EP4308300A1

EP4308300A1 - Apparatus for a dispensing device

Info

Publication number: EP4308300A1
Application number: EP22710418.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Umair MAZHAR; Harry BÖLTZ
Original assignee: Dispendix GmbH
Current assignee: Dispendix GmbH
Priority date: 2021-03-17
Filing date: 2022-03-17
Publication date: 2024-01-24
Also published as: LU102660B1; WO2022194974A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for a dispensing device (26) for dispensing a liquid located in a well (19), the apparatus (1) comprising: at least a through-hole (2) for receiving the well (19), a first component (10) and a second component (12) that are connected with each other to form a chamber (3) that surrounds at least a portion of the through-hole (2), wherein a substance (35) for cooling and/or heating the liquid located in the well (19) is arranged in the chamber (3).

Description

Apparatus for a dispensing device

The invention relates to an apparatus for a dispensing device and to a system for a dispensing device comprising said apparatus. Also, the invention relates to a dispensing device comprising the system and a corresponding operating method and the use of the apparatus and/or system in a dispensing device.

Liquid handling is a fundamental process in many laboratories. In modern life science laboratories, high-throughput liquid handling is frequently needed for the purpose of efficiency. For liquid dispensing at the micro-, nano-, or even picoliter level, the surface adhesion is a fundamental factor that affects the performance. Basically, liquid dispensing technologies have to overcome surface adhesion and dispense the droplet from the dispensing tool. When the volume is very small, gravity is not sufficient for dropping viscous samples. A variety of methods have been developed to overcome the problem by generating additional driving forces to dispense the droplet. In general, those methods can be classified into two categories: contact and noncontact dispensing, respectively.

In contact dispensing techniques, such as pipetting, a touch-off is necessary to complete the liquid dispensing. When the liquid attaches to a substrate, a drag-back action is done to overcome the surface tension between liquid and the dispensing tip, without which the liquid will not drop. Contact dispensing is most popular for dispensing samples of small volume from nano- to microliter because of its simplicity, reliability, and low cost. However, reliable dispensing requires an accurate positioning system. Furthermore, special attention must be paid to hard contact, which may damage the dispenser tip by colliding with the container.

In noncontact dispensing techniques, the liquid is ejected from an orifice instead of using a contact between the liquid and the surface container. It reduces or eliminates some disadvantages of contact dispensing mentioned above. In particular, cross contamination can be avoided. The most common approaches are based on the inkjet printing technology, thereby using different dispensing means, such as solenoid valves, piezoelectric dispensers, acoustic dispensers, electrostatic devices, etc.

Typically, liquid handling refers to small volume pipetting operations, however, at the micro-, nano- or picoliter level, the number of transferred samples can be huge. Under these conditions, liquid handling by hand can be very time-consuming and, in some cases, impractical.

Consequently, there is a strong demand for automated liquid handling systems. Very basic automated systems can dispense an allotted volume of liquid from a motorized pipette. More complicated systems can also manipulate the position of the dispensers and containers (often a Cartesian coordinate robot) and/or integrate additional laboratory devices, such as microplate readers, centrifuges, spectrophotometric devices, heater/shakers, storage devices, etc..

For some applications it is necessary to keep the liquid at a predetermined temperature as otherwise the liquid becomes unusable for further processing. The predetermined temperature can be higher or lower than the environmental temperature. This leads to that the wells comprising the liquid are stored in an apparatus for cooling or heating the well with the liquid to a predetermined temperature. Afterwards, the wells are located in a wells carrier and the carrier is placed in a dispensing device. Due to the temperature difference between the liquid and the environmental it has to be made sure that the liquids are dispensed soon after removing them from the apparatus. This is sometimes not possible and/or the dispensing order has to be changed that leads to a more complicate dispensing process.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an apparatus for a dispensing device, by means of which the dispensing process is not complicate even though liquids shall be dispensed by the dispensing device that have a predetermined temperature being different from the environmental temperature.

The object is solved by an apparatus for a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid located in a well, the apparatus comprising: at least a through-hole for receiving the well, a first component and a second component that are connected with each other to form a chamber that surrounds at least a portion of the through-hole, wherein a substance for cooling and/or heating the liquid located in the well is arranged in the chamber.

The inventive apparatus has the advantage that a well, in particular, the liquid arranged in the well, can be hold at the predetermined temperature. This is advantageous as it is not necessary anymore to change the dispensing order in a dispensing device when a fluid has to be dispensed which has to be held at a temperature being different than the environmental temperature. Thus, the apparatus enables that the dispensing process can be kept simple.

The liquid present in the well can be a sample liquid to be analyzed in a scientific experiment. The possibility to cool and/or heat the liquid can be extremely advantageous. In fact, the same apparatus can be employed to analyse liquid samples of different nature, for example liquids with live cells or other specimens.

With the term “chamber” is intended a separate section of the apparatus. In particular, the first and the second components are connected with each other to form the chamber, wherein the substance is maintained therein. The chamber is formed such that the substance has no possibility to be in direct contact with the liquid to be heated or cooled and/or that the substance has no possibility to exit the apparatus. The chamber can be partially or fully filed with the substance.

The substance can be a non-gaseous substance. In particular, the substance can be a gel substance or a liquid substance for storing thermal energy. A non-gaseous substance has the advantage that it usually has a higher heat capacity and thermal heat conductivity than gaseous substance. Thus, with a non-gaseous substance it is possible to effectively and fast cool and/or heat the liquid located in the well.

Alternatively, the substance can be a solid substance. In particular, the solid substance can comprise a plurality of particles. The particles can have a small diameter so that it is possible that the solid particles fill the chamber as much as possible. Alternatively, the substance can be a solid one part component that is arranged in the chamber. The aforementioned substance has the advantage that it can be easily cooled and/or heated using an appropriate cooling or heating system.

The substance can be a substance that does not increase its volume when the substance is cooled. In particular, the substance does not increase its volume when the substance is cooled to a temperature of or below -20 degrees Celsius. The substance shall not be corrosive in order not to damage the first and second component. The substance can have a higher thermal conductivity and/or a higher heat capacity than the first component and/or the second component. The substance can be sodium polyacrylate. Sodium polyacrylate is non-toxic. Alternatively, the substance can consist of other components.

The cooling and/or heating systems are not part of the apparatus and the cooling and/or heating processes of the substance are carried out in advance of a dispensing process by means of a dispensing device. The same substance can be used for both the cooling and the heating process wherein “and” does not mean that the same substance cools and heats the same liquid at the same time. It means that the same substance can e.g. cool a liquid in a dispensing operation and heat another liquid in another dispensing operation.

The apparatus can be configured such that thermal conduction is used to exchange thermal energy between the substance and the liquid in the well according to a passive thermal exchange. Accordingly, the liquid in the well is not actively cooled or heated using dedicated devices connected to the apparatus that would render a dispensing system more complicated and more expensive. In particular, the cooling and/or heating of the liquid in the well occurs by means of the substance arranged in chamber and/or the substance does not leave the chamber during cooling and/or heating the well, in particular, the liquid arranged in the well.

Alternatively, the apparatus can additionally comprise a circuit in which the substance can flow. The circuit can comprise pipes, a pump for moving the substance and a substance tank. The substance tank stored in the tank can be heated or cooled. This substance is supplied to the chamber in which it cools or heats the liquid located in the well. Afterwards, the substance leaves the chamber and flows back into the substance tank.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a third component, wherein the first component, the second component and the third component are fixed together, in particular to form a closed structure when the apparatus is assembled. With the term “closed structure” is intended a structure without open parts, with the exception of the at least through-hole. In other words, the three components are arranged and fixed together to form a sort of closed box or container, wherein internal parts of the apparatus, for example the chamber, cannot be accessed from outside.

For the purpose of fixation, the components can be provided with a connecting means. As an example, the third component can have a hollow region and preferably can have a polygonal, in particular, rectangular, shape with an open surface and the first component can also have a planar polygonal shape, for example rectangular, that can fit the perimeter of the third component at an open surface of the third component. The edges of the first component can be provided with recesses or spaces configured to be inserted into the edges of the third component, thereby ensuring a fixation between these components. In other words, the third component can represent the bottom of a box and the first component can represent the lid of the box. Of course, other shapes can advantageously be used.

In a plane extending along a longitudinal direction of the through-hole, the second component can be arranged between the first component and the third component. As an example, the second component can have a planar shape having the same dimensions of the first and third component in cross-section. When the first component is fixed to the third component, the second component is located inside the hollow region of the third component. The perimeter of the second component fits the border walls of the third component so that the second component is fixed between the first and the third component to form the chamber in which the substance is arranged. Also at least one additional chamber, in particular, two additional chambers, inside the apparatus can be formed by fixing the three components together.

The first component can comprise a protruding wall surrounding at least a part of the through-hole or several through-holes. The protruding wall extends departing from a surface of the first component located inside the apparatus. In other words, when the first component is fixed to the third component, the protruding wall is not visible from outside. The length of the protruding wall is such that an end of the wall is in contact with the second component when the first and third component are connected together.

The protruding wall surrounds the through hole in the circumferential direction of the hole. The substance arranged in the chamber can be in direct contact with the protruding wall. As discussed below more in detail, the well is arranged in the through hole. That means, a thermal exchange between the substance and the liquid arranged in the well can occur by thermal conduction via the well and the protrusion wall.

The third component comprises a circumferential rim that protrudes from the remaining parts of the third component in a direction away from the first component. The rim is in contact with a, in particular stationary, holder of a dispensing device when the apparatus is placed in the dispensing device. As the rim has a small contact surface with the stationary holder, the heat transfer between the third component and the, in particular stationary, holder is low. As the rim can completely extend along the circumference of the apparatus, the apparatus is sufficiently stable when a pressure acts on the apparatus when the liquid is dispensed.

In an embodiment, the second component and/or the third component comprise an opening that is part of the through-hole. That means, the through-hole can be considered as a channel passing through the first, the second, and/or the third component.

To increase the thermal exchange surface between the substance and the through-hole that receives the wall, the second component can have a recessed portion. The recessed portion extends advantageously along the longitudinal direction of the through-hole away from the first component. Through this, it is easily ensured that the through hole cannot come into contact with the substance.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus can comprise at least one isolation chamber comprising an isolation substance that differs from the substance present in the chamber. For example, the isolation substance can be a gas, such as air. The isolation member can have a lower specific heat capacity than the substance arranged in the chamber.

In particular, the apparatus can comprise a lateral isolation chamber that is defined by the first component, the second component and the third component. The lateral isolation chamber can extend in circumferential direction of the apparatus. In this way, it is possible to thermally isolate the substance inside the chamber once cooled or heated and maintain as much as possible constant the temperature of the liquid in the wall inserted in the through-hole.

To increase the isolation performances, the apparatus can comprise a bottom isolation chamber that is defined by the third component and the second component. The bottom isolation chamber can extend on a lower end of the apparatus. By combining the lateral and the bottom isolation chambers, the substance contained in the chamber can be advantageously thermally isolated from different directions.

In an embodiment, the through-hole can have a cylindrical shape. Therefore, the through-hole can have a circular cross-section and the opening present in the second and third components can have a circular shape. In order to increase the dispensing performances, the apparatus can comprise a set of eight through-holes, arranged in two consecutive rows of four through-holes. In this way, it is possible to insert a set of eight wells, each in a corresponding through-hole, and dispensing liquid from several wells, in particular the wells arranged in the same row, at the same time. Accordingly, the apparatus allows a noncontact parallel dispensing process. As noncontact dispensing it is meant that the dispensed liquids do not come in contact with each other.

According to an aspect of the invention, a system for a dispensing device is provided. The system comprises the inventive apparatus and at least a well for receiving a liquid. The well is arranged in the through-hole of the apparatus and comprises an upper opening for introducing the liquid and a lower opening for dispensing the liquid, in particular, in form of droplets. The liquid is dispensed in or on a target carrier. The target carrier can be a multi-well plate. As mentioned before, the apparatus can have several through holes. A well comprising a liquid can be arranged in the through holes, respectively.

The dispensing device can be configured to dispense the liquid according to a drop-on- demand method or a continuous jet method. In the drop-on-demand method, individual drops are selectively produced from the dispensing device of the device at a selected time. This means that individual drops are generated on command using a separate trigger signal.

In contrast to the drop-on-demand methodology, the continuous-jet methodology is pressure-driven to dispense a thin jet of liquid from the dispensing device, and after dispensing from the dispensing device, the jet of liquid breaks down into individual drops that can be electrostatically deflected. With the continuous jet method, a separate control signal is therefore not provided for each individual drop and the individual drops cannot be generated specifically at a selected point in time.

The well can comprise an upper rim at one end and a tapered portion at the other end, wherein when the dispensing well is inserted into the through-hole, the upper rim leans against a top surface of the apparatus, in particular the first component. In this way, the well can remain in place during the operation. Also, when the well is inserted in the through-hole, a part of the well, in particular a tapered portion comprising the lower opening of the well, can protrude from a bottom surface of the apparatus, in particular of the third component. In this way, the well is completely inserted in the through-hole and, thanks to the thermal exchange with the substance, can be homogenously heated and/or cooled. Also, this particular configuration determines that the liquid is inserted on one side of the apparatus and the liquid droplets are dispensed on the other (opposite) side of the apparatus. The tapered portion allows an easiest insertion of the well in the through-hole and at the same time a more controlled dispensing function at the end of the well due to capillarity.

Advantageously, the well is configured such that in a non-dispensing condition the liquid contained therein is prevented from dropping through the lower opening. This is due to at least one of the structural characteristics of the well, such as the shape and/or dimension of the lower opening, the diameter and/or length of the well, and/or the length/angle of the tapered portion. This configuration improves the dispensing precision. In fact, as long as determined dispensing conditions are not reached (i.e. minimum pressure impulse on the liquid), the liquid remains in the well and no droplets are generated. It is noted that the liquid present in the well functions as storage for the dispensing operation and at the same time as nozzle. By means of a pressure impulse, for example a pneumatic impulse, to the liquid, drops can be dispensed from the nozzle. The volume of the drops depends on the dimension of the orifice, the rheological properties of the liquid (i.e. viscosity) and the physical characteristics of the impulse (i.e. duration and intensity of pressure).

In particular, the lower opening of the well can have a diameter between 60pm (micrometre) and 200pm, in particular 100pm. The dispensed liquid can have a volume of at least 10 nano liters. The maximum volume of the dispensed liquid is the well volume. The well can have a volume between 80 micro liters to 500 micro liters.

According to another aspect, a dispensing device is provided that dispenses liquid located in the well of the aforementioned system. The dispensing can comprise a, in particular stationary, holder for receiving an inventive apparatus or inventive system. The holder can receive the apparatus or system in detachable manner. The term “stationary” means that the holder is not capable to move relative to other components of the dispensing device. Additionally, the dispensing device can comprise a dispensing head to generate a pressure impulse and cause the system to dispense liquid droplets from the dispensing wells. For example, the dispensing head can comprise a pneumatic system with corresponding actuators and valves can be used for this purpose. Advantageously, each dispensing well can be provided with a corresponding valve for a parallel dispensing of the liquid. Also, a control unit can independently regulate each valve and a dedicated algorithm for generating a controlled dispensing of the drops can be employed. For example, to increase the precision in the dispensing process, the pressure in the dispensing well can be continuously measured so that the pressure and turn-on time of each valve can be adjusted for each impulse with a target/actual performance comparison. The generation of the droplets can be between 90 Hz and 110 Hz, preferably 100 Hz.

The dispensing head for dispensing liquid located in the well is moveable relative to the holder and/or to the inventive apparatus and/or inventive system. For this purpose, the dispensing device can employ a Cartesian coordinate robot provided with a motor to move the dispensing head.

In an advantageous embodiment, the apparatus is configured that the substance cools and/or heats the well, in particular the liquid located in the well, when the dispensing device performs a dispensing operation. As mentioned above, the cooling and heating of the liquid by means of the substance can occur in a passive way during the dispensing process. Thus, the apparatus enables to cool and/or heat the liquid until the dispensing process is finished.

According to a further aspect, a method for operating the inventive dispensing device is provided. The method comprises: cooling or heating the apparatus by placing the apparatus in a cooling system or heating system; extracting the apparatus from the cooling system or heating system, in particular once the apparatus has reached a predefined temperature; inserting a well in the through-hole of the apparatus; and performing a dispensing operation by means of the dispensing device for dispensing liquid located in the well.

The well can be inserted into the through-hole before or after the apparatus is placed in the cooling system or the heating system. It is noted that the inventive method makes it possible to operate the dispensing device by choosing the temperature at which the liquid in the well should be maintained by simply preparing the apparatus, i.e. by simply placing the apparatus in a cooling system, such as for example a refrigerator, or a heating system, such as for example an oven (microwave hoven). In fact, the substance present in the chamber can be heated or cooled at a predetermined temperature and the isolation chamber can maintain the substance at this temperature by strongly reducing thermal dissipation.

According to a further aspect of the invention the inventive apparatus or system can be used in a dispensing device for dispensing liquids.

In the following, further aspects of the invention are discussed. The aspects can be independent on the aspects discussed above.

According to a first aspect an apparatus for a dispensing device for dispensing a liquid located in a well is provided, the apparatus comprising: at least a through-hole for receiving the well, a first component and a second component that are connected with each other to form a chamber that surrounds at least a portion of the through-hole, wherein a substance for cooling and/or heating the liquid located in the well is arranged in the chamber.

According to a second aspect an apparatus according to the first aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that a. the substance is a non-gaseous substance and/or in that b. the substance comprises a plurality of solid particles and/or in that and/or in that c. the substance is a gel substance or a liquid substance and/or in that d. the substance has a higher thermal conductivity and/or a higher heat capacity than the first component and/or the second component.

According to a third aspect an apparatus according to the first or second aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that the apparatus comprises a third component wherein a. the first component, the second component and the third component are fixed together, in particular to form a closed structure, and/or in that b. in a plane extending along a longitudinal direction of the through hole the second component is arranged between the first component and the third component.

According to a fourth aspect an apparatus according to one of the first to third aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that the first component comprises a protruding wall surrounding at least a part of the through hole or several through holes.

According to a fifth aspect an apparatus according to the fourth aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that an end of the wall is in contact with the second component.

According to a sixth aspect an apparatus according to one of the first to fifth aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that the second component and/or the third component comprise an opening that is part of the through hole.

According to a seventh aspect an apparatus according to one of the first to sixth aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that the second component has a recessed portion that a. extends along a longitudinal direction of the through-hole away from the first component and/or in that b. the wall is in contact with the recessed portion.

According to an eighth aspect an apparatus according to one of the first to seventh aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that the apparatus comprises at least one isolation chamber comprising an isolation substance that differs from the substance.

According to a ninth aspect an apparatus according to eighth aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that a. the apparatus comprises a lateral isolation chamber that is defined by the first component, the second component and the third component or in that b. the apparatus comprises a lateral isolation chamber that is defined by the first component, the second component and the third component wherein the lateral isolation chamber extends in circumferential direction of the apparatus. According to a tenth aspect an apparatus according to eighth or ninth aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that a. the apparatus comprises a bottom isolation chamber that is defined by the third component and the second component or in that b. the apparatus comprises a bottom isolation chamber that is defined by the third component and the second component wherein the bottom isolation chamber extends on a lower end of the apparatus.

According to an eleventh aspect an apparatus according to one of the first to tenth aspect is provided, the apparatus is characterized in that a. the through-hole has a cylindrical shape and/or in that b. the apparatus comprises a set of eight through-holes, arranged in two consecutive rows of four through-holes.

According to a twelfth aspect a system for a dispensing device is provided, the system comprising the apparatus according to one of the first to eleventh aspect and at least a well for receiving a liquid, characterized in that the well is arranged in the through-hole of the apparatus, the well comprising an upper opening for introducing the liquid and a lower opening for dispensing the liquid, in particular in form of droplets.

According to a thirteenth aspect a system according to the twelfth aspect is provided, the system is characterized in that the well comprises an upper rim at one end and/or a tapered portion at the other end, wherein when the dispensing well is inserted into the through-hole, the upper rim leans against a top surface of the apparatus.

According to a fourteenth aspect a system according to the twelfth or thirteenth aspect is provided, the system is characterized in that a part of the well, in particular a tapered portion comprising the lower opening of the well, protrudes from a bottom surface of the apparatus, in particular of the third component.

According to a fifteenth aspect a system according to one of the twelfth to fourteenth aspect is provided, the system is characterized in that the well is configured such that in a non-dispensing condition the liquid contained therein is prevented from dropping through the lower opening. According to a sixteenth aspect a system according to any one of the twelfth to fifteenth aspect is provided, the system is characterized in that the lower opening has a diameter between 60pm and 200pm.

According to a seventeenth aspect a dispensing device comprising a stationary holder for receiving an apparatus according to one of the first to eleventh aspect or a system according to one of the twelfth to sixteenth aspect is provided.

According to an eighteenth aspect a dispensing device according to the seventeenth aspect is provided, the dispensing device is characterized in that the dispensing device comprises a dispensing head for dispensing liquid located in the well, wherein the dispensing head is moveable relative to the holder and/or to the apparatus and/or system.

According to a nineteenth aspect a dispensing device according to the seventeenth or eighteenth aspect is provided, the dispensing device is characterized in that the apparatus is configured that the substance cools and/or heats the well, in particular the liquid located in the well, when the dispensing device performs a dispensing operation.

According to a twentieth aspect a method for operating the dispensing device according to one of the seventeenth to nineteenth aspect is provided, the method comprising the steps: cooling or heating the apparatus by placing the apparatus in a cooling system or heating system; extracting the apparatus from the cooling system or heating system, in particular once the apparatus has reached a predefined temperature; inserting a well in the through-hole of the apparatus; and performing a dispensing operation by means of the dispensing device for dispensing liquid located in the well.

According to twenty first aspect an apparatus according to one of the first to eleventh aspect or a system according to one of the twelfth to sixteenth aspect is used in a dispensing device according to one of the seventeenth to nineteenth aspect.

In the figures, the subject-matter of the invention is schematically shown, wherein identical or similarly acting elements are usually provided with the same reference signs. Figures 1A-B show a schematic representation of the apparatus according to an embodiment in a perspective view (A) and in a top view (B).

Figures 2A-C show a schematic representation of the apparatus according to an embodiment in an exploded configuration in a bottom view (A), lateral view (B) and in a top view (C).

Figures 3A-B show a schematic representation of the first component of the apparatus according to an embodiment in a bottom view (A) and in cross-section (B).

Figures 4A-B shows a schematic representation of the system according to an embodiment in cross-section (A) and in a bottom view (B).

Figure 5 shows a block diagram of a part of the dispensing device according to an embodiment.

Figures 6A-B show schematic representation of a detail of the dispensing device without a dispensing head (A) and with a dispensing head (B).

Figure 7 shows a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment.

With reference to Figures 1A-B, an apparatus 1 according to an embodiment is shown. According to Figure 1A, the apparatus 1 has a rectangular shape. The apparatus 1 has a first component 10 and a third component 11 that are fixed together. In particular, the first component 10 represents a top element and the third component 11 a bottom element of the apparatus 1.

As shown in Figure 1 B, the first component 10 is provided with eight through holes 2 having a circular shape. The through holes 2 are arranged in two consecutive rows of four through-holes 2, respectively, and are located in a central region of a top surface 24 of the first component 10. As is evident from figure 4A, the through holes 2 form channels passing through the apparatus 1.

Figures 2A-2C show the apparatus 1 in an exploded view. As can be appreciated by the figures, in addition to the first and third component 10, 11 , the apparatus 1 also comprises a second component 12 to be placed between the first and the third components 10, 11. The apparatus 1 can be considered as a box, wherein the first component 10 represents the lid that can be fit to the bottom hollow element (third component 11) and the second component 12 is placed inside the third component 11. It is noted that when the first component 10 is fixed to the third component 11, the second component 12 is not visible from outside (figure 1A).

The first component 10 is provided with a protruding wall 6 extending from an internal surface 5 of the first component 10 and surrounding at least a part of the through-holes 2. In particular, the internal surface 5 is the surface of the first component 10 facing the second component 12. It is noted that the protruding wall 6 is represented by a structure formed by eight cylinders attached together along at least a side.

The second component 12 is provided with a recessed portion 7 that extends along a longitudinal direction L of the through-holes 2 away from the first component 10. The recessed portion 7 is furthermore configured to receive the terminal end of the protruding wall 6 so that the protruding wall 6 is in contact with the recessed portion 7 when the first, second, and third components 10, 11, and 12 are fixed together.

Both the second component 12 and third component 11 comprise a plurality of openings 16, 17, respectively, which are part of the through-holes 2. The openings 16, 17 are arranged in two rows of four opening each and are placed on a central region of the second and third component 16, 17. In other non-shown embodiments the apparatus can have a different number and arrangement of openings. In particular, the openings 16 of the second component 12 are placed in the recessed portion 7. From the figures it is clear that the through-holes 2 of the apparatus 1 represent eight cylindrical channels passing through the apparatus 1 from one side to the other side, that is from the top surface 24 to a bottom surface 25 of the apparatus 1 , in particular the third component 11 passing through the three components 10, 11, 12.

Figure 3A shows a bottom view of the first component 10. The first component 10 comprises an external edge 4 and an elevated internal edge 15 surrounding the perimeter of the internal surface 5. The internal edge 15 is configured to be fit together with the second component 12 and to form a chamber 3. In particular, the chamber 3 is defined by the second component 12 and the internal surface 5 and the internal edge 15 of the first component 10. As shown in figure 3A, the protruding wall 6 protrudes from the internal surface 5 and is placed in a middle region of said surface 5. It is noted that, when the substance 35 shown in fig. 4a is present in the chamber 3, the substance 35 surrounds, in particular completely, the protruding wall 7.

Figure 3B shows a cross section of the first component 10 along a horizontal plane. In addition to the protruding wall 6 located in the centre of the component, a lateral isolation chamber 13 is visible in the figure, the lateral isolation chamber 13 extending around the perimeter of the first component 10. This lateral isolation chamber 13 is delimited at least by the internal edge 15 and the external edge 4 of the first component 10 and is shown from fig. 4B further delimited by the second component 12 and the third component 11.

Figure 4A illustrates a cross-section of a system 18 along a vertical plane. The system 18 comprises the apparatus 1 and wells 19 inserted in the through-holes 2. A non-shown liquid that is to be dispensed is located in the wells 19, respectively. The chamber 3 in which the substance 35 is arranged surrounds all wells 19. In particular, the chamber 3 surrounds the protruding wall 6 surrounding a portion of the through hole 2 in which the wells 19 are arranged.

It is clear from fig. 4A that the protruding wall 6 surrounds the part of the through hole 2 that extends through the chamber 3. As discussed above the other parts of the through hole 2 are formed by openings 16, 17 which are delimited by the second component 12 and the third component 11.

The chamber 3 is formed by the connection of the first component 10 with the second component 12. In particular, the second component 12, similar to the first component 10 comprises an external edge 30 and an internal elevated edge 31 extending around the perimeter of the component 12. It is noted that between the internal and external edges 30, 31 of the second component 12 is present a space that is configured to receive the internal edge 15 of the first component 10. In particular, the internal edge 15 of the first component 10 can slot in said space.

Along the longitudinal direction L of the through-hole 2, particularly of the protruding wall 6, the second component 12 comprises a recessed portion 7. This serves to increase the thermal exchange surface between the protruding wall 6 and the substance 35 in the chamber 3. The second component 12 is in contact with the third component 11 at said recessed portion 7. The apparatus 1 comprises in addition to the lateral isolation chamber 13 a bottom isolation chamber 14. The lateral isolation chamber 13 is defined by the first component 10, the second component 12 and the third component 11 and extends in circumferential direction of the apparatus 1. In particular, the lateral isolation chamber 13 is defined by the internal edge 15 of the first component 10, the external edge 4 of the first component 10, the external edge 30 of the second component 12 and the upper edge 27 of the third component 11, wherein the external edge 4 of the first component 10 is engaged in the upper edge 27 of the third component 11.The bottom isolation chamber 14 is defined by the third component 11 and the second component 12 and extends on a lower end of the apparatus 1.

A plurality of dispensing wells 19 are inserted into the through-holes 2. Each well 19 is provided with an upper rim 22 at one end and a tapered portion 23 at the other end. When the dispensing well 19 is inserted into the through-hole 2, the upper rim 22 leans against the top surface 24 of the apparatus 1 and the tapered portion 23 protrudes from the bottom surface 25 of the apparatus 1, in particular of the third component 11, specifically from the openings 17 of the third component 11. Each dispensing well 19 comprises an upper opening 20 for introducing the liquid and a lower opening 21 for dispensing the liquid, in particular in form of droplets. The lower opening 21 of the wells 19 is shown in figure 4B.

Figure 5 shows a part of a dispensing device 26 for dispensing the liquid located in the well 19 that is arranged in the through hole 2 of the apparatus 1. The dispensing device 26 comprises a dispensing head 32. The dispensing head 32 is configured to dispense the liquid located in the well 19. Thereto the dispensing head 32 a pneumatic system (not shown in the figure) by means of which at least one well 19 or several wells 19 can be provided with an impulse pressure that causes the liquid to drop from the lower opening 21 of the respective well 19.

Also, the device 26 comprises a, in particular stationary, holder 34 (Figures 6A and 6B), in which the apparatus 1 or the system 18 is mounted in a detachable manner and the dispensing head 32 is moveable relative to the holder 34 by means of a motor system (not shown in the figure). In particular, the dispensing head 32 can be moved relative to the system 18 so that the liquid of different wells 19 can be dispensed in sequence. In order to avoid an overheating of the components inside the dispensing head 32, at least a cooling fan (not shown in the figure) is located in a housing 33 of the dispensing head 32. Advantageously, a lateral surface of the housing 33 is provided with a grid 29. Figure 7 shows a flow chart describing a method 100 for operating the dispensing device 26. In a first step S101, the apparatus is cooled or heated by placing the apparatus 1 in a corresponding cooling system or heating system. For example, a user can place the apparatus 1 in a refrigerator or in an oven. At step S102, the apparatus 1 is extracted from the cooling system or heating system, for example when the apparatus 1 has reached a predefined temperature. At step S103 a well 19 is or a plurality of dispensing wells 19 are inserted in the through-hole 2 or in the plurality of through-holes 2 of the apparatus 1. The insertion of the well 19 into the through hole 2 or of the wells 19 into the through holes 2 can occur before the apparatus 1 is inserted into the cooling system or heating system. At step S104, a dispensing operation is performed by means of the dispensing device 26. The liquid present in the wells 19 is cooled or heated by means of the substance 35 present in the chamber 3.

Reference Signs

1 apparatus

2 through-hole

3 chamber

4 external edge of the first component

5 internal surface

6 surrounding wall

7 recessed portion

8 isolation chamber

10 first component

11 third component

12 second component

13 lateral isolation chamber

14 bottom isolation chamber

15 internal elevated edge of the first component

16 opening of second component

17 opening of third component

18 system

19 well

20 upper opening

21 lower opening

22 upper rim

23 tapered portion

24 top surface

25 bottom surface

26 dispensing device

27 upper edge of the third component

29 grid

30 external edge of the second component

31 internal elevated edge of the second component

32 dispensing head

33 housing

34 stationary holder

35 substance

100 method L Longitudinal direction

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. System (18) for a dispensing device (26) for dispensing a liquid, the system (28) comprising an apparatus (1) comprising at least a through-hole (2) for receiving a well (19), a first component (10) and a second component (12) that are connected with each other to form a chamber (3) that surrounds at least a portion of the through-hole (2), wherein a substance (35) for cooling and/or heating the liquid located in the well (19) is arranged in the chamber (3) and at least one well (19) for receiving the liquid, wherein the well (19) is arranged in the through-hole (2) of the apparatus (1) and comprises an upper opening (20) for introducing the liquid and a lower opening (21) for dispensing the liquid, in particular in form of droplets.

2. System (18) according to claim 1, characterized in that a. the substance (35) is a non-gaseous substance (35) and/or in that b. the substance (35) comprises a plurality of solid particles and/or in that and/or in that c. the substance (35) is a gel substance (35) or a liquid substance (35) and/or in that d. the substance (35) has a higher thermal conductivity and/or a higher heat capacity than the first component (10) and/or the second component (12).

3. System (18) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises a third component (11) wherein a. the first component (10), the second component (12) and the third component (11) are fixed together, in particular to form a closed structure, and/or in that b. in a plane extending along a longitudinal direction (L) of the through hole (2) the second component (12) is arranged between the first component (10) and the third component (11).

4. System (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first component (10) comprises a protruding wall (6) surrounding at least a part of the through hole (2) or several through holes (2).

5. System (18) according to claim 4, characterized in that an end of the wall (6) is in contact with the second component (12).

6. System (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second component (12) and/or the third component (11) comprise an opening (16, 17) that is part of the through hole (2).

7. System (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second component (12) has a recessed portion (7) that a. extends along a longitudinal direction (L) of the through-hole (2) away from the first component (10) and/or in that b. the wall (6) is in contact with the recessed portion (7).

8. System (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises at least one isolation chamber (13, 14) comprising an isolation substance that differs from the substance (35).

9. System (18) according to claim 8, characterized in that a. the apparatus (1) comprises a lateral isolation chamber (13) that is defined by the first component (10), the second component (12) and the third component (11) or in that b. the apparatus (1) comprises a lateral isolation chamber (13) that is defined by the first component (10), the second component (12) and the third component (11) wherein the lateral isolation chamber (13) extends in circumferential direction of the apparatus (1).

10. System (18) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a. the apparatus (1) comprises a bottom isolation chamber (14) that is defined by the third component (11) and the second component (12) or in that b. the apparatus (1) comprises a bottom isolation chamber (14) that is defined by the third component (11) and the second component (12) wherein the bottom isolation chamber (14) extends on a lower end of the apparatus (1).

11. System (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a. the through-hole (2) has a cylindrical shape and/or in that b. the apparatus (1) comprises a set of eight through-holes (2), arranged in two consecutive rows of four through-holes (2).

12. System (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 11 , characterized in that the well (19) comprises an upper rim (22) at one end and/or a tapered portion (23) at the other end, wherein when the dispensing well (19) is inserted into the through-hole (2), the upper rim (22) leans against a top surface (24) of the apparatus (1).

13. System (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a part of the well (19), in particular a tapered portion (23) comprising the lower opening (21) of the well (19), protrudes from a bottom surface (25) of the apparatus (1), in particular of the third component (11).

14. System (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the well (19) is configured such that in a non-dispensing condition the liquid contained therein is prevented from dropping through the lower opening (21).

15. System (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the lower opening (21) has a diameter between 60pm and 200pm.

16. Dispensing device (26) comprising a, in particular stationary, holder (34) for receiving a system (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 15.

17. Dispensing device (26) according to claim 16, characterized in that the dispensing device (26) comprises a dispensing head (36) for dispensing liquid located in the well (19), wherein the dispensing head (36) is moveable relative to the holder (34) and/or to the apparatus (1) and/or system (18).

18. Dispensing device (26) according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the apparatus (18) is configured that the substance (35) cools and/or heats the well (19), in particular the liquid located in the well (19), when the dispensing device (26) performs a dispensing operation.

19. Method (100) for operating the dispensing device (26) according to one of the claims 16 to 18, the method (100) comprising the steps: cooling or heating (S101) the apparatus (1) by placing the apparatus (1) in a cooling system or heating system; extracting (S102) the apparatus (1) from the cooling system or heating system, in particular once the apparatus (1) has reached a predefined temperature; inserting (S103) a well (19) in the through-hole (2) of the apparatus (1); and performing a dispensing operation (S104) by means of the dispensing device (26) for dispensing liquid located in the well (19).

20. Use of an apparatus (1) comprising at least a through-hole (2) for receiving a well (19), a first component (10) and a second component (12) that are connected with each other to form a chamber (3) that surrounds at least a portion of the through-hole (2), wherein a substance (35) for cooling and/or heating the liquid located in the well (19) is arranged in the chamber (3) in a dispensing device according to one of the claims 17 to 19 or of a system (18) according to one of the claims 1 to 14 in a dispensing device according to one of the claims 16 to 18.