Patent ID: 6852291

Claim:
A hydraulic hybrid valve system to enable transfer of a liquid sample slug from a reservoir to a test site on a substrate surface comprising: a valve assembly movable between an aspiration condition and a dispensing condition; a communication structure having a dispensing orifice; an aspiration actuator; a dispensing actuator; and a distribution manifold device providing a liquid aspiration conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first aspiration port for liquid communication with the aspiration actuator, and a second aspiration port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively aspirate a liquid sample slug from the reservoir through said dispensing orifice of said communication structure defining a discrete sample path containing said driving liquid and extending from the dispensing orifice and through at least a portion of said manifold device for liquid communication with said valve assembly, when the valve assembly is in the aspiration condition, said manifold device further providing a liquid dispensing conduit containing a driving liquid and having a first dispensing port for liquid communication with the dispensing actuator, and a second dispensing port in selective liquid communication with the valve assembly to selectively dispense at least one droplet of the liquid sample slug from said dispensing orifice of said communication structure when the valve assembly is in the dispensing condition, wherein, in the aspiration condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the dispensing actuator and, in the dispensing condition, said sample path is out of liquid communication with the aspiration actuator.