A tunable and highly-parallel picoliter-dispenser based on direct liquid displacement

We present a new method for the highly parallel and simultaneous delivery of a multitude of reagents in the picoliter range. This method is based on direct displacement of the liquids using an elastomer stamp which simultaneously actuates up to 96 different dosing channels, at a pitch of 500 /spl mu/m. We were able to tune droplet volume from 150-720 pl and droplet speed from 0,2m/s-2,8m/s using printheads with 50 /spl mu/m nozzles. In contrast to all other inkjet techniques the new direct displacement method enables the precise control of dispensing quantity in the picoliter range regardless of reagent viscosity.