Abstract: In a liquid handling system including a liquid handling substrate having a plurality of channels for conducting a liquid sample in said substrate, where the channels terminate in a plurality of exit ports in an outer surface of the substrate for transfer of a quantity of the liquid sample. The handling system also includes a liquid storage and dispensing substrate having a plurality of separable cartridges corresponding to the channels, with each cartridge terminating at a microelectro mechanical system (MEMS) comprising a laminate of glass, silicon and a piezoelectric substance. The handling system further includes a liquid detecting system comprising a light emitting diode and a photo-detector, where each channel includes a reservoir in communication with a corresponding cartridge creating an interface therebetween.

Abstract: In a liquid handling system including a liquid handling substrate having a plurality of channels for conducting a liquid sample in said substrate, where the channels terminate in a plurality of exit ports in an outer surface of the substrate for transfer of a quantity of the liquid sample. The handling system also includes a liquid storage and dispensing substrate having a plurality of separable cartridges corresponding to the channels, with each cartridge terminating at a microelectro mechanical system (MEMS) comprising a laminate of glass, silicon and a piezoelectric substance. The handling system further includes a liquid detecting system comprising a light emitting diode and a photo-detector, where each channel includes a reservoir in communication with a corresponding cartridge creating an interface therebetween.

Abstract: A method for depositing a volume of fluid relative to a surface to produce a droplet relative to the surface comprising the steps of forming a bolus of liquid relative to a dispensing member, causing the bolus of liquid to make contact with a surface thereby forming a bridge of liquid between the dispensing member and the surface, and retracting only a portion of the bolus of liquid to break the bridge of liquid between the dispensing member and the surface thereby depositing a droplet on the surface. A volume of a droplet can be adjusted by forming a bridge of liquid between a dispensing member and a surface that includes an initial droplet and breaking the bridge of liquid while leaving a remaining droplet of a different volume than the initial droplet.

Abstract: In a liquid handling system including a liquid handling substrate having a plurality of channels for conducting a liquid sample in said substrate, where the channels terminate in a plurality of exit ports in an outer surface of the substrate for transfer of a quantity of the liquid sample. The handling system also includes a liquid storage and dispensing substrate having a plurality of separable cartridges corresponding to the channels, with each cartridge terminating at a microelectro mechanical system (MEMS) comprising a laminate of glass, silicon and a piezoelectric substance. The handling system further includes a liquid detecting system comprising a light emitting diode and a photo-detector, where each channel includes a reservoir in communication with a corresponding cartridge creating an interface therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing a assays includes an axially rotatable substrate including a plurality of layers of a semiconductor material and numerous radially-arrayed reaction sites. The apparatus further includes a rotary stepper motor which rotates the substrate at an adjustable and substantially continuous speed and controls the rotation of the substrate by adjusting the speed and a direction of rotation. In addition, the apparatus includes a dual function head which has a fluid dispenser that has a fluid dispenser outlet and delivers a fluid to a reaction site and also has a readout device that has a sensor which receives an identifying signal from the reaction site on the substrate or scans the substrate to read identifying marks at the reaction site. Moreover, the apparatus may be aligned by a computer having a memory for storing a start location for the dispenser outlet on the substrate and additional electronics.