Apparatus and method for simultaneously conducting multiple chemical reactions
First Claim
1. A method of simultaneously conducting multiple chemical reactions in a reaction assembly that comprises a microtiter plate of wells containing test samples and an array of sets of chemical reactants comprising the steps of:
- assembling the array of sets of chemical reactants to the microtiter plate of test samples such that the array covers open ends in the test sample wells of the microtiter plate to form a plurality of closed cells, each closed cell comprising a set of chemical reactants and a respective test sample;
sealing the microtiter plate to the array to create one or more of a gas tight, a liquid tight, and a fluid tight seal; and
mechanically agitating the sealed reaction assembly to contact the test samples with the chemical reactants in each closed cell simultaneously.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for simultaneously conducting multiple chemical reactions combine a test sample with a chemical reactant in a plurality of closed reaction chambers to produce reaction products. The method comprises assembling a plate having the test sample in a plurality of spatially arranged wells with a microarray of similarly spatially arranged surface bound chemical reactants to form the sealed apparatus having the plurality of closed reaction chambers. The apparatus is sealed such that it is gas, liquid and/or fluid tight. The seal may be accomplished with a flexible array substrate or a flexible gasket, and one or more of mechanical clamps, external fluid pressure, radiation, heat, vacuum and an adhesive. The sealed apparatus can be subjected to various reaction conditions, such as intense mechanical agitation and a controlled temperature environment. A kit comprises one or more of the elements of the apparatus.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A method of simultaneously conducting multiple chemical reactions in a reaction assembly that comprises a microtiter plate of wells containing test samples and an array of sets of chemical reactants comprising the steps of:
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assembling the array of sets of chemical reactants to the microtiter plate of test samples such that the array covers open ends in the test sample wells of the microtiter plate to form a plurality of closed cells, each closed cell comprising a set of chemical reactants and a respective test sample;
sealing the microtiter plate to the array to create one or more of a gas tight, a liquid tight, and a fluid tight seal; and
mechanically agitating the sealed reaction assembly to contact the test samples with the chemical reactants in each closed cell simultaneously. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of simultaneously conducting multiple chemical reactions between a first chemical sample and a second chemical sample comprising the steps of:
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providing a plate having a plurality of wells spatially arranged in a surface of the plate in a well array pattern, each well having a side wall adjacent to a closed end that enclose the well except for an open end that is opposite the closed end and that is adjacent to the plate surface, the plurality of wells for receiving the first chemical sample via the open end;
providing an array of the second chemical sample, the array comprising sets of the second chemical sample bound to and spatially arranged on a surface of an array substrate in an array pattern of features, the well array pattern being spatially similar to the feature array pattern;
assembling the array onto the plate to form a sealed reaction assembly, such that the surface of the array faces the surface of the plate and encloses the open ends of the plurality of wells to form closed cells, each closed cell comprising the first chemical sample and a respective set of the second chemical sample features, wherein the sealed reaction assembly is one or more of gas tight, liquid tight, and fluid tight; and
contacting the first chemical sample with the second chemical sample in each closed cell of the sealed reaction assembly. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for simultaneously conducting multiple chemical reactions comprising:
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a plate having a plurality of wells spatially arranged in a surface of the plate in a well array pattern, each well having a side wall adjacent to a closed end that enclose the well except for an open end that is opposite the closed end and that is adjacent to the plate surface, the plurality of wells for receiving a test sample via the open end;
an array of sets of chemical reactants, the sets of chemical reactants being bound to and spatially arranged on a surface of an array substrate in an array pattern of features, the well array pattern being spatially similar to the feature array pattern, wherein the array surface faces the plate surface and covers the open ends of the wells to form closed cells, each closed cell comprising a respective test sample and a respective set of the chemical reactants; and
a seal between the plate and the array that is one or more of gas tight, liquid tight, and fluid tight. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A kit for simultaneously conducting multiple different assays of biological materials comprising:
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an array having a plurality of sets of chemical reactants spatially arranged on an array substrate; and
a plate having a plurality of spatially arranged wells in the plate, the wells being closed at one end and open at an opposite end for receiving a sample under test, wherein the array and the plate form a multiple closed cell reaction assembly when the array is assembled to the plate, such that the array covers the open ends of the wells to form closed cells, each closed cell comprising the test sample and a respective set of the chemical reactants, the reaction assembly comprising a seal between the plate and the array that is one or more of gas tight, liquid tight, and fluid tight when assembled. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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Specification