Dispensing apparatus and a dispensing method

摘要

In a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid, such as a sample solution, on a substrate, such as a glass slide, the dispensing apparatus includes a capillary provided with a distal end and a proximal end, a pump unit configured to pump an operating liquid into the capillary and to pump the operating liquid out of the capillary, and a controller configured to control the pump unit so as to change a position of a liquid surface of the operating liquid in the capillary so that a predetermined volume of liquid is suctioned from the distal end into the capillary and the liquid suctioned in the capillary is discharged from the distal end. As a result, it is possible to precisely dispense extremely small volume amounts of liquids such as a nanoliter.

主权项

1. A dispensing apparatus, comprising:
a capillary provided with a distal end and a proximal end; a pump unit configured to pump an operating liquid into the capillary and to pump the operating liquid out of the capillary; a controller configured to control the pump unit so as to change a first position of a liquid surface of the operating liquid in the capillary so that a predetermined volume of a liquid is suctioned from the distal end into the capillary and to change a second position of the liquid surface of the operating liquid in the capillary so that the liquid suctioned into the capillary is discharged from the distal end, wherein the capillary is flexible, the proximal end of the capillary is communicated with the pump unit and fixed at a predetermined position, and a position of the distal end of the capillary in a horizontal plane is variable due to a deflection of the capillary; and a changing mechanism configured to change the position of the distal end of the capillary from one position to another position without changing a position of the proximal end of the capillary for suction or discharging of a liquid from the distal end outlet using a deflection of the capillary, wherein the changing mechanism comprises a horizontally movable member which engages with the capillary between the distal and proximal ends of the capillary, and the deflection of the capillary is caused by the member.