Patent ID: 6875404
Filing Date: 2005-04-05
Classification: B01J,B01L,C12Q,C40B,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A micropipette for dispensing at least one solution comprising: at least one substrate; at least one inlet port through which at least one solution is delivered from the outside, formed in or on said at least one substrate; at least one cavity into which said at least one solution is poured, each said cavity having a plane passing through a center thereof when viewed in the depth direction, and each said cavity having a width of about 0.1 to 1 mm and a depth of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm; an introduction hole between each said inlet port and each said cavity at a position at or below said plane; an injection port for expelling said at least one solution formed in communication with each said cavity; a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element provided on at least one wall of said substrate adjacent each said cavity; a mechanism enabling providing a replacement solution in a first portion of each said cavity proximate said injection port and a sample solution in a second portion of each said cavity proximate said inlet port; wherein the volume of each said cavity is changed by driving each respective said piezoelectric/electrostrictive element and said replacement solution and said sample solution are sequentially expelled from each respective said injection port; and wherein said width and depth of each said cavity are selected to reduce mixing of said replacement solution and said sample solution within each said cavity.