Abstract: An assay-protocol-specific multi-channel fluid-dispenser cassette for an automated assay fluid dispensing system may include a structure with multiple fluid channels within the structure to contain and control respective assay fluids. Each fluid channels may have an outlet. A driver interface may be carried by the structure removably and mechanically engageable with a dispenser driver of a dispenser so that the dispenser driver can control the dispensing of fluids from the structure directly onto underlying reaction sites while each of the fluid channels remain as part of the structure. An assay-protocol-indicative cassette-type identifier may be formed in or attached to the structure and indicative of different assay protocols for all of the multiple fluid channels. The assay-protocol-cassette-type identifier may be readable by the cassette driver in response to the multi-channel fluid-dispenser cassette being removably connected to the dispenser.

Abstract: A liquid handling device that determines a position of a tray utilizing light reflected from structural features of the tray.

Abstract: An assay-protocol-specific multi-channel fluid-dispenser cassette for an automated assay fluid dispensing system may include a structure with multiple fluid channels within the structure to contain and control respective assay fluids. Each fluid channels may have an outlet. A driver interface may be carried by the structure removably and mechanically engageable with a dispenser driver of a dispenser so that the dispenser driver can control the dispensing of fluids from the structure directly onto underlying reaction sites while each of the fluid channels remain as part of the structure. An assay-protocol-indicative cassette-type identifier may be formed in or attached to the structure and indicative of different assay protocols for all of the multiple fluid channels. The assay-protocol-cassette-type identifier may be readable by the cassette driver in response to the multi-channel fluid-dispenser cassette being removably connected to the dispenser.

Abstract: An automated assay-fluid dispensing system includes a database that associates assay protocols with assay procedures, the procedures including a first assay procedure specifying dissimilar first and second channel procedures for driving first and second channels of a fluid-dispenser cassette. The system includes a controller with a procedure selector to select or to assist a human to select an assay procedure from the database to be executed in an assay run. The controller also includes a cassette driver to drive the cassette to dispense fluids automatically to multiple sites during the assay run so that fluids in the first and second channels are dispensed in accordance with the dissimilar first and second channel procedures. The system includes a cassette interface to engage the cassette so that the controller can drive it to implement the assay run.

Abstract: Various techniques for dispensing liquids are disclosed herein. In one embodiment a dispenser retention apparatus includes a frame. The frame includes a top surface configured to retain a liquid dispensing assembly. The frame also includes a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The bottom surface includes a first channel extending from a first lateral edge of the frame to a droplet passage between the top and bottom surfaces. The first channel is configured to allow a light beam introduced to the frame at the first lateral edge to intersect a droplet in the passage.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser cassette includes a frame, dispense head assemblies, and a one-piece integrated slot extender. The frame defines openings. The dispense head assemblies are mounted on the frame. The dispense head assemblies include dispense head dies at least partially exposed through the corresponding openings. The dispense head dies defines top slots. The slot extender is mounted on the dispense head assemblies. The slot extender has reservoirs defining drain openings mated to the corresponding top slots.

Abstract: A parallel addressing method includes selectively addressing, according to a wrap-around addressing scheme, a first sub-set of a plurality of dispensers for parallel addressing of the first sub-set adjacent to a first area of a row; and then selectively address, according to the wrap-around addressing scheme, a second sub-set of the plurality of dispensers that is different from the first sub-set for parallel addressing of the second sub-set adjacent to a second area of the same row that is different than the first area. A computer program product and a multi-channel dispenser system are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser cassette includes a frame, dispense head assemblies, and a one-piece integrated slot extender. The frame defines openings. The dispense head assemblies are mounted on the frame. The dispense head assemblies include dispense head dies at least partially exposed through the corresponding openings. The dispense head dies defines top slots. The slot extender is mounted on the dispense head assemblies. The slot extender has reservoirs defining drain openings mated to the corresponding top slots.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact printing stamp, including creating a stamp material in a plurality of recessed regions formed in an exposed end-region of a multilayer thin film structure. The stamp material having a printing surface adapted to transfer a transfer material.

Abstract: Embodiments of a fluid delivery system are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of measuring glycated hemoglobin, which can comprise steps of establishing multiple age-specific groups of red blood cells, and measuring HbA1c levels of at least one of said groups. In another embodiment, a system for measuring glycated hemoglobin can comprise a separating device configured to separate red blood cells into multiple age-specific groups, and a measuring device configured to measure HbA1c levels of at least one of said groups.

Abstract: An array of electro-actuated fluid dispensers (200, 465, 500, 670) for metering out liquid reagents includes a support member (230); and a plurality of discrete electro-actuated fluid-dispensing die (220, 460) disposed on the support member (230), each of the die (220, 460) being configured to receive a supply of fluid (130, 300, 447, 454, 456, 665) being deposited thereon and dispense the fluid (130, 300, 447, 454, 456, 665) as needed for assay testing.

Abstract: Various techniques for dispensing liquids are disclosed herein. In one embodiment a dispenser retention apparatus includes a frame. The frame includes a top surface configured to retain a liquid dispensing assembly. The frame also includes a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The bottom surface includes a first channel extending from a first lateral edge of the frame to a droplet passage between the top and bottom surfaces. The first channel is configured to allow a light beam introduced to the frame at the first lateral edge to intersect a droplet in the passage.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in an image reconstruction method for analyzing unordered microwell plates, including acquiring a digital image of a microwell plate showing unordered visible compound concentration effects, creating a dispensing log listing the dispensing log information for an unordered microwell plate, establishing one or more rules to govern the reorganization of the unordered visible digital image, creating a reordered log with well input locations reordered by test compound identity and quantity levels dispensed order corresponding reordered log well output locations, assigning ordered output locations to reordered input compound and concentration levels order and copying test well digital image pixels from well input locations to reordered output locations in a reconstructed digital image for visualization of visible compound effects in the microwell plates in ordered compound concentrations.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dispensing liquid are disclosed. The method includes the steps of storing one or more liquids in a thermal inkjet print head and providing a well plate having at least one well. At least one of the liquids is dispensed from the thermal inkjet print head into at least one well. The volume of the dispensed liquid is a fraction of the total required volume of the liquid in the at least one well, and the dispensing step is performed multiple times to dispense the required volume of the at least one liquid in at least one well.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in an image reconstruction method for analyzing unordered microwell plates, including acquiring a digital image of a microwell plate showing unordered visible compound concentration effects, creating a dispensing log listing the dispensing log information for an unordered microwell plate, establishing one or more rules to govern the reorganization of the unordered visible digital image, creating a reordered log with well input locations reordered by test compound identity and quantity levels dispensed order corresponding reordered log well output locations, assigning ordered output locations to reordered input compound and concentration levels order and copying test well digital image pixels from well input locations to reordered output locations in a reconstructed digital image for visualization of visible compound effects in the microwell plates in ordered compound concentrations.

Abstract: A titration series is prepared. Reagent is loaded into a reagent reservoir within a fluid ejection device. Reagent is ejected from the fluid ejection device into a plurality of receptacles so that an amount of reagent ejected from the fluid ejection device into a first receptacle in the plurality of receptacles is at least 10,000 times an amount of reagent ejected from the fluid ejection device into a second receptacle in the plurality of receptacles.

Abstract: An array of electro-actuated fluid dispensers (200, 465, 500, 670) for metering out liquid reagents includes a support member (230); and a plurality of discrete electro-actuated fluid-dispensing die (220, 460) disposed on the support member (230), each of the die (220, 460) being configured to receive a supply of fluid (130, 300, 447, 454, 456, 665) being deposited thereon and dispense the fluid (130, 300, 447, 454, 456, 665) as needed for assay testing.

Abstract: A liquid handling device that determines a position of a tray utilizing light reflected from structural features of the tray.

Abstract: Embodiments of a fluid transfer device are disclosed.