Microfluidic surface processing systems with self-regulated distance-to surface control

1. A method of operating a microfluidic surface processing system having a microfluidic probe head having a processing fluid circuit configured to dispense a surface processing fluid from a processing fluid aperture thereof, a linkage mechanism, configured to apply a force to or modulate a force applied to the microfluidic probe head towards a surface to be processed, and a lifting fluid circuit integral with the microfluidic probe head and distinct from the processing fluid circuit, the lifting fluid circuit designed for dispensing a lifting fluid from a lifting fluid aperture thereof, with pressure such as to counter the force applied or modulated by the linkage mechanism, at the level of the surface, the method comprising:

dispensing a lifting fluid via the at least one lifting fluid aperture;

letting the probe head undergo the force applied by or modulated by the mechanism to approach a surface to be processed, by dropping the probe head; and

processing the surface with the probe head.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the linkage mechanism is a rotatable device comprising a counterweight, the counterweight being adjustable, and wherein the microfluidic probe head is on one side of the rotatable device and counterbalanced by the counterweight on another side of the rotatable device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the rotatable device is a pivoted device that comprises a pivot and a beam pivotable at the pivot, the microfluidic probe head being maintained at one side of the beam opposite to the counterweight with respect to the pivot, the pivot being rotatable with respect to a support in which it is anchored.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the microfluidic probe head is suspended from the one side of the rotatable device, via an axis.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing fluid aperture is arranged with respect to the at least one lifting fluid aperture such that a surface processing fluid dispensed via the at least one processing fluid aperture can remain confined in a lifting liquid dispensed via the at least one lifting fluid aperture.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the processing fluid circuit further comprises at least two processing fluid apertures, respectively forming an outlet aperture and an inlet aperture, the outlet aperture and the inlet aperture dimensioned and positioned such as to allow for collecting via the inlet aperture liquid dispensed via the outlet aperture.