Cleaning of system for dispensing of liquid droplets

摘要

There is provided a method of cleaning a dispensing assembly for small liquid droplets less than 50 μl and even as low as 10 nl. A purging step with pressurized gas followed by a cleaning step using a suitable cleaning liquid is carried out a number of times.

主权项

1. A method for dispensing one or more liquid droplets from a dispensing assembly and cleaning the dispensing assembly, the method comprising:
connecting a dispensing tip to a pressure source by at least setting a first switch to a first state, setting a second switch to a second state, and setting a third switch to a third state so as to define a first path between the dispensing tip and the pressure source through at least the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch, the dispensing tip being a part of a dispensing assembly; applying a first pressure by the pressure source to a first liquid in the dispensing tip via at least the first path; ejecting one or more droplets of the first liquid from the dispensing tip by the applied first pressure, each of the one or more droplets being up to 100 μl in volume; connecting the dispensing tip to a first liquid source and the first liquid source to the pressure source, by at least changing the second switch from the second state to a fourth state, changing the third switch from the third state to a fifth state, and setting a fourth switch to a sixth state so as to define a second path between the first liquid source, the pressure source, and the dispensing tip through at least the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch, the first liquid source containing a second liquid, the second liquid being different from the first liquid; applying a second pressure by the pressure source to the second liquid in the first liquid source via at least the second path; delivering at least a portion of the second liquid from the first liquid source to the dispensing tip by the applied second pressure; connecting the dispensing tip to the pressure source via at least the first path by at least changing the second switch from the fourth state to the second state and changing the third switch from the fifth state to the third state; and expelling at least a part of the portion of the second liquid from the dispensing tip by a purging gas pressurized by the pressure source.