Systems and methods for facilitating placement of labware components

Abstract

Certain configurations are described herein of a fluid handling apparatus that comprises a projector configured to provide an image of labware onto a support. The provided image can be used to assist a user in proper placement of the labware onto the support. The system can be configured to determine if the labware has been properly placed prior to beginning any fluid handling operations.

1 . A fluid handling system comprising:
 a support configured to receive at least one labware components at a labware site on the support; and   a projector configured to provide an image of the at least one labware component onto the support to assist in placing the at least one labware component at the labware site.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the projector is positioned above the support. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the projector is configured to provide a second image of a second labware component onto the support. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the projector is positioned below the support. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the projector is configured to project the image that is less than the entire labware component. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the support is configured to receive a microwell plate comprising a plurality of individual wells and in which the projector is configured to project an image of the microwell plate that is less than an entire image of the microwell plate. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the support is configured to receive a microwell plate comprising a plurality of individual wells and in which the projector is configured to project an image of the microwell plate that is an entire image of the microwell plate. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the projector is configured to project the image using visible light. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the projector is configured to project the image using non-visible light. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the projector comprises a DLP chip and a light source. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the projector comprises a liquid crystal panel and a light source. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the fluid handling system comprises a common light source that is used as a light source of the projector and as a light source of a detector of the fluid handling system. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid handling system of  claim 12 , in which the light source comprises a lamp, a light emitting diode, a laser, or a device that emits light. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the projector is further configured to project user instructions. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one camera. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid handling system of  claim 15 , further comprising a processor configured to determine if the labware component is properly placed on the support from one or more pixels received by the camera. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the image of the labware component provided by the projector is at least 5% smaller than the labware component. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the support comprises a reflective material. 
     
     
         19 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , in which the support comprises a material effective to diffuse light received from the projector. 
     
     
         20 . The fluid handling system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second projector configured to provide an image different from the image of the labware component. 
     
     
         21 - 121 . (canceled)