International Business Machines Corporation

Julien Autebert

Emmanuel Delamarche

Govind V Kaigala

Xander Frank Van Kooten

Aditya Kashyap

Julien Cors

Microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers. The microfluidic probe head includes: an inlet, an outlet, a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel and a fluid bypass connecting the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. The first fluid channel delivers the sequence of separate liquid volumes from the inlet toward a deposition area, the fluid bypass allows the spacers to be removed from the first fluid channel obtaining a free sequence of separate liquid volumes without spacers, the first fluid channel delivers the free sequence of separate liquid volumes to the deposition area, and the second fluid channel delivers the removed spacers from the fluid bypass to the outlet. The present invention also provides a microfluidic probe and method for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes.

Microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of liquid volumes separated by spacers

A microfluidic probe head for providing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers, the separate liquid volumes including a respective target substance associated with a respective target area, the microfluidic probe head including an inlet and an outlet; a first fluid channel fluidly connected to the inlet, the first fluid channel configured for delivering an injection liquid from the inlet to a respective target area; a second fluid channel fluidly connected to the outlet, the second fluid channel configured for delivering liquid volumes from the respective target area to the outlet; and a spacer insertion unit fluidly connected to the second fluid channel, the spacer insertion unit configured for inserting spacers into the second fluid channel between the liquid volumes to provide the sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers.

Microfluidic probe head for providing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers

A microfluidic probe is disclosed. The microfluidic probe includes a probe head, a liquid spacer supply and a spacer modulation unit. The probe head may include a processing liquid channel in fluid communication with a processing liquid aperture provided on a face of the probe head. The probe head is configured to transport, circulate, recirculate, or move some processing liquid in (or via) the processing liquid channel toward and/or from the processing liquid aperture. The spacer supply is fluidly connected, via a spacer insertion junction, to the processing liquid channel. The spacer supply is configured for inserting liquid spacers into the processing liquid channel, via the spacer insertion junction. Liquid volumes can be obtained, which are separated by inserted liquid spacers. The spacer modulation unit is configured to control the spacer supply, to modulate the insertion of spacers via the spacer supply. Related devices and methods of operation are disclosed.

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Kilchberg, Switzerland

Julien Autebert