Multi-through hole testing plate for high throughput screening

• US 10,195,579 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2015
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schellenberger, Volker, Liu, Amy
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy, Dwayne K
• Application Number:
  US14/873,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20160089649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00286 Reactor vessels with top and bottom openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00319 the blocks being mounted in stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0052 in the shape of elongated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00524 in the shape of fiber bundles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00533 essentially rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00644 the porous medium being present in discrete locations, e.g. gel pads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00662 Two-dimensional arrays within two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00707 separated from the reactor apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/161 Control and use of surface tension forces, e.g. hydrophobic, hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50857 using arrays or bundles of open capillaries for holding samples
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1065 : Multiple transfer devices

Abstract

A method for holding samples for analysis and an apparatus thereof includes a testing plate with a pair of opposing surfaces and a plurality of holes. Each of the holes extends from one of the opposing surfaces to the other one of the opposing surfaces. The holes are arranged in groups, where each group has at least two rows and two columns of holes. The groups are arranged in sets, where each set has at least two rows and two columns of groups. To analyze samples, at least one of the opposing surfaces of the testing plate is immersed in a solution to be analyzed. A portion of the solution enters openings for each of the holes in the immersed opposing surface. Once the holes are filled with solution, the testing plate is removed and is held above a supporting surface. Surface tension holds the solution in each of the holes. The solution in one or more of the holes is then analyzed and the solution in one of these holes is identified for further study. The location of the identified solution is marked based upon its location within a particular set and group of holes.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a substrate comprising;

a first surface facing in an upward direction;

a first recessed portion recessed into the substrate from the first surface;

an opposing second surface disposed below the first surface;

a second recessed portion recessed into the substrate from the second surface; and

a plurality of through holes extending from the first recessed portion to the second recessed portion, the through holes being sized to provide sufficient surface tension to hold respective portions of a liquid sample; and

a first plate disposed over the first recessed portion, the first plate secured to the first surface of the substrate;

wherein the first surface of the substrate spaces the first plate away from the through holes in a direction normal to the first surface.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a liquid sample, the through holes holding respective portions of the sample liquid by surface tension.

4. The system of claim 1, a second plate disposed under the second recessed portion, the second plate secured to the second surface of the substrate, wherein the second surface of the substrate spaces the second plate away from the through holes in a direction normal to the second surface of the substrate.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a liquid sample, the through holes holding respective portions of the sample liquid by surface tension, wherein the first plate and the second plate are secured to the substrate so as to prevent evaporation of the sample liquid from the substrate.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first plate is secured to the first surface of the substrate by at least one of a clamp, a bolt, or a mechanical means.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a light source, a detector, and optics that together are configured to analyze a liquid sample disposed within the system.

2. A system, comprising:

a first plate comprising;

a first surface facing in an upward direction;

an opposing second surface; and

a plurality of through holes extending from the first surface to the second surface, the through holes being sized to provide sufficient surface tension to hold respective portions of a liquid sample;

a second plate disposed over the through holes and secured to the first surface of the first plate; and

a plurality of spacers that space the second plate away from the through holes in a direction normal to the first surface.

8. The system of claim 2, further comprising a liquid sample, the through holes holding respective portions of the sample liquid by surface tension.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising a third plate disposed under the through holes and secured to the second surface of the first plate, wherein the plurality of spacers space the third plate away from the through holes in a direction normal to the second surface.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a liquid sample, the through holes holding respective portions of the sample liquid by surface tension, wherein the second plate and the third plate are secured to the first plate so as to prevent evaporation of the sample liquid from the first plate.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein the second plate is secured to the first surface of the first plate by at least one of a clamp, a bolt, or a mechanical means.

12. The system of claim 2, further comprising a light source, a detector, and optics that together are configured to analyze a liquid sample disposed within the system.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a liquid sample, the reaction regions holding respective portions of the sample liquid.

15. The system of claim 11, a second plate disposed under the second recessed portion, the second plate secured to the second surface of the testing apparatus, wherein the second surface of the testing apparatus spaces the second plate away from the reaction regions in a direction normal to the second surface of the testing apparatus.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a liquid sample, the reaction regions holding respective portions of the sample liquid, wherein the first plate and the second plate are secured to the testing apparatus so as to prevent evaporation of the sample liquid from the testing apparatus.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first plate is secured to the first surface of the testing apparatus by at least one of a clamp, a bolt, or a mechanical means.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising a light source, a detector, and optics that together are configured to analyze a liquid sample disposed within the system.

13. A system, comprising:

a testing apparatus comprising;

a first surface facing in an upward direction;

a first recessed portion recessed into the testing plate from the first surface;

an opposing second surface disposed below the first surface;

a second recessed portion recessed into the testing plate from the second surface; and

a plurality of spatially separated reaction regions configured to hold respective portions of a liquid sample;

a first plate disposed over the first recessed portion, the first plate secured to the first surface of the testing plate; and

wherein the first surface of the testing apparatus spaces the first plate away from the reaction regions in a direction normal to the first surface.