Patent ID: 7988916

Claim:
An apparatus for performing at least one of the operations of measuring, mixing, and analyzing a range of small volumes of fluids to a high degree of precision, said apparatus comprising: a single reaction chamber having a base; a reciprocatable piston in said chamber, an internal volume of said chamber extending between said piston and said base, said chamber having an internal surface; a first inlet to said chamber in communication with a first fluid source via a first valve from which a first fluid portion is adapted to be drawn into said chamber; a second inlet to said chamber in communication with a second fluid source via a second valve from which a second fluid portion is adapted to be drawn into said chamber; a sealable outlet, and a controller operatively connected to the piston, the first valve, and the second valve; wherein said piston is operable within said chamber to move between a starting position, a predetermined first position, and a predetermined second position to selectively and precisely vary the internal volume, said internal volume including a minimal volume in which said piston abuts said base at the starting position; wherein at the starting position the bottom surface of the piston is in direct contact with the base of the chamber; wherein movement of the piston to the first position permits flow of a predetermined volume of the first fluid portion through the first valve and into the chamber; wherein movement of the piston to the second position permits flow of a predetermined volume of the second fluid portion through the second valve and into the chamber; wherein; said piston is adapted to return to said starting position to eject all fluid contents in said chamber through said outlet; and wherein said outlet is sealed by an outlet valve located in said base adjacent the internal surface.