The invention relates to a method for dispensing a liquid sample by means of a dispensing apparatus in which it is determined whether a particle condition is satisfied, wherein the determination comprises checking whether at least one target particle present in a liquid of the liquid sample is contained in a monitoring region of the dispensing apparatus, wherein the monitoring region comprises a discharge region and a buffer region, wherein the buffer region is a region from which the at least one target particle is movable into the discharge region during a time delay between the determination of whether the particle condition is satisfied and an output operation of the dispensing apparatus. The method is characterised in that it is determined that the particle condition is satisfied when the at least one target particle is arranged in the buffer region and no target particle is arranged in the discharge region, and that the liquid sample is dispensed onto a target particle carrier if the particle condition is satisfied.

A droplet collection unit of an embodiment includes a generator and processing circuitry. The generator produces droplets each containing a microorganism and a substrate that reacts with an enzyme derived from the microorganism. The processing circuitry detects a reaction between the enzyme and the substrate in each droplet. The processing circuitry sorts the droplets on the basis of a detection result of the reaction.

Systems and methods for positive dispense verification are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system has a plurality of light emitters. The light from the emitters is directed toward a plurality of light detectors across a proximately horizontal plane. The liquid dispense device is positioned above the horizontal plane of light emission from the plurality of light emitters to the plurality of light detectors such that the dispensed liquid will travel through the horizontal plane defined by the emitted light and onto the container being inoculated. Each of the plurality of detectors is coupled to an amplifier. The amplifier generates a signal in response to an interrupt in the transmission of light from the light emitters to the light detectors when the light path is disrupted by the dispense of liquid confirming the liquid was dispensed onto the container.

Systems and methods for positive dispense verification. In one aspect, a system has a plurality of light emitters. The light from the emitters is directed toward a plurality of light detectors across a proximately horizontal plane. The liquid dispense device is positioned above the horizontal plane of light emission from the plurality of light emitters to the plurality of light detectors such that the dispensed liquid will travel through the horizontal plane defined by the emitted light and onto the container being inoculated. Each of the plurality of detectors is coupled to an amplifier. The amplifier generates a signal in response to an interrupt in the transmission of light from the light emitters to the light detectors when the light path is disrupted by the dispense of liquid confirming the liquid was dispensed onto the container.

The present invention discloses a method for preparing a micro-channel array plate, comprising the steps of : (1) arranging a first optical fiber glass rod and a second optical fiber glass rod closely, melting the two glass rods into a whole at a high temperature to obtain a melted glass rod, drawing the melted glass rod at least one time into a longer and thinner glass rod than the melted glass rod, and cutting the drawn glass rod into small pieces to obtain a micro-channel array plate blank, wherein the corrosion resistance of the first optical fiber glass rod and the second optical fiber glass rod to the same corrosive liquid is different; (2) corroding the micro-channel array plate blank by a corrosive liquid to obtain a micro-channel array plate crude product with through holes; and (3) conducting hydrophobic treatment on the micro-channel array plate crude product to obtain the micro-channel array plate.

The invention provides methods for assessing one or more predetermined characteristics or properties of a microfluidic droplet within a microfluidic channel, and regulating one or more fluid flow rates within that channel to selectively alter the predetermined microdroplet characteristic or property using a feedback control.

The present disclosure teaches an apparatus and a method for providing one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network (30). The microfluidic apparatus includes valves for switching the one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network (30). The apparatus can be used to generate a sequence of the one or more substance liquids as individual droplets in an immiscible separation liquid wherein individual ones of the sequence of droplets are located between the separation liquid.

The present disclosure teaches an apparatus and a method for providing one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network. The microfluidic apparatus includes valves for switching the one or more substance liquids to a microfluidic channel network. The apparatus can be used to generate a sequence of the one or more substance liquids as individual droplets in an immiscible separation liquid wherein individual ones of the sequence of droplets are located between the separation liquid.

In one example in accordance with the present disclosure, a particle dispensing system is described. The particle dispensing system includes a port to receive a number of fluid cartridges. Each fluid cartridge is to hold an amount of fluid to be ejected. The particle dispensing system also includes an optical verification system to determine, following ejection, a count of a number of particles ejected during an ejection event. The particle dispensing system also includes a controller to selectively activate a number of fluid ejectors to eject the amount of fluid.

The invention provides methods for assessing one or more predetermined characteristics or properties of a microfluidic droplet within a microfluidic channel, and regulating one or more fluid flow rates within that channel to selectively alter the predetermined microdroplet characteristic or property using a feedback control.