A mesh element for an atomiser assembly is provided, including: a first layer defining at least one channel including a minimum cross-sectional area; and a second layer overlying the first layer and defining at least one nozzle including a maximum cross-sectional area, the second layer including an inner surface facing the first layer and an outer surface facing away from the first layer, the at least one nozzle overlying the at least one channel, and the maximum cross-sectional area of the at least one nozzle being smaller than the minimum cross-sectional area of the at least one channel, and the outer surface of the second layer defining an annular portion extending around the at least one nozzle, the annular portion having a semi-circular cross-sectional shape, and a thickness of the second layer at each annular portion being larger than a thickness of the second layer between adjacent annular portions.

The present teachings relate to various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system that can be readily transportable and assemblable and provide for maintaining a minimum inert gas volume and maximal access to various devices and apparatuses enclosed therein. Various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system of the present teachings can have a gas enclosure assembly constructed in a fashion that minimizes the internal volume of a gas enclosure assembly, and at the same time optimizes the working space to accommodate a variety of footprints of various OLED printing systems. Various embodiments of a gas enclosure assembly so constructed additionally provide ready access to the interior of a gas enclosure assembly from the exterior during processing and readily access to the interior for maintenance, while minimizing downtime.

The present teachings relate to various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system that can be readily transportable and assemblable and provide for maintaining a minimum inert gas volume and maximal access to various devices and apparatuses enclosed therein. Various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system of the present teachings can have a gas enclosure assembly constructed in a fashion that minimizes the internal volume of a gas enclosure assembly, and at the same time optimizes the working space to accommodate a variety of footprints of various OLED printing systems. Various embodiments of a gas enclosure assembly so constructed additionally provide ready access to the interior of a gas enclosure assembly from the exterior during processing and readily access to the interior for maintenance, while minimizing downtime.

An aperture plate is manufactured by plating metal around a mask of resist columns having a desired size, pitch, and profile, which yields a wafer about 60 m thickness. This is approximately the full desired target aperture plate thickness. The plating is continued so that the metal overlies the top surfaces of the columns until the desired apertures are achieved. This needs only one masking/plating cycle to achieve the desired plate thickness. Also, the plate has passageways formed beneath the apertures, formed as an integral part of the method, by mask material removal. These are suitable for entrainment of aerosolized droplets exiting the apertures.

A derivatization apparatus and method for coating a sample carrier with a reagent solution. The derivatization apparatus consists of a closed system in which a small quantity of reagent solution is sprayed into a closed container via a spray nozzle. A sample carrier is located in the closed container and is coated as homogeneously as possible with the reagent solution.

A control unit for controlling the operation of a nebulizer is provided that is configured to measure the impedance of an actuator in the nebulizer and to determine whether a nebulizing element in the nebulizer is positioned correctly with respect to the actuator on the basis of the measured impedance. Also provided is a nebulizer comprising a reservoir chamber for storing a liquid to be nebulized, an actuator for vibrating liquid stored in the reservoir chamber, and a control unit as described above.

The present teachings relate to various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system that can be readily transportable and assemblable and provide for maintaining a minimum inert gas volume and maximal access to various devices and apparatuses enclosed therein. Various embodiments of an hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system of the present teachings can have a gas enclosure assembly constructed in a fashion that minimizes the internal volume of a gas enclosure assembly, and at the same time optimizes the working space to accommodate a variety of footprints of various OLED printing systems. Various embodiments of a gas enclosure assembly so constructed additionally provide ready access to the interior of a gas enclosure assembly from the exterior during processing and readily access to the interior for maintenance, while minimizing downtime.

The present teachings relate to various embodiments of a hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system that can be readily transportable and assemblable and provide for maintaining a minimum inert gas volume and maximal access to various devices and apparatuses enclosed therein. Various embodiments of a hermetically-sealed gas enclosure assembly and system of the present teachings can have a gas enclosure assembly constructed in a fashion that minimizes the internal volume of a gas enclosure assembly, and at the same time optimizes the working space to accommodate a variety of footprints of various OLED printing systems. Various embodiments of a gas enclosure assembly so constructed additionally provide ready access to the interior of a gas enclosure assembly from the exterior during processing and readily access to the interior for maintenance, while minimizing downtime.

An atomiser assembly is provided, including: an oscillation chamber having a cavity containing a liquid to be atomized, a liquid inlet configured to provide a supply of the liquid to be atomized to the cavity, an elastically deformable element, and a mesh element comprising a plurality of nozzles; and an actuator configured to oscillate the elastically deformable element, the oscillation chamber and the liquid being contained in the cavity of the oscillation chamber form an oscillation system, in which oscillation of the elastically deformable element by the actuator varies pressure inside the cavity, and the actuator being further configured to oscillate the elastically deformable element at a resonant frequency of the oscillation system to eject liquid contained in the cavity from the cavity through the plurality of nozzles of the mesh element. An aerosol-generating system, an aerosol-generating device, and a method of operating an atomiser assembly are also provided.

An aperture plate is manufactured by plating metal around a mask of resist columns having a desired size, pitch, and profile, which yields a wafer about 60 m thickness. This is approximately the full desired target aperture plate thickness. The plating is continued so that the metal overlies the top surfaces of the columns until the desired apertures are achieved. This needs only one masking/plating cycle to achieve the desired plate thickness. Also, the plate has passageways formed beneath the apertures, formed as an integral part of the method, by mask material removal. These are suitable for entrainment of aerosolized droplets exiting the apertures.