Patent ID: 7779685
Filing Date: 2010-08-24
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for transporting fluid to a sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface in a horizontal orientation, comprising: a support structure having an upper surface bounded by a periphery and supporting the sheet, wherein the upper surface of the support structure contacts no more than 10% of the lower surface of the sheet within the periphery; a means for immobilizing the sheet on support structure; a container holding a fluid; a conduit having a fluid-conveying lumen that extends from the container to a terminal opening facing the lower surface of the sheet; and a porous medium in fluid communication with the fluid-conveying lumen and in contact with the lower surface of the sheet, the medium having wetting properties effective to allow the medium to wick fluid from the lumen against gravity via capillary action and to allow the sheet to absorb the fluid from the medium.