Method of liquid droplet formation and transport apparatus therefor and particle manipulating apparatus
US8029744B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2035/1046
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for efficiently transporting or dispensing transport objects including not only particles but also liquid samples. A liquid in a first liquid transport pipe (3) is fed at a liquid feed velocity (V1), and a liquid droplet is formed toward an open end of a second liquid transport pipe (4) disposed with an air gap (11) in between. The particle is released into the liquid droplet, so that the particle is enclosed in the liquid droplet. Suction with a liquid feed velocity (V2) is applied to the inside of the second liquid transport pipe. Since the relationship between V1 and V2 is V1<V2, the liquid droplet, after reaching the open end (10) of the second liquid transport pipe, is sheared off by suction, thereby forming a liquid section in the second liquid transport pipe. Thus, the particle in the liquid section, held under surface tension on a gas-liquid phase boundary, can be transported into a particle array container with stability in conjunction with the liquid section.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.