HYBRID VALVE APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FLUID HANDLING

摘要

A hybrid valve apparatus for use with an aspiration actuator and a dispensi ng actuator to transfer fluid from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface. The hybrid valve includes a valve assembly movable between an aspiratio n condition and a dispensing condition, and a manifold device coupled to the valve assembly. The manifold device includes a fluid aspiration conduit havi ng a first aspiration port in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. On an opposite end of the aspiration conduit is a second aspiration port in selective fluid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir into a discrete sample path when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition. The manifold device further include s a fluid dispensing conduit having a first dispensing port in fluid communicati on with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective flui d communication with the valve assembly. When the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, the sample path is fluidly coupled to the dispensing actuator to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug therefrom, while simultaneously being out of fluid communication with the aspiration actuator. In contrast, in the aspiration condition, the sample pa th is in fluid communication with the aspiration actuator, while being out of flui d communication with the dispensing actuator.