A METHOD FOR DISPENSING OR ASPIRATING A VOLUME OF LIQUID USING A MAGNETIC VALVE AND AS WELL AS A CORRESPONDING DISPENSER/PIPETTING APPARATUS

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for dispensing and/or aspirating a volume of liquid (8), in particular employing a method for controlling a magnetic valve (3). The method for dispensing or aspirating a volume of liquid (8) comprises controlling a flow of a system fluid (9) by means of a magnetic valve (3) located between a pressure source (1+, 1-) and a dispenser or pipetting tip (6), and dispensing or aspirating the volume of liquid (8) through an exterior opening (7) of the tip (6) dependent on the flow of the system fluid (9). Controlling the flow comprises determining a flow time in dependence of the volume of liquid (8) to be dispensed or aspirated, and controlling the magnetic valve (3) comprising a solenoid coil (13) and a mobile anchor forming a plunger (14), wherein the plunger (14) is moveable between a closed position (Pc) and an open position (Po), whereby the magnetic valve (3) is held open for the duration of the flow time. Controlling the magnetic valve (3) comprises measuring a capacitance at/of the magnetic valve (3) and determining a position (P) of a plunger (14) based on the measured capacitance. Furthermore, a corresponding dispenser/pipetting apparatus is provided.