Method and apparatus for determining water content of hygroscopic fluids
A fluid dispensing device and method for adjusting an amount of hygroscopic fluid dispensed to an analytical substrate by a fluid ejection cartridge. The fluid dispensing device includes a fluid droplet ejection head disposed on a fluid cartridge containing a hygroscopic fluid; and a hygroscopic fluid cooler configured to determine a freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid.
1 . A fluid dispensing device comprising:
a housing comprising
a sample port; and
a hygroscopic fluid cooler positioned below the sample port, wherein the hygroscopic fluid cooler is an insulated vessel comprising a hygroscopic fluid, the hygroscopic fluid cooler configured to determine a freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid.
2 . The fluid dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the hygroscopic fluid comprises dimethyl sulfoxide.
3 . The fluid dispensing device of claim 1 , further comprising
a removable capping device attached to the hygroscopic fluid cooler,
a thermocouple device disposed through the removable capping device, and
a thermoelectric cooler configured to cool the hygroscopic fluid in the hygroscopic fluid cooler to the freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid and configured to heat the hygroscopic fluid in the hygroscopic fluid cooler to above the freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid.
4 . The fluid dispensing device of claim 3 , further comprising software disposed in a memory of the fluid dispensing device, wherein the software is configured to receive the freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid from the thermocouple device and determine a water content of the hygroscopic fluid from the freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid.
5 . The fluid dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a substrate translation mechanism configured to move an analytical substrate in a y-direction.
6 . The fluid dispensing device of claim 5 , wherein the analytical substrate comprises a micro-well plate or a glass slide.
7 . The fluid dispensing device of claim 1 , wherein the hygroscopic fluid cooler is disposed on a rack and pinion slide configured for moving the hygroscopic fluid cooler in a z-direction in the fluid dispensing device.
8 . The fluid dispensing device of claim 7 , wherein the rack and pinion slide is configured to raise and lower the hygroscopic fluid cooler through the sample port in the z-direction.
9 . A fluid dispensing device comprising:
a housing comprising
a sample port;
a hygroscopic fluid cooler positioned below the sample port, wherein the hygroscopic fluid cooler is an insulated vessel comprising a hygroscopic fluid;
a removable capping device attached to the hygroscopic fluid cooler,
a thermocouple device disposed through the removable capping device and in contact with the hygroscopic fluid, the thermocouple device configured to provide measurement of a freezing point temperature of the hygroscopic fluid;
a thermoelectric cooler configured to cool the hygroscopic fluid in the hygroscopic fluid cooler to the freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid and configured to heat the hygroscopic fluid in the hygroscopic fluid cooler to above the freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid; and
software disposed in a memory of the fluid dispensing device, the software in electrical communication with the thermocouple device and the thermoelectric cooler;
wherein the software is configured to receive the freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid from the thermocouple device and determine a water content of the hygroscopic fluid from the freezing point of the hygroscopic fluid.
10 . The fluid dispensing device of claim 9 , wherein the hygroscopic fluid cooler and the thermoelectric cooler are disposed on a rack and pinion slide; and
the rack and pinion slide is configured to move the hygroscopic fluid cooler and the thermoelectric cooler in a z-direction in the fluid dispensing device.
11 . The fluid dispensing device of claim 10 , wherein the housing further comprises a substrate translation mechanism configured to move an analytical substrate in a y-direction orthogonal to the z-direction.