An apparatus and method for droplet steering is disclosed herein. A
throated structure having a nozzle defines a converging throat with an
inlet and an outlet and a vectored fluid stream directed therethrough.
The fluid stream is driven through the system via a vacuum pump. As the
fluid approaches the outlet, its velocity increases and is drawn away
from the nozzle through a connecting channel. As a droplet is ejected
from a liquid therebelow, it will have a first trajectory until it is
introduced to the high velocity fluid stream at the perimeter of the
interior walls of the nozzle. The fluid accordingly steers the momentum
of the droplet such that it obtains a second or corrected trajectory.
Alternative variations include an electrically chargeable member, e.g., a
pin, positionable to be in apposition to the outlet and capillary tubes
for controlling the ejection surface of the pool of source fluid.