The invention features methods of making devices, or platens, having a high-density array of through-holes, as well as methods of cleaning and refurbishing the surfaces of the platens. The invention further features methods of making high-density arrays of chemical, biochemical, and biological compounds, having many advantages over conventional, lower-density arrays. The invention includes methods by which many physical, chemical or biological transformations can be implemented in serial or in parallel within each addressable through-hole of the devices. Additionally, the invention includes methods of analyzing the contents of the array, including assaying of physical properties of the samples.

A method of registering a location of a dispenser array in relation to a microfluidic array is provided. One of the dispenser array and the microfluidic array can be movable in relation to the frame, and the other can be fixed relative to the frame. Their relative positions can be identified by a set of coordinates. Identification of a fiducial marker can occur in a manner permitting the fiducial reference to appear in a first position of a field of view of a first camera when the dispenser array or the microfluidic array is in an alignment position. Quantities related to a vector displacement from the alignment position to a fixed position on the microfluidic array or the dispenser array can be identified. Quantities determined can be used to guide positioning of the dispenser array relative to the microfluidic array.

The objective of this disclosure is to provide a dispensing apparatus that is capable of precisely dispense micro volume liquid samples without physically damaging the nozzle tip or the liquid containers. An example of the present disclosure images a droplet of a liquid sample, and dispenses the liquid sample using an image of the droplet.

An interface is provided for storing microfluidic samples in a nanoliter sample chip. A fluid access structure provides a fluid access region to a selected subset of sample wells from an array of sample wells. A fluid introduction mechanism introduces a sample fluid to the fluid access region so that the sample wells in the selected subset are populated with the sample fluid without the unselected sample wells being populated with the sample fluid.

A picking instrument for picking biological samples, such as microbial samples, includes a picking pin having a distal tip and three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions. The picking instrument also includes a loading platform comprising a first area and a second area, the first area configured to accommodate and secure a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells. The picking pin is programmatically controlled to pick a sample contained in one or more selected microwells of the microfabricated chip and then transfer the sample to a predetermined location at the destination sample holder. Methods of operating the picking instrument, including calibrating the coordinates of the selected microwell(s) relative to a location of the picking pin, are also provided.

Provided herein is generally tubular container, preferably including a plurality of reservoirs defined therein. The container can be adapted for acoustic ejection of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs. Alternatively, the container can be adapted for extraction of a fluid disposed within at least one of the reservoirs of the plurality of reservoirs using a non-acoustic liquid handling method.

The invention features methods of making devices, or platens, having a high-density array of through-holes, as well as methods of cleaning and refurbishing the surfaces of the platens. The invention further features methods of making high-density arrays of chemical, biochemical, and biological compounds, having many advantages over conventional, lower-density arrays. The invention includes methods by which many physical, chemical or biological transformations can be implemented in serial or in parallel within each addressable through-hole of the devices. Additionally, the invention includes methods of analyzing the contents of the array, including assaying of physical properties of the samples.

A method of registering a location of a dispenser array in relation to a microfluidic array is provided. One of the dispenser array and the microfluidic array can be movable in relation to the frame, and the other can be fixed relative to the frame. Their relative positions can be identified by a set of coordinates. Identification of a fiducial marker can occur in a manner permitting the fiducial reference to appear in a first position of a field of view of a first camera when the dispenser array or the microfluidic array is in an alignment position. Quantities related to a vector displacement from the alignment position to a fixed position on the microfluidic array or the dispenser array can be identified. Quantities determined can be used to guide positioning of the dispenser array relative to the microfluidic array.

A picking instrument for picking biological samples, such as microbial samples, includes a picking pin having a distal tip and three degrees-of-freedom and configured to move in x, y, and z directions. The picking instrument also includes a loading platform comprising a first area and a second area, the first area configured to accommodate and secure a microfabricated chip including a plurality of microwells. The picking pin is programmatically controlled to pick a sample contained in one or more selected microwells of the microfabricated chip and then transfer the sample to a predetermined location at the destination sample holder. Methods of operating the picking instrument, including calibrating the coordinates of the selected microwell(s) relative to a location of the picking pin, are also provided.

A method of screening for at least one biological entity of interest using a microfabricated device which has a top surface defining an array of microwells. A sample is loaded onto the microfabricated device such that at least one microwell of the array of microwells includes at least one cell and an amount of a nutrient. A membrane is applied to the microfabricated device to retain the at least one cell and the nutrient. Without furnishing additional nutrient to the microwells, the microfabricated device is incubated to grow a plurality of cells from the at least one cell in the at least one microwell of the array of microwells. The plurality of cells is then analyzed to determine a presence or absence of a biological entity of interest.