Patent ID: 8465707

Claim:
A sample handling system comprising: a sample-liquid input; an encapsulating-liquid input; a carrier-liquid conduit comprising a stabilisation feature; a liquid-handling system; and a controller operably connected to the liquid-handling system; wherein the controller is programmed to cause the liquid-handling system to: (1) draw an encapsulating liquid from the encapsulating-liquid input; (2) discharge the drawn encapsulating liquid (a) onto a free surface of a carrier liquid in the carrier-liquid conduit and (b) proximate to the stabilisation feature, the encapsulating liquid being immiscible with the carrier liquid, so that the discharged encapsulating liquid does not mix with the carrier liquid, floats on top of the carrier liquid, and is immobilised by the stabilisation feature; (3) draw a sample liquid from the sample-liquid input; and (4) discharge the drawn sample liquid, the sample liquid being immiscible with the encapsulating liquid and with the carrier liquid, so that the sample liquid does not mix with the encapsulating liquid or with the carrier liquid.