Patent ID: 7901633

Claim:
A quantitative cell dispensing apparatus using liquid droplet manipulation, the apparatus comprising: a hydrophilic suspension containing a plurality of cells and an electrolyte; a liquid droplet manipulation unit configured to manipulate a plurality of liquid droplets of the hydrophilic suspension, the liquid droplet manipulation unit comprising: a lower substrate; a transparent upper substrate; a predetermined space disposed between the lower substrate and the transparent upper substrate, and containing the hydrophilic suspension; an electrode array on the lower substrate and including a plurality of electrode pads electrically isolated from each other and on which the liquid droplets are manipulated; an inlet through which the hydrophilic suspension is supplied; and at least one liquid droplet outlet portion configured to discharge the manipulated liquid droplets; a dispensing unit configured to discharge a liquid droplet of the plurality of liquid droplets received from the liquid droplet outlet portion to an outside of the dispensing unit; a sensing unit configured to optically sense the liquid droplets distributed on the electrode array of the liquid droplet manipulation unit; and a control unit configured to analyze a number of cells contained in each of the plurality of liquid droplets using a signal detected by the sensing unit and to control the liquid droplet manipulation unit to provide liquid droplets containing a predetermined number of cells to the liquid droplet outlet portion through dividing, transferring, and merging the liquid droplets; and an open type voltage applying device configured to apply a first predetermined voltage to allow liquid droplets containing a cell to be discharged to the outside of the dispensing unit by Coulomb force.