A Device for Fast and Convenient Assessment of Micro-volume Liquid Dispensing Performance

This technology is a device designed to enable rapid, consistent, and standardized assessment of micro-volume liquid dispensing performance across manual, automated, and robotic workflows. The device provides a controlled and reproducible surface for droplet deposition, incorporating defined features and optional calibration elements that allows for structured evaluation of dispensed droplets. The device enables reliable evaluation of dispensing accuracy, precision, and uniformity across users and systems. The device is compatible with manual pipetting, automatic pipetting, multichannel dispensing, and high-throughput automated or robotic liquid-handling platforms, supporting both individual assessments and large-scale, programmable workflows. It can be used as a standalone tool for rapid visual inspection or integrated with image-based analytical platforms to generate quantitative performance metrics, making it suitable for both routine laboratory uses and automated quality control environments.

Background: 
Current methods for evaluating liquid dispensing performance (including gravimetric measurement, assay-based evaluation, and subjective observation) are often resource-intensive, labor-intensive, difficult to scale, or impractical for frequent use, particularly for small liquid volumes at micro liter (μL) levels. A need exists for a low-cost, easy-to-use solution that enables routine, repeatable, scalable, and standardized assessment of liquid dispensing performance across both manual, automatic, and machinery/robotic-operated systems. This device addresses that need by providing a structured, reproducible, and scalable assessment for droplet deposition, facilitating more consistent evaluation and comparison of liquid dispensing performance across different users, systems, and sites.

Applications: 

• Standardized physical interface for converting liquid dispensing events into reproducible, comparable outcomes across workflows
• Standardized droplet deposition interface for controlled and reproducible liquid handling workflows
• On-deck quality control module for integration with automated and robotic liquid-handling systems
• Scalable performance validation and screening in automated and robotic dispensing workflows
• Physical reference platform for calibration, benchmarking, and cross-system performance comparison
• Workflow integration into laboratory automation pipelines, QC, and method development processes
• Rapid, on-bench verification during assay setup, protocol optimization, and troubleshooting
• Training and operator performance assessment across research, clinical, industrial, and educational laboratory settings
• Interface for coupling with imaging systems and downstream analytical platforms
• Standardized data generation for integration with digital laboratory and quality management systems

Advantages: 

• Enables rapid, on-demand, and convenient assessment of liquid dispensing performance
• Provides a standardized format for reproducible droplet evaluation across workflows
• Compatible across manual, automated, and robotic liquid handling systems
• Establishes a consistent platform for calibration, benchmarking, and cross-system comparison
• Supports both immediate visual inspection and integration with image-based analytical workflows
• Reduces dependence on gravimetric or assay-based calibration approaches for routine evaluation
• Scalable for high-throughput quality control and performance monitoring in automated environments
• Low-cost and scalable for routine laboratory and high-throughput use
• Designed as a low-cost, practical solution for routine and repeated laboratory use