Confinement of fluids on surfaces

Abstract

The invention is directed to a device for applying a fluid to a surface, the device comprising a first conduit for directing a flow of a first fluid towards the surface and a second conduit for directing a flow of a second fluid away from the surface, the first conduit being arranged relative to the second conduit such that in operation of the device the second fluid comprises substantially the first fluid, and wherein said first conduit comprises a first aperture and the second conduit comprises a second aperture, the first aperture arranged at a distance from the second aperture.

1 . A device for applying a liquid to a surface immersed in an environmental liquid, said device comprising:
 a first conduit for directing a flow of a first liquid towards a surface and a second conduit for directing a flow of a second liquid away from said surface, wherein said first conduit has a first aperture that is arranged at a distance (d) from a second aperture of said second conduit, said device further comprising one or more of a first flow controller for controlling one or more of a first flow rate and a first pressure (p 3 ) of said first liquid, and a second flow controller for controlling one or more of a second flow rate and a second pressure (p 4 ) of said second liquid, said first conduit being arranged relative to said second conduit such that in operation said second liquid comprises substantially said first liquid, whereby said device is configured to hydrodynamically confine a flow of a liquid between said first aperture, said second aperture and said immersed surface.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of a first liquid container for said first liquid and a second liquid container for said second liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said first flow controller is further configured to provide a dispense rate that results in a laminar flow. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said first flow controller and said second flow controller are further configured to respectively provide one or more of first and second pressures (p 3 , p 4 ) and first and second flow rates such that, in operation, said first liquid is drawn towards said second aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The device of claim), further comprising a filter for regenerating said first liquid from said second liquid. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an applicator head, wherein said first conduit and said second conduit are arranged at said applicator head. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , comprising a drive for moving said applicator head relative to said surface. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said first aperture and said second aperture of said conduits is arranged in a recession of said applicator head. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said first aperture and said second aperture are arranged in said recession, serving as a flow path, and wherein said flow path is not straight. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is configured such that said first aperture and said second aperture can be located at a substantially identical distance from said surface. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a third conduit for directing a flow of a third fluid, wherein said third conduit is configured to influence said flow of said first liquid in its flow direction. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a distance element for determining said distance between said apertures and said surface. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is of unitary construction. 
     
     
         14 . A method for applying a first liquid to a surface, said method comprising:
 locating a device proximal to said surface, wherein said device comprises a first conduit for directing a flow of a first liquid towards a surface and a second conduit for directing a flow of a second liquid away from said surface, wherein said first conduit has a first aperture that is arranged at a distance (d) from a second aperture of said second conduit, said device further comprising one or more of a first flow controller for controlling one or more of a first flow rate and a first pressure (p 3 ) of said first liquid, and a second flow controller for controlling one or more of a second flow rate and a second pressure (p 4 ) of said second liquid, said first conduit being arranged relative to said second conduit such that in operation said second liquid comprises substantially said first liquid, whereby said device is configured to hydrodynamically confine a flow of a liquid between said first aperture, said second aperture and said immersed surface; and   applying said first liquid to said surface via said device.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a step of varying said flow of said first liquid during said supply of said first liquid to said surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a step of moving said device relative to said surface with said first liquid contacting said surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising orienting said device relative to said surface such that traces of said first liquid produced as said device is moved relative to said surface remain one of separate and overlap. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said step of locating comprises said step of locating an array of a plurality of said devices proximal to said surface; said method further comprising said steps of: supplying said first liquid to said surface, in at least one device of said array, flowing said first liquid via a flow path from said first conduit towards said second conduit; and moving said array relative to said surface with said first liquid in each aperture contacting with said surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising a step of varying said flow of said first liquid during said supply of said first liquid to said surface in at least one device of said array. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said step of locating comprises a step of locating said device near a particle in said environmental liquid, said method further comprising operating said device to remove said particle by means of said first liquid.