Reformatted through-hole arrays

• US 20040191924A1
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Brenan, Colin J.H., Kanigan, Tanya S., Hunter, Ian
• Application Number:
  US10/820,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20040191924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 506/13
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3021 the components to be mixed being combined in a single independent droplet, e.g. these droplets being divided by a non-miscible fluid or consisting of independent droplets
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30351 using hydrophilic/hydrophobic surfaces
• 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 2219/00283 Reactor vessels with top opening
• 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 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0036 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00369 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00373 Hollow needles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00389 Feeding through valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00423 using filtration, e.g. through porous frits
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0043 for direct application of reagents, e.g. through openings in a shutter
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00479 Means for mixing reactants or products in the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/005 Beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00511 Walls of reactor vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00533 essentially rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00536 in the shape of disks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00549 : 2-dimensional
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 : Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00587 : High throughput processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 : Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00648 : by the use of solid beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 : Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00686 : Automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 : Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 : Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 : Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0845 : Filaments, strings, fibres, i.e. not hollow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/022 : droplet contacts the surface of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0262 : using touch-off at substrate or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 : for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 : for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50255 : Multi-well filtration
• 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: B01L 9/523 : for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 70/00 : Tags or labels specially adapted for combinatorial chemistry or libraries, e.g. fluorescent tags or bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 : Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1037 : Using surface tension, e.g. pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/466 : with separation columns in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 : Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/82 : Automatic means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 : whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 : Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0481 : Puncturing

Abstract

Methods for loading a plurality of liquid samples into a through-hole array. Each transfer member of an array of transfer members is positioned for drawing a liquid sample from a distinct well of a microtiter plate. Liquid samples are drawn from wells of the microtiter plate and the array of transfer members is registered with a subset of through-holes of a through-hole array. The liquid samples are then dispensed from the transfer members into through-holes of the through-hole array.

Claims

1. A method for loading a plurality of liquid samples into a through-hole array, the liquid samples residing in wells of a microtiter plate characterized by a well-to-well spacing, the through-hole array characterized by a hole spacing that is an integral fraction of the well-to-well spacing of the microtiter plate, the method comprising:

a. positioning an array of transfer members, each transfer member disposed for drawing liquid from a distinct well of the microtiter plate;

b. drawing liquid samples from the wells of the microtiter plate to each of the transfer members;

c. registering the array of transfer members with a subset of through-holes of the through-hole array; and

d. dispensing the liquid samples from the transfer members into through-holes of the through-hole array.

2. A method for loading a plurality of liquid samples in accordance with claim 1, further including stacking a plurality of through-hole arrays in registration such that liquid samples are deposited from each transfer member into a plurality of through-holes.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of dispensing the liquid samples from the transfer members includes expelling liquid from a capillary.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of dispensing the liquid samples from the transfer members includes expelling liquid from tubing of a pipette.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of dispensing the liquid samples from the transfer members includes expelling liquid by means of a syringe.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of drawing liquid samples from the wells of the microtiter plate includes drawing liquid into a capillary.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of drawing liquid samples from the wells of the microtiter plate includes drawing liquid into tubing of a pipette.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of drawing liquid samples from the wells of the microtiter plate includes drawing liquid by means of a syringe.