You are here: Dispensing with Mantis : Designing a Dispense

Designing a Dispense

Mantis software provides users with all the tools they need to modify, rename, delete, and create dispense lists, and design a dispense for their workflows.

Prerequisites

You have at least one plate type already set up in the software.
You have added the reagents you want to use to the Reagent List.
OPTIONAL: You have calibrated Continuous Flow chips.

Creating a New Dispense List

Click the New Dispense List button on the Dispense List Designer panel or select the New Dispense List option under the File menu.
In the New Dispense List window:
1. Type a name for the dispense list in the Dispense List Name box.
2. Select the plate type from the available list.
3. Click OK.
  
  Type a New Dispense List Name
In the Add Reagent To Dispense List window:
1. Define the Reagent Name by typing the reagent name or selecting from the available reagents.
2. Select the dispense location of your plate.
3. OPTIONAL: To add additional reagents, click Add More and repeat steps a-b.
4. Click OK.
  
  Add Reagent to Dispense List
Choose from the following options to define the reagent’s volume.
1. Select a single or multiple wells and type the desired volume on the wells to assign the volume at once. You can also assign the volume from the volume field on the plate designer toolbar.
  
  Assign a Volume
2. Use dispense list designer for more complex volume:
  1. Click and drag your mouse over a group of wells to select them, or select a pattern from the Selection group under the plate designer.
  2. For a constant volume, type in a volume and press Enter on your keyboard.
  3. To use a gradient design, click the Grid button , and choose a horizontal gradient, a vertical gradient, a forward diagonal gradient, or a backward diagonal gradient.
  4. To add a backfill volume, click the Grid button , and then click the Backfill button .
    
    Gradient Design in the Dispense List Designer
To add more dispense list items to the dispense list, click the Add Dispense List Item button and repeat steps 3 -4.
Click the Save Dispense List button.
In the Save Dispense List window, choose from the following options:
1. To assign the Dispense List to an existing category, select the desired category from the list.
  
  Save Dispense List Window
  
  OR
2. Add a new category to assign the Dispense List to the new category.
  
  Creating a New Category
Define the Dispense List Name, and select the file type from the Save as type list from the following options:
- .dl.txt to save the dispense list as a text document that can be accessed quickly and easily.
- .dl.xls to save the dispense list as a spreadsheet file that can be modified in a spreadsheet editor.
Click Save.

Reagent Input Settings

In the Dispense List Designer panel, click the Open Dispense List button to load an existing dispense list or click the New Dispense List button to create a new dispense list.

Active Buttons in the Dispense List Designer Panel

Assign the reagent to the Input Control Panel by choosing from the following options:

Drag the reagent from the Dispense List Designer to either the text box next to the chip position or the chip position on the image of the Mantis.

Drag the Reagent to the Device Control Panel

Click the Assign To Input button to assign all reagents from the Dispense List at once.

Assign a Dispense List of Reagents to Chip Positions

Note: If the dispense list has more reagents than the number of the chip changers, the Assign To Input button will be disabled. The number of reagents should be less than or the same as the number of the chip changers.

Click the Input button next to each reagent input. Define the input properties:
- Dispense Mode
  
  Note: The Dispense Mode setting option will be hidden for the CF, HVCF, and XL Volume PFE chips.
- Chip Type
- Input Source Type
- OPTIONAL:
  - Enable Automatic Priming via Drop Detection
  - Consecutive Drops Requirement for Auto Prime
    
    Note: The Auto Prime setting options are available if you activate the Drop Detection/QC Station feature.
  - Prime Volume
  - Pre-Dispense Volume
  - Recovery Volume
  - Wash Step(s)
    - Wash Volume 1
    - Wash Volume 2
    - Wash Volume 3
For more information about the setting options for each input, see Input Control Panel and Default Volume and Tubing Length Recommendation. Click OK to save the settings.

Input Options Window
OPTIONAL: If you want to design a multi-plate dispense, type the number of plates you want to dispense in the Number of Plates field on the Dispense Setting tab.

Number of Plates Field
Your dispense list is ready to run.

Editing an Existing Dispense List

Click the Open Dispense List button on the Dispense List Designer panel or select the Open Dispense List option under the File menu.
Select the desired category from the list. Then, locate the desired dispense list and click Open.
Choose from the following options to edit the dispense list.
- To assign a reagent’s volume on the empty wells, select the desired wells and type the volume. Press Enter on your keyboard.
- To edit the selected reagent’s volume, select the desired wells, type the new volume, and press Enter on your keyboard.
  
  Note: Read step 4 in the Creating a New Dispense List section for a more complex design.
- To add more dispense list items, click the Add Dispense List Item button .
- To add delay time between reagents, click the Add Delay button .
- To remove a dispense list item, select the desired item, and click the Delete Dispense List Item button .
- To remove all dispense list items, click the Clear Dispense List button .
- To duplicate a reagent, select the desired dispense list item, and click the Duplicate Selected Dispense List Item button .
When you’re done, click Save Dispense List.

Note: Click the Save As Dispense List button to assign the dispense list to a different category.
Describe the changes in the Save Dispense List window, and click Save to confirm.
OPTIONAL: If you activate the User Management, click the Expand button on the upper right side of the Dispense List Designer to view the dispense list history.

Dispense List History Panel

Deleting a dispense list

Important: Removing a dispense list might affect the corresponding protocols. Check your protocols before deleting a dispense list.

Choose from the following options:
- Go to the Open Dispense List window by selecting the Open Dispense List option under the File menu, or clicking the Open Dispense List button in the Dispense List Designer.
  
  Open Dispense List Window
  
  OR
- Open the Dispense List Manager window by selecting the Dispense List Manager option under the File menu.
  
  Dispense List Manager Window
Navigate the dispense list categories to locate your desired dispense list or type the dispense list name in the Search field.

Note: You cannot delete a dispense list that is currently open.
Click Delete, and click Yes to confirm.

Delete Confirmation Window