Abstract: A system and method for ejecting one or more fluids from a digital dispense device. The method includes a) inputting to a memory a volume per unit area for each of the one or more fluids to be ejected from the digital dispense device; b) matching the volume per unit area to a device resolution for the digital dispense device; c) formatting fluid ejectors for the digital dispense device for the device resolution; and d) ejecting fluid from the digital dispense device to provide the volume per area for each of the one or more fluids.

Abstract: A digital dispense system and methods for preparing samples for analysis. The digital dispense system includes a fluid droplet ejection system housed in a housing unit. The fluid droplet ejection system contains a fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge containing one or more fluids to be dispensed. A cartridge translation mechanism is provided for moving the fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge back and forth over a sample holder in an x direction. A sample tray translation mechanism moves a sample tray back and forth beneath the fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction.

Abstract: A fluid jet ejection device, a method of making a fluid jet ejection head for a fluid ejection device, and a method of improving the plume characteristics of fluid ejected from the fluid jet ejection head. The fluid jet ejection device includes a cartridge body; and a fluid jet ejection cartridge disposed in the cartridge body. The fluid jet ejection cartridge contains a fluid and an ejection head attached to the fluid jet ejection cartridge. The ejection head contains a plurality of fluid ejectors thereon and a nozzle plate having a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles therein associated with the plurality of fluid ejectors, wherein a first portion of the plurality of fluid ejection nozzles have a first axial flow path length and a second portion of the plurality of fluid ejection nozzles have a second axial flow path length greater than the first axial flow path length.

Abstract: A fluid jet ejection device, a method of making a fluid jet ejection head, and a method of improving the plume characteristics of fluid ejected from the fluid jet ejection head. The pharmaceutical drug delivery device includes a cartridge body; and a fluid jet ejection cartridge disposed in the cartridge body. The fluid jet ejection cartridge contains a fluid and an ejection head attached to the fluid jet ejection cartridge. The ejection head contains a plurality of fluid ejectors thereon and a nozzle plate having a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles therein associated with the plurality of fluid ejectors. At least one of the plurality of fluid ejection nozzles has an orthogonal axial flow path relative to a plane defined by the nozzle plate and at least one of the plurality of fluid ejection nozzles has an angled axial flow path relative to a plane define by the nozzle plate.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical drug delivery device and method of preventing drying out and drooling of an ejection head for the drug delivery device. The device includes a drug delivery device body; a fluid outlet nozzle attached to the drug delivery device body; and a fluid jet ejection cartridge containing a liquid pharmaceutical drug disposed in the drug delivery device body. A fluid ejection head is attached to the fluid jet ejection cartridge and the fluid ejection head is in fluid flow communication with the fluid outlet nozzle. An elongate, serpentine air flow path is provided between and outer surface of the fluid jet ejection cartridge and an inner surface of the fluid outlet nozzle. The elongate, serpentine air flow path provides a reduced pressure differential adjacent to a surface of the fluid ejection head upon use of the drug delivery device and provides a humidification zone.

Abstract: A digital dispense system and method of using a digital dispense system. The digital dispense system includes a pipette-fillable fluid cartridge having one or more fluid chambers therein and having an ejection head attached thereto. The ejection head contains a plurality of fluid ejectors thereon. The fluid ejectors are in fluid flow communication with the one or more fluid chambers of the pipette-fillable fluid cartridge. A fluid detection circuit is disposed on the ejection head and associated with at least one of the plurality of fluid ejectors for signaling the presence or absence of fluid in the one or more fluid chambers.

Abstract: A drug delivery device and method of using the device. The device includes a cartridge body; a fluid outlet nozzle attached to the cartridge body; and a cartridge disposed in the cartridge body. A fluid ejection head is attached to the cartridge and is in fluid flow communication with the fluid outlet nozzle. The cartridge contains a liquid pharmaceutical drug. A logic board is disposed in cartridge body and is electrically connected to the ejection head on the ejection cartridge. A processor is disposed on the logic board or on the fluid ejection head for executing a control algorithm to control the ejection head to modify plume characteristics of fluid ejected from the ejection head by controlling one or more operating parameters selected from (a) a number of fluid ejectors fired per ejection burst, (b) a position of fluid ejectors fired per ejection burst, and (c) both (a) and (b).

Abstract: A method of forming a print head, by forming a heater chip. Via zones having peripheries are defined on a substrate, with heaters formed along the entire peripheries of the via zones. Traces that electrically connect to each of the heaters are formed. In some embodiments, the heater chip is then stored for a period of time. After storing the heater chip, vias are formed in only a selected portion of the via zones, which is a subset of the via zones. A channel layer is formed on the heater chip by forming a first layer on the heater chip. Flow channels are formed in the first layer from the vias to only those heaters on the heater chip that are disposed along the selected portion of the via zones. Bubble chambers are formed in the first layer around only those heaters on the heater chip that are disposed along the selected portion of the via zones.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical drug delivery device and method of using the pharmaceutical drug delivery device. The pharmaceutical drug delivery device includes a cartridge body; a fluid outlet nozzle attached to the cartridge body; and a fluid jet ejection cartridge disposed in the cartridge body, wherein the cartridge contains a liquid pharmaceutical drug and a fluid ejection head containing a plurality of fluid ejection nozzles and associated fluid ejectors. A processor disposed on a logic board or fluid ejection head is provided for executing a control algorithm to control the ejection head to modify plume characteristics of fluid ejected from the ejection head by controlling one or more of fluid jet firing frequency, burst length, and fluid jet firing burst delay.

Abstract: A pipette-fillable fluid reservoir body. The fluid reservoir body includes two or more discrete fluid chambers therein. At least one of the fluid chambers contains a pressure compensation device and at least another one of the fluid chambers is devoid of a pressure compensation device. Each of the fluid chambers is in fluid flow communication with a fluid supply via, and each of the fluid chambers have sidewalls and a bottom wall attached to the side walls, wherein the bottom wall slopes toward the fluid supply via. The fluid reservoir body also includes an ejection head support face in fluid flow communication with the fluid chambers for attachment of a fluid ejection device to the ejection head support face for ejecting fluid from the fluid chambers.

Abstract: A unitary, molded fluid reservoir body to which a fluid ejection head substrate is attached. The unitary, molded fluid reservoir body includes one or more discrete fluid chambers therein. Each of the one or more fluid chambers have an open top, side walls, and sloped bottom walls attached to the side walls, wherein each of the one or more fluid chambers terminates in a fluid supply via, and wherein the sloped bottom walls have an angle ranging from about 6 to about 12 degrees relative to a plane orthogonal to the sidewalls. An ejection head support face is disposed opposite the open top for attachment of a single fluid ejection device to the ejection head support face for ejecting fluid provided from the one or more chambers through the one or more fluid supply vias.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing cartridge includes a housing body having a proximal end wall, a distal end wall, a fluid chamber, and a hollow throat portion. The fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the hollow throat portion. The proximal end wall provides a proximal termination of the fluid chamber and the distal end wall provides a distal termination of the hollow throat portion. A plurality of electrical contacts face proximally from the proximal end wall. The fluid dispensing cartridge includes a fluid jetting chip that has a plurality of fluid jetting nozzles.

Abstract: A digital dispense system for preparing and analyzing a plurality of samples. The system includes two or more fluid droplet ejection devices. Each fluid droplet ejection device contains a fluid droplet ejection cartridge containing at least one fluid to be dispensed. The fluid droplet ejection cartridge is attached to a translation mechanism for moving the fluid droplet ejection cartridge back and forth over a sample holder in an x direction. A sample tray translation mechanism is provided for moving a sample tray along a production path in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction through the two or more fluid droplet ejection devices.

Abstract: A digital dispense system and method for analyzing samples. The system includes a fluid droplet ejection system housed in a compact housing unit. The fluid droplet ejection system contains a fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge containing one or more fluids to be dispensed, a cartridge translation mechanism for moving the fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge back and forth over a sample holder in an x direction; and a sample holder translation mechanism for moving a sample back and forth beneath the fluid droplet ejection head and fluid cartridge in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction. A digital display device is attached to the fluid droplet ejection system for displaying fluid volume information to a user. The fluid volume information is selected from relative fluid volume, absolute fluid volume, and a combination of relative and absolute fluid volumes.

Abstract: A digital dispense device and method for ejecting one or more fluids into a target area of a substrate. The digital dispense device includes (A) a fluid ejection head for the digital dispense device having one or more arrays of fluid ejectors thereon; (B) a fluid ejection head translation device for moving the ejection head over the target area of the substrate in a first direction, wherein the one or more arrays of fluid ejectors on the fluid ejection head are oriented parallel to the first direction; and (C) a control device for activating one or more fluid ejectors in the one or more arrays of fluid ejectors as the one or more fluid ejectors intersect the target area of the substrate.

Abstract: A removable maintenance fluid holder for a digital dispense system, a digital dispense system containing the removable maintenance fluid holder, and a method of maintaining a fluid droplet dispense cartridge. The removable maintenance fluid holder includes a housing having a handle end and a fluid receptacle end distal from the handle end. The fluid receptable end includes a fluid receptacle for holding fluid dispensed from a fluid droplet ejection head of a fluid droplet cartridge in the digital dispense system. The removable maintenance fluid holder is configured to be inserted and removed from the digital dispense system on a periodic basis.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing cartridge includes a housing body having a proximal end wall, a distal end wall, a fluid chamber, and a hollow throat portion. The fluid chamber is in fluid communication with the hollow throat portion. The proximal end wall provides a proximal termination of the fluid chamber and the distal end wall provides a distal termination of the hollow throat portion. A plurality of electrical contacts face proximally from the proximal end wall. The fluid dispensing cartridge includes a fluid jetting chip that has a plurality of fluid jetting nozzles.

Abstract: A system and method for ejecting one or more fluids from a digital dispense device. The method includes a) inputting to a memory a volume per unit area for each of the one or more fluids to be ejected from the digital dispense device; b) matching the volume per unit area to a device resolution for the digital dispense device; c) formatting fluid ejectors for the digital dispense device for the device resolution; and d) ejecting fluid from the digital dispense device to provide the volume per area for each of the one or more fluids.

Abstract: A digital dispense system for preparing and analyzing a plurality of samples. The system includes two or more fluid droplet ejection devices. Each fluid droplet ejection device contains a fluid droplet ejection cartridge containing at least one fluid to be dispensed. The fluid droplet ejection cartridge is attached to a translation mechanism for moving the fluid droplet ejection cartridge back and forth over a sample holder in an x direction. A sample tray translation mechanism is provided for moving a sample tray along a production path in a y direction orthogonal to the x direction through the two or more fluid droplet ejection devices.

Abstract: An open fluid droplet ejection cartridge containing one or more fluids to be dispensed by digital fluid dispense system and a method for digitally dispensing fluids. The open fluid droplet ejection cartridge includes a cover having one or more openings therein, fluid funnels pending from each of the one or more openings in the cover, a chamber separator attached to the fluid funnels for directing fluid to one or more fluid chambers, a fluid overflow chamber for fluid overflow from the one or more fluid chambers, fluid vias associated with each of the one or more fluid chambers, and a plurality of fluid ejection devices adjacent to the fluid vias on a single semiconductor substrate in fluid flow communication with the fluid vias.