WO2021071490A1

WO2021071490A1 - Dispense cassettes for microfluidic dispensers

Info

Publication number: WO2021071490A1
Application number: PCT/US2019/055540
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vignesh KANNAN
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Current assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Priority date: 2019-10-10
Filing date: 2019-10-10
Publication date: 2021-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2022-04-10

Abstract

A dispense cassette can include a tab with a raised feature on a body of the dispense cassette. The dispense cassette can also include a microfluidic dispense head. The dispense cassette can further include an electrical trace line routed over the raised feature of the tab that electrically connects the tab at the raised feature to the microfluidic dispense head.

Description

DISPENSE CASSETTES FOR MICROFLUIDIC DISPENSERS

BACKGROUND

[0001 ] Microfluidic dispensing systems have applicability within a wide range of industries, including pharmaceutical, life science research, medical, printing, electronics manufacturing, and other industries. Manual fluid dispensing systems such as pipettes are increasingly being replaced by automated pipetting or microfluidic dispensing systems that can provide a high degree of accuracy and repeatability with improved dispense throughput. Industries can employ such automated, precision microfluidic dispensing systems for a variety of purposes, including for the preparation of biological and pharmaceutical assays, the delivery of fluid ink drops to various print media, the dispensing of adhesive materials in an accurate and repeatable manner, and so on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1 illustrates an example microfluidic dispensing system in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0003] FIG. 2 illustrates an example dispense cassette of a microfluidic dispensing system in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0004] FIG. 3 illustrates an example dispense cassette that includes a raised tab feature with an electrical trace in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0005] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a raised tab feature in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0006] FIG. 5 illustrates an example dispense cassette having a raised tab feature in accordance with the present disclosure; [0007] FIG. 6 illustrates an example receiving station having a cut-out for a dispense cassette in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 7 illustrates an example first dispense cassette having a first function and an example second dispense cassette having a second function in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 8 illustrates an example first dispense cassette for a first microfluidic dispenser and an example second dispense cassette for a second microfluidic dispenser in accordance with the present disclosure; and

[0010] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method of making a microfluidic dispenser in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The present disclosure is drawn to a device, system, and a method related to an example dispense cassette for a microfluidic dispensing system. The dispense cassette in this example includes a tab with a raised feature on a body of the dispense cassette, a microfluidic dispense head, an electrical trace line routed over the tab that electrically connects the tab at the raised feature to the microfluidic dispense head. In one example, the tab can be at a selected location depending on a product family associated with the dispense cassette, wherein the product family is associated with a set of functions. In another example, the electrical trace line can include an embedded electrical trace that is embedded onto a surface of the dispense cassette using a laser direct structuring (LDS) process. In one example, the tab that includes the raised feature can be an electro-mechanical key for the dispense cassette.

[0012] In another example, a microfluidic dispensing system includes a receiving station that includes a cut-out at a receiving location, and a dispense cassette to be received by the cut-out. The dispense cassette in this example includes a tab with a raised feature on a body of the dispense cassette, wherein the raised feature of the tab is at a selected location of the dispense cassette corresponding with the cut-out. The dispense cassette also includes a microfluidic dispense head, and an electrical trace line routed over the tab that electrically connects the raised feature to the microfluidic dispense head. The dispense cassette can be, for example, insertable into the receiving station when the cut-out at the receiving station corresponds with the selected location of the raised feature of tab on the dispense cassette. Furthermore, the dispense cassette may be configured such that it is not insertable into the receiving station when the cut-out at the receiving station does not correspond with the selected location of the raised feature of tab on the dispense cassette. The dispense cassette can provide a tactile feedback when the dispense cassette is unable to be inserted into the receiving station due to the receiving location of the cut-out at the receiving station not corresponding to the selected location of the raised feature of the tab on the dispense cassette. In another example, the receiving location of the cut-out in the receiving station may correspond with a product family associated with the receiving station, and the selected location of the raised feature of the tab on the dispense cassette may further correspond with a product family associated with the dispense cassette. The electrical trace line can include an embedded electrical trace embedded onto a surface of the dispense cassette using a laser direct structuring (LDS) process. In another example, the receiving station can include a housing that holds the dispense cassette when the dispense cassette is compatible with the receiving station and the raised feature of the tab corresponds with the cut-out at the receiving location of the receiving station.

[0013] In another example, a method of making a microfluidic dispenser includes assembling a receiving station including a cut-out at a receiving location, and assembling a dispense cassette. The dispense cassette includes a microfluidic dispense head, a tab with a raised feature on a body of the dispense cassette with the raised feature aligned with the cut-out at the receiving location when the dispense cassette is to be inserted into the receiving station, and an electrical trace line routed over the tab that electrically connects the tab at the raised feature to the microfluidic dispense head. In one example, the method further includes inserting the dispense cassette into the receiving station when the cut-out at the receiving station corresponds to the selected location of the raised feature of tab on the dispense cassette. The method can also include creating the cut-out at the receiving location of the receiving station based on a product family associated with the receiving station, and creating the tab at the selected location of the dispense cassette based on a product family associated with the dispense cassette. In this example, the tab can act as an electro-mechanical key for the dispense cassette.

[0014] In these examples, it is noted that when discussing the device, the system, or the method, any of such discussions can be considered applicable to the other examples, whether or not they are explicitly discussed in the context of that example. Thus, for example, in discussing details about a dispense cassette, such discussion also refers to the systems and methods described herein, and vice versa.

[0015] In one example, a microfluidic dispenser can be part of a life-science fluid-ejecting system that uses a fluid-ejecting device, also referred to as a dispense cassette, containing a thermal ink-jet microfluidic dispense head (or print head) to dispense precise low volume fluids in a range of substrates, such as a well-plate or a microscope slide. The microfluidic dispenser can have multiple product families, where a certain family of the microfluidic dispenser can be functionally unique and operate with designated fluid-ejecting devices (or dispense cassettes) that comply for those functions. Those functions can be specific to that particular product family of the microfluidic dispenser, and may not be compatible with another product family of the microfluidic dispenser.

[0016] As a non-limiting example, a first microfluidic dispenser of a first product family can be used for dispensing fluids for patterning, where fluid drops are to be dispensed at a particular location. Further, a second microfluidic dispenser of a second product family can be used for dispensing cells, such as in a limiting dilution scenario. In this example, the first microfluidic dispenser can use a first type of dispense cassette when performing functions (e.g., patterning) associated with the first product family, and furthermore, the second microfluidic dispenser can use a second type of dispense cassette when performing functions (e.g., cell dispensing) associated with the second product family. Alternatively, multiple other example functions can be selected that are associated with the uniquely configured dispense cassette.

[0017] In one example, a user may accidentally purchase a dispense cassette which is from a different dispense cassette family. When the user attempts to use the dispense cassette with a microfluidic dispenser, the user may find that the dispense cassette is incompatible with the microfluidic dispenser. For example, after inserting the dispense cassette into the microfluidic dispenser and loading a fluid dispensing application to use the microfluidic dispenser, the user can be notified that the inserted dispense cassette is incompatible with the product family of the microfluidic dispenser. In some cases, the user may attempt to circumvent the dispense cassette to be able to go ahead with their fluid dispensing application. In other words, the user may attempt to continue to use the incompatible dispense cassette.

[0018] In one example, to address the issue of using incompatible dispense cassettes with a certain product family of microfluidic dispensers, the dispense cassettes can be designed to include a raised tab feature. The tab can serve as an electro-mechanical security key, and can control a user from mechanically and electrically using an incompatible dispense cassette. The tab on the dispense cassette can provide a robust electro-mechanical keying solution that alerts the user when the inserted dispense cassette is incompatible with the microfluidic dispenser, and also encourages the user to use compatible dispense cassettes.

[0019] In one example, the raised tab feature can be designed on the dispense cassette over which an electrical trace line is routed. The electrical trace line can electrically connect the raised feature of the tab to a bond pad on the ink-jet dispense head (or print head). The electrical trace line can be coupled to the bond pad by wires between terminal ends of the electrical trace line and the bond pad. The electrical trace line can include an embedded electrical trace that is embedded onto a surface of the dispense cassette using a laser direct structuring (LDS) process or a related process. Thus, the wires can act as part of the electrical trace line, coupling the trace embedded in the dispense cassette to the bond pad via the wires. The physical structure of the tab can prevent or restrict the user from physically inserting the dispense cassette into an incompatible microfluidic dispenser. Further, if the user attempts to circumvent the tab and insert and operate the dispense cassette, the dispense cassette would fail to electrically connect as the electrical trace line that is routed over the tab can be erased during the circumvention. Therefore, the dispense cassette can be electro-mechanically keyed using the electrical trace line routed over the tab, thereby preventing interchangeability of dispense cassettes into similar microfluidic dispensers due to human error or by device circumvention. [0020] In one example, in a solution in which the dispense cassette does not include the raised tab feature, a user would be allowed to insert an incompatible dispense cassette because there would be no physical barrier that alerts the user of the incompatibility, The user may only realize that the dispense cassette is incompatible with the microfluidic dispenser after the user runs a fluid dispensing application, assuming that the fluid dispensing application is able to detect the incompatible dispense cassette.

[0021] In the present technology, by incorporating the raised tab feature in the dispense cassette, the user can be provided with a tactile feedback when attempting to insert an incompatible dispense cassette into a microfluidic dispenser. For example, the tab on the dispense cassette can mistake-proof incorrect dispense cassette insertions based on the tactile feedback to the user. Since the tab on the dispense cassette may cause the dispense cassette to be physically not insertable when there is a compatibility issue (e.g., the user may feel a physical resistance when attempting to insert the dispense cassette), the user can automatically know that the dispense cassette is incompatible without running the fluid dispensing software. On the other hand, if the dispense cassette is compatible with the product family of the microfluidic dispenser, then the raised tab feature of the dispense cassette does not prevent the dispense cassette from being inserted into the microfluidic dispenser. In other words, when the dispense cassette is compatible, the raised tab feature will allow the dispense cassette to be inserted into the microfluidic dispenser, but when the dispense cassette is not compatible, the raised tab feature can restrict or prevent the dispense cassette from being inserted into the microfluidic dispenser. Furthermore, since the electrical trace line can be routed over the tab, dispense cassette circumvention by the user will disconnect the electrical trace line making the dispense cassette inoperable. In other words, one of the electrical trace lines that electrically connects the raised feature of the tab to the bond pad on the microfluidic dispense head (or print head) can run on top of the tab, and can continue around to the bottom of the dispense cassette to electrically connect to the microfluidic dispense head via wire bonding between the embedded trace and the microfluidic dispense head, so user circumvention to disconnect the electrical trace line relative to the receiving station would render the dispense cassette inoperable. [0022] In one example, the microfluidic dispenser can include the dispense cassette and a receiving station (also referred to as a fluid-ejecting controller) that is to hold the dispense cassette when the dispense cassette is compatible with the microfluidic dispenser. The dispense cassette can be formed using a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material. The receiving station can be mounted in the microfluidic dispenser. The dispense cassette and the receiving station can differ, depending on an associated product family. More specifically, the dispense cassette can include the tab and the receiving station can include a cut-out, where a location of the tab on the dispense cassette and a location of the cut-out on the receiving station can vary depending on the product families or functionalities associated with the dispense cassette and the microfluidic dispenser, respectively. For example, the location of the tab on the dispense cassette can be positionally different for a given product family. Similarly, the cut-out on the receiving station can also be positionally different for a given product family. A given dispense cassette and a given microfluidic dispenser can be compatible when the location of the tab on the dispense cassette is the same as the location of the cut-out on the receiving station of the microfluidic dispenser. On the other hand, a given dispense cassette and a given microfluidic dispenser are not compatible when the location of the tab on the dispense cassette is different than the location of the cut-out on the receiving station of the microfluidic dispenser.

[0023] In one example, a given product family of microfluidic dispensers can have a specific dispense cassette design, in which a tab and a corresponding cut-out in the receiving station can be positioned differently and do not match with a dispense cassette and receiving station of another product family of the microfluidic dispenser that varies in functionality. As a result, a dispense cassette from a first product family cannot be physically compatible to a microfluidic dispenser belonging to a second product family, and vice versa.

[0024] Turning now to the FIGS., FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a microfluidic dispensing system 100 suitable for including a dispense cassette 104 with a tab 105. While the microfluidic dispensing system is illustrated and described herein in terms of a microfluidic dispenser useful in pharmaceutical, biological, and other life science research, for example, in testing drug dose responses, independent titrations, and for other low-volume dispensing, it is to be understood that the described mechanisms and concepts can apply in a similar manner to other fluid dispensing devices.

[0025] The microfluidic dispensing system 100 can include a receiving station 102 to receive a microfluidic dispense head 106 with an ejection nozzle(s) 108. In some systems, there may be multiple microfluidic dispense heads with an associate ejection nozzle(s), as shown in FIG. 1 by way of example. In further detail, an example dispense cassette 104 can include multiple microfluidic dispense heads arranged in parallel across the length of the dispense cassette or in a 2D array, for example. Different dispense cassettes can include different types of microfluidic dispense heads. The types of microfluidic dispense heads that may be integrated onto the dispense cassette can be identified by the microfluidic dispensing system through a dispense cassette reader that can read a cassette identifier on the dispense cassette. The microfluidic dispensing system can also be referred to herein as a microfluidic dispenser, which includes both the dispense cassette and the receiving station. The term system is used as the microfluidic dispenser can be modular, with various dispense cassettes being connectable with the receiving station, for example.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows an example of the dispense cassette 104 that includes eight microfluidic dispense heads 106 suitable for use in the microfluidic dispensing system 100, as shown in FIG. 1. The individual microfluidic dispense heads may independently include a fluid reservoir 124 into which fluid can be added for dispensing through ejection nozzles 108. In different examples, a microfluidic dispense head can implement different ejection technologies to dispense fluid drops. For example, in a thermal drop-on-demand ejection process, a microfluidic dispense head can include a series of dispense chambers 126, individual dispense chambers containing a resistive heating element 120, and individual dispense chambers being associated with a corresponding ejection nozzle 108. The individual dispense chambers can be in fluidic communication with the fluid reservoir 124 via a microfluidic channel 122. A fluid drop can be dispensed or ejected from a dispense chamber by passing a current through the resistive heating element. The current heats the resistive heating element, causing rapid vaporization of fluid around the element and forming a vapor bubble that generates a pressure increase that ejects a fluid drop out of the chamber through the ejection nozzle. [0027] In a piezoelectric drop-on-demand fluid ejection process, a microfluidic dispense head 106 can include a piezoelectric material associated with the independent or individual dispense chamber(s) 126. The piezoelectric material changes shape when a voltage is applied, and the change in shape generates a pressure pulse in the fluid within the dispense chamber that forces a drop of fluid out of the chamber through the ejection nozzle 108. A microfluidic dispense head and its various components and structures can be manufactured using assorted microfabrication techniques including microlithography, thin film construction, etching, bonding, and so on.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1 , an example microfluidic dispensing system 100 can include a well plate 116 that includes numerous wells 114 into which fluid drops can be dispensed from the microfluidic dispense heads 106 of the dispense cassette 104. A well plate transport assembly 118 can position and reposition the well plate and wells relative to the dispense heads as fluid droplets are being dispensed. Thus, a fluid dispense zone 112 is defined adjacent to the ejection nozzles 108 in an area between the dispense heads and the wells on the well plate.

[0029] Also shown in FIG. 1 , the microfluidic dispensing system 100 can include the receiving station 102. The receiving station can include a cut-out 103 at a receiving location. The microfluidic dispensing system can also include the dispense cassette 104 with a tab 105 to be received by the cut-out of the receiving station. The receiving station can be a housing that holds the dispense cassette when the dispense cassette is compatible with the receiving station, as described in further detail below. The tab can correspond to a raised feature on a body of the dispense cassette. The tab can be at a selected location of the dispense cassette, where the selected location can depend on a product family associated with the dispense cassette (and the microfluidic dispensing system). A product family can be associated with a set of functions, and different product families can provide different functions. The dispense cassette can further include the microfluidic dispense head 106, which can include a bond pad.

[0030] In one example, the tab 105 can be a physical feature of the dispense cassette 104. For example, the tab can be a raised feature ranging from a few millimeters to one centimeter. Similarly, the cut-out 103 on the receiving station 102 can be of similar dimensions as compared to the tab, e.g., a few millimeters to one centimeter. The cut-out can be a clearance or a space, which can allow the tab to pass through when the dispense cassette is inserted into the receiving station.

[0031] In one example, the dispense cassette 104 can include an electrical trace Iine107 that is routed over the tab 105 to enable an raised feature of the tab to be connected to the bond pad of the microfluidic dispense head 106. For example, the electrical trace line can include an embedded electrical trace embedded onto a surface of the dispense cassette coupled with wire bonding, which can together form an electrical trace line. The embedded electrical trace-portion of the electrical trace line can form, for example, an electro-mechanical key of the dispense cassette, which can be electrically connected to the bond pad of the microfluidic dispense head via the bonding wires. As a note the electrical trace line can be configured so that there are no bonding wires, but in this example, an embedded electrical trace portion of the line is coupled to the microfluidic dispenses head via wire bonding, as shown. In addition, the electrical trace portion of the electrical trace line can be embedded onto the surface of the dispense cassette using a laser direct structuring (LDS) process or a similar mechanism. As a non-limiting example, a thickness of the embedded electrical trace can be about 50 microns.

[0032] In one example, the cut-out 103 can be created at the receiving location of the receiving station 102 based on a product family associated with the receiving station. The tab 105 can be created at the selected location of the dispense cassette 104 based on a product family associated with the dispense cassette. For example, for a first product family, the cut-out and the tab can be at corresponding locations, whereas for a second product family, the cut-out and the tab can be at corresponding locations which are different from the locations of the cut-out and the tab for the first product family.

[0033] In one example, the first product family can support functions A, B and C, and the second product family can support functions D, E and F. Since it would be undesirable for a dispense cassette 104 for the first product family to be inserted in the microfluidic dispensing system 100 that is for the second product family, and vice versa, the tab 105 can be added to the dispense cassette and the cut-out 103 can be added to the receiving station 102. As a result, a user can easily identify or be notified when they are inserting the wrong type of dispense cassette into the receiving station 102 of the microfluidic dispensing system. [0034] As a non-limiting example, two microfluidic dispensing systems (or microfluidic dispensers) can correspond to two separate product families, respectively. The first product family can be related to dispensing fluids for patterning, where fluid drops are to be dispensed at a particular location, whereas the second product family can be related to dispensing cells, such as in a limiting dilution scenario

[0035] In one example, the dispense cassette can be insertable into the receiving station when the receiving location of the cut-out at the receiving station corresponds to the selected location of the tab on the dispense cassette. In other words, the selected location of the tab can allow the dispense cassette to fit through the receiving station. Alternatively, the dispense cassette is not insertable into the receiving station when the receiving location of the cut-out at the receiving station does not correspond to the selected location of the tab on the dispense cassette. In other words, the selected location of the tab prevents or restricts the dispense cassette from fitting through the receiving station.

[0036] In one example, the dispense cassette 104 can be inserted into the receiving station 102 when the receiving location of the cut-out 103 at the receiving station corresponds to the selected location of the tab 105 on the dispense cassette. When the dispense cassette is unable to be inserted into the receiving station due to the receiving location of the cut-out at the receiving station not corresponding to the selected location of the tab on the dispense cassette, the dispense cassette can provide a tactile feedback to a user. For example, the user may feel a physical resistance when trying to insert the dispense cassette, such that the dispense cassette would be unable to be inserted into the receiving station 102.

[0037] In one example, the tab 105 can function as an electro-mechanical key for the dispense cassette 104. In other words, the tab can be part of the dispense cassette for security and/or incompatibility purposes. The presence of the tab can ensure that dispense cassettes are allowed to be inserted in certain types of microfluidic dispensers, and not allowed or prevented from being inserted in other types of microfluidic dispensers.

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates multiple views of an example of a dispense cassette 104 having a tab 302 with a raised feature. In this example, the dispense cassette can include ten electrical pads 304, shown along a top surface (shown in top view at B). In this example, nine of the electrical pads are electrically coupled to embedded electrical traces of a bottom surface (shown in bottom view A) by corresponding vias 307. For clarity, the bond pad and via specifically labeled (by example) at 304 and 307 in the FIG. correspond with the embedded electrical trace shown at 309. On the other hand, the embedded electrical trace 310 of the tab electrically couples the raised feature along the top surface to the bottom surface by wrapping around an end from the top surface to the bottom surface. The routing of this embedded electrical trace is shown in greater detail at the dotted line of FIG. 5, which is representative of the embedded electrical trace 510 of the electro-mechanical key of the present disclosure. In other words, the top surface electrical pads are connected to bottom surface embedded electrical traces at the bond pads by vias in most instances in this example, but the electro-mechanical key connects the top surface to the bottom surface electrically at an end of the dispense cassette with the embedded electrical trace portion of the electrical trace line being positioned over the raised feature of the tab and wrapping around the end of the dispense cassette. This configuration allows the tab to engage with a receiving station that is inversely configured to receive the electro-mechanical key, e.g., tab with raised feature and electrical trace positioned line over the raised feature, provided by the raised feature of the tab with electrical traced embedded therein.

[0039] In further detail in FIG. 3, the microfluidic dispense head 306 (or print head die) can be positioned at a fluidic opening 311 of the dispense cassette to be wire bonded with wires 313, such as to bond pad(s) 317 of a microfluidic dispense head. In further detail, the microfluidic dispense head can include a plurality of nozzles 308 for ejecting fluid delivered to the microfluidic dispense head from a fluid reservoir(s) 315 positioned within the dispense cassette. Thus, fluid can be directed from within the body of the dispense cassette into the microfluidic dispense head for ejection, and the microfluidic dispense head can be controlled by the electrical connections between provided by the wire bonding between the embedded electrical traces and the bond pad of the microfluidic dispense head. For clarity, the electrical trace lines can include both embedded electrical traces in the dispense cassette and wire bonding can also be used to continue the electrical connection where applicable. That stated, there may be examples where there is no wire bonding. In accordance with this, the term “electrical trace line” is defined herein to include both embedded electrical traces that may be embedded within a body of the dispense cassette as well as any electrical wire bonding that may be present to continue the electrical connection. For example, an electrical trace line associated with both the raised feature of the tab and the microfluidic dispense head may include an embedded electrical trace that is positioned over the raised feature along a top surface, continuing around onto a bottom surface, and then electrically connecting the microfluidic dispense head by wire bonding. In this example, by routing the electrical trace line over the tab, if a user attempts to circumvent the security of the tab by cutting off the tab, such an action would also cut the electrical trace line, thereby making the dispense cassette inoperable.

[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a tab 402 with an electrical trace line 410. The electrical trace line that connects an electrical pad to a bond pad on a print head (or microfluidic dispense head) can pass over the tab. If a user attempts to remove the tab to be able to insert the dispense cassette into an incompatible microfluidic dispenser, the dispense cassette can fail to function since the electrical trace line will become erased, thereby causing an electrical failure.

[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a dispense cassette 104 having a tab 502. As shown, the tab can be a raised feature protruding from a surface or body of the dispense cassette. As a non-limiting example, the tab can be a raised feature ranging from a few millimeters to one centimeter. The tab can function to restrict the dispense cassette from being inserted into a microfluidic dispenser that is not compatible with the dispense cassette.

[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a receiving station 600 having a cut-out 603 for a dispense cassette. The receiving station can be part of a microfluidic dispenser or a microfluidic dispensing system. The cut-out can be included in a dispense cassette slot 604, which is a slot in which a compatible dispense cassette can be inserted into the receiving station. In other words, the cut-out can allow a dispense cassette that is compatible to pass through the receiving station in the microfluidic dispenser. In addition, the cut-out locations (or receiving locations of the cut-out) can be unique to microfluidic dispensers that are functionally different from one another, such as microfluidic dispensers from different product families.

[0043] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a first dispense cassette having a first function (e.g., function A) and a second dispense cassette having a second function (e.g., function B). In this example, for the first dispense cassette, an electrical trace line can be routed over a tab to enable a third electrical pad to be connected to a bond pad of a microfluidic dispense head. Further, in this example, for the second dispense cassette, an electrical trace line can be routed over a tab to enable a fourth electrical pad to be connected to a bond pad of a microfluidic dispense head. Therefore, in this example, the tabs can be at different locations with respect to the first dispense cassette and the second dispense cassette.

[0044] As shown, the tab on the first dispense cassette can allow the first dispense cassette to pass through a cut-out on a receiving station of a microfluidic dispenser associated with the first function. Similarly, the tab on the second dispense cassette can allow the second dispense cassette to pass through a cut-out on a receiving station of a microfluidic dispenser associated with the second function. Flowever, differences between the locations of the tab and the cut-out on the dispense cassette and the receiving station, respectively, can prevent incompatible cassette insertions. Once inserted, there can also be an electrical component to the raised portion of the tab, as previously described, which can provide the raised portion of the tab and the electrical trace line routed over the raised portion to act as an electro-mechanical key for the dispense cassette relative to the receiving station.

[0045] FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a first dispense cassette and a receiving station configured to receive the first dispense cassette to become electrically connected to form an operable microfluidic dispenser. Also illustrated is a second dispense cassette with the receiving station configured to receive the second dispense cassette to become electrically connected to form an operable microfluidic dispenser. In this example, the first dispense cassette can be associated with a first function (e.g., function A), and the second dispense cassette can both be associated with a second function (e.g., function B). As a result, the first dispense cassette can be fully inserted into a receiving station of the first microfluidic dispenser, and the second dispense cassette can be fully inserted into a receiving station of the second microfluidic dispenser for operation.

[0046] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating one example method 900 of making a microfluidic dispenser. The method can include assembling 910 a receiving station a cut-out at a receiving location. The method can also include assembling 920 a dispense cassette including: a microfluidic dispense head; a tab with a raised feature on a body of the dispense cassette, wherein the raised feature is aligned with the cut-out at the receiving location when the dispense cassette is to be inserted into the receiving station; an electrical trace line embedded over the tab and on a surface of the dispense cassette that electrically connects the dispense cassette to the microfluidic dispense head. In one more specific example, the method can further include inserting the dispense cassette into the receiving station when the receiving location of the cut-out at the receiving station corresponds to the selected location of the tab on the dispense cassette. In still another example, the method can include creating the cut-out at the receiving location of the receiving station based on a product family associated with the receiving station, and also creating the tab at the selected location of the dispense cassette based on a product family associated with the dispense cassette. The tab, for example, can act as an electro-mechanical key for the dispense cassette.

[0047] While the flowcharts presented for this disclosure can otherwise imply a specific order of execution, the order of execution can differ from what is illustrated. For example, the order of two or more blocks can be rearranged relative to the order shown. Further, two or more blocks shown in succession can be executed in parallel or with partial parallelization. In some configurations, block(s) shown in the flow chart can be omitted or skipped. A number of counters, state variables, warning semaphores, or messages can be added to the logical flow for purposes of enhanced utility, accounting, performance, measurement, troubleshooting or for similar reasons.

[0048] Reference was made to the examples illustrated in the drawings, and specific language was used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the examples as illustrated herein, are to be considered within the scope of the description.

[0049] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in a suitable manner. In the preceding description, numerous specific details were provided, such as examples of various configurations to provide a thorough understanding of examples of the described disclosure. The disclosure may be practiced without some of the specific details, or with other methods, components, devices, etc. In other instances, some structures or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosure.

[0050] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or operations, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not limited to the specific features and operations described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the scope of the described disclosure.

[0051] It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms ”a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0052] As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint. The degree of flexibility of this term can be dictated by the particular variable and determined based on the associated description herein.

[0053] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though individual members of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.

[0054] Concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, and also to include individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if individual numerical values and sub-ranges are explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%” should be interpreted to include the explicitly recited values of about 1 wt% to about 5 wt%, and also to include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3.5, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc. This same principle applies to ranges reciting a single numerical value. Furthermore, such an interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.

Claims

CLAIMS What is Claimed Is:

1. A dispense cassette, comprising: a tab with a raised feature on a body of the dispense cassette; a microfluidic dispense head; and an electrical trace line routed over the tab that electrically connects the tab at the raised feature to the microfluidic dispense head.

2. The dispense cassette of claim 1 , wherein the tab is at a selected location depending on a product family associated with the dispense cassette, wherein the product family is associated with a set of functions.

3. The dispense cassette of claim 1 , wherein the electrical trace line includes an embedded electrical trace embedded onto a surface of the dispense cassette using a laser direct structuring (LDS) process.

4. The dispense cassette of claim 1 , wherein the tab including the raised feature is an electro-mechanical key for the dispense cassette.

5. A microfluidic dispensing system, comprising: a receiving station that includes a cut-out at a receiving location; and a dispense cassette to be received by the cut-out, comprising: a tab with a raised feature on a body of the dispense cassette, wherein the raised feature of the tab is at a selected location of the dispense cassette corresponding with the cut-out; a microfluidic dispense head; and an electrical trace line routed over the tab that electrically connects the raised feature to the microfluidic dispense head.

6. The microfluidic dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the dispense cassette is insertable into the receiving station when the cut-out at the receiving station corresponds with the selected location of the raised feature of tab on the dispense cassette.

7. The microfluidic dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the dispense cassette is not insertable into the receiving station when the cut-out at the receiving station does not correspond with the selected location of the raised feature of tab on the dispense cassette.

8. The microfluidic dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the dispense cassette provides a tactile feedback when the dispense cassette is unable to be inserted into the receiving station due to the receiving location of the cut-out at the receiving station not corresponding to the selected location of the raised feature of the tab on the dispense cassette.

9. The microfluidic dispensing system of claim 5, wherein: the receiving location of the cut-out in the receiving station correspond with a product family associated with the receiving station; and the selected location of the raised feature of the tab on the dispense cassette correspond with a product family associated with the dispense cassette.

10. The microfluidic dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the electrical trace line includes an embedded electrical trace that is embedded onto a surface of the dispense cassette using a laser direct structuring (LDS) process.

11. The microfluidic dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the receiving station includes a housing that holds the dispense cassette when the dispense cassette is compatible with the receiving station and the raised feature of the tab corresponds with the cut-out at the receiving location of the receiving station.

12. A method of making a microfluidic dispenser, comprising: assembling a receiving station including a cut-out at a receiving location; and assembling a dispense cassette including: a microfluidic dispense head, a tab with a raised feature on a body of the dispense cassette, wherein the raised feature is aligned with the cut-out at the receiving location when the dispense cassette is to be inserted into the receiving station, and an electrical trace line routed over the tab that electrically connects the tab at the raised feature to the microfluidic dispense head.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising inserting the dispense cassette into the receiving station when the cut-out at the receiving station corresponds to the selected location of the raised feature of tab on the dispense cassette.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising: creating the cut-out at the receiving location of the receiving station based on a product family associated with the receiving station; and creating the tab at the selected location of the dispense cassette based on a product family associated with the dispense cassette.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the tab acts as an electro-mechanical key for the dispense cassette.