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Abstract

A method for producing an apparatus for transferring small amounts of liquids includes bonding a plurality of parallel fibers having plural coaxial layers into a bundle, slicing the bundle of parallel fibers in planes perpendicular to the direction of the fibers to form two opposite, planar surfaces, and selectively etching the fiber layers to create etched wells in the fibers at one of the planar surfaces. The etched wells are in fluid communication with corresponding capillary nozzles of the fibers that extend to an opposite one of the planar surfaces. Various apparatus configurations of the present invention include liquid transfer devices manufactured utilizing one or more of the various method configurations of the present invention. By way of example only, a bundle of three-layer optical fibers or a bundle of hollow two-layer optical fibers may be utilized to produce a liquid transfer device.

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First Claim