detection and control system for the filling level in devices for the motion of drops of a biological fluid

摘要

A level control mechanism is provided for a biofluid drop ejection device which ejects biofluid drops in small volumes. The biofluid drop device includes a drop ejection mechanism having a transducer (16) which generates energy used to emit the biofluid drops. A reagent cartridge (12) or biofluid holding area holds a biofluid, isolated from the drop ejection mechanism to avoid contamination between the biofluid drop ejection mechanism and the reagent cartridge. The reagent cartridge is connected to the drop ejection mechanism such that upon operation of the mechanism, the biofluid is emitted in controlled biofluid drops. A level sensor is positioned to sense a height of the biofluid within the cartridge. Upon sensing the height of the biofluid below a certain level, an adjustment is made to the height by providing at least one of additional biofluid to the cartridge, and raising the level of the entire reagent cartridge. IMAGE