassette as claimed in claim 1 wherein said aperture has a width of between 2 and 300 micrometers.
5. The cassette as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frangible sealing means comprises a foil membrane.
6. The cassette as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid reservoir contains a nucleotide or enzyme.
7. The cassette as claimed in claim 6 wherein said liquid reservoir contains an enzyme selected from a group comprising polymerase, luciferase, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) sulfurylase, and a nucleotide-degrading enzyme such as apyrase.
8. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a cassette as claimed in claim 1 and a pressurised gas source.
9. A cassette comprising a plurality of cartridges for dispensing liquid drops in the range of 10-500 nanoliters therefrom, each cartridge comprising a liquid reservoir and a protruding nozzle attached and adjacent to the liquid reservoir wherein each liquid reservoir contains a quantity of liquid and is closed at one end thereof by a frangible sealing means.
10. The cassette as claimed in claim 9 wherein said frangible sealing means comprises a foil membrane.
11. The cassette as claimed in claim 9 wherein said liquid reservoir contains a nucleotide or enzyme.
12. The cassette as claimed in claim 11 wherein said liquid reservoir contains an enzyme selected from a group comprising polymerase, luciferase, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) sulfurylase, and a nucleotide-degrading enzyme such as apyrase.
13. A cassette comprising a plurality of cartridges for dispensing liquid drops in the range 10-500 nanoliters therefrom, each cartridge comprising a liquid reservoir and a protruding nozzle attached and adjacent to the liquid reservoir wherein said protruding nozzle further comprises a disc with a central aperture.
14. The liquid dispensing apparatus including a cassette or cartridge as claimed in claim 13 and a pressurised gas source.
15. The cassette as claimed in claim 13 wherein said protruding nozzle is a capillary tube.