Electrowetting dispensing devices and related methods

Abstract

A method for dispensing liquid for use in biological analysis may comprise positioning liquid to be dispensed via electrowetting. The positioning may comprise aligning the liquid with a plurality of predetermined locations. The method may further comprise dispensing the aligned liquid from the plurality of predetermined locations through a plurality of openings respectively aligned with the predetermined locations. The dispensing may be via electrowetting.

1 . A method for dispensing liquid for use in biological analysis, the method comprising: 
 positioning liquid to be dispensed via electrowetting, the positioning comprising aligning the liquid with a plurality of predetermined locations; and    dispensing the aligned liquid from the plurality of predetermined locations through a plurality of openings respectively aligned with the predetermined locations.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dividing the liquid into a plurality of individual portions via electrowetting, wherein the positioning comprises aligning each of the plurality of individual portions with the plurality of predetermined locations.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing the aligned liquid comprises dispensing the aligned liquid through a plurality of openings of a plurality of nozzles.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising spotting the liquid to a testing platform via the plurality of nozzles.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing the aligned liquid includes dispensing the liquid through the plurality of openings to a plurality of reservoirs.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dispensing the aligned liquid to the plurality of reservoirs comprises centrifuging the liquid into the reservoirs.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dispensing the aligned liquid to a plurality of reservoirs comprises dispensing the aligned liquid to a plurality of reservoirs coated with a hydrophilic material.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dispensing the aligned liquid to a plurality of reservoirs comprises dispensing the aligned liquid to the plurality of reservoirs via electrowetting.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the dispensing the aligned liquid to the plurality of reservoirs comprises dispensing the aligned liquid to a plurality of reservoirs coated with a layer of electrically conductive material and a layer of hydrophobic material.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the dispensing the liquid to a plurality of reservoirs via electrowetting comprises dispensing the liquid to a plurality of wells in a titer plate via electrowetting.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dispensing the liquid to a plurality of reservoirs comprises dispensing the liquid via capillarity.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the reservoirs comprise hydrophilic capillary tubes.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the dispensing the liquid to a plurality of reservoirs comprises dispensing the liquid via electrophoresis.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dispensing the liquid to a plurality of reservoirs comprises dispensing the liquid to a plurality of wells in a titer plate.  
     
     
         15 . A method for dispensing liquid for use in biological analysis, the method comprising: 
 supplying a liquid to be dispensed to a housing comprising an interior surface;    altering a wettability of the interior surface so as to divide the liquid in the housing into a plurality of individual portions of liquid and to move the plurality of individual portions of liquid to a plurality of respective predetermined locations;    dispensing the plurality of individual portions of liquid from the plurality of predetermined locations through a plurality of openings respectively aligned with the plurality of predetermined locations.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the interior surface comprises an electrical conductor.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the interior surface comprises a dielectric covering an electrical conductor.  
     
     
         18 . A method for dispensing liquid for use in biological analysis, the method comprising: 
 moving liquid to be dispensed via electrowetting so as to align the liquid with a plurality of predetermined locations; and    moving the aligned liquid via electrowetting from the plurality of predetermined locations to a plurality of reservoirs aligned with the predetermined locations.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the moving the aligned liquid to a plurality of reservoirs comprises moving the aligned liquid to a plurality of nozzle reservoirs.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising dispensing the liquid from the plurality of nozzle reservoirs to a plurality of locations on a testing platform.