Distribution of solutions across a surface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for distributing a fluid across a surface, comprising:
- (a) providing a shallow planar chamber having x and y dimensions, and having a z dimension perpendicular to the x and y dimensions, the z dimension being no greater than {fraction (1/10)} of either of the x or y dimensions;
(b) providing at least one source-sink pair of fluid connections to the chamber, the source and sink of each pair being spaced along the x and/or y dimensions;
(c) providing within the chamber a probe surface having a plurality of probes defined thereon, the probes being spaced across the x and/or y dimensions of the chamber; and
(d) pulsing a test fluid through the chamber in a series of pulses via the at least one source-sink pair and thereby creating a motion of the test fluid across the probe surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system 10 is provided for improved microarray biomolecular analysis. A microarray 36 is placed in a shallow chamber 20, and an induced motion of test fluid through the chamber is achieved by a sequential series of pulses directed to a plurality of source-sink pairs.
33 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for distributing a fluid across a surface, comprising:
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(a) providing a shallow planar chamber having x and y dimensions, and having a z dimension perpendicular to the x and y dimensions, the z dimension being no greater than {fraction (1/10)} of either of the x or y dimensions;
(b) providing at least one source-sink pair of fluid connections to the chamber, the source and sink of each pair being spaced along the x and/or y dimensions;
(c) providing within the chamber a probe surface having a plurality of probes defined thereon, the probes being spaced across the x and/or y dimensions of the chamber; and
(d) pulsing a test fluid through the chamber in a series of pulses via the at least one source-sink pair and thereby creating a motion of the test fluid across the probe surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for distributing a fluid across a surface, comprising:
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a test chamber having length and width dimensions at least an order of magnitude greater than a maximum depth dimension;
first and second fluid inlets to the chamber and first and second fluid outlets from the chamber;
a probe surface disposed in the chamber and having a plurality of samples of probe materials located on the probe surface; and
a test fluid flow control assembly connected to the fluid inlets and fluid outlets, so that test fluid may be supplied to the chamber in a sequence of pulses directed to the first and second fluid inlets, the first and second fluid inlets being operably associated with the first and second fluid outlets, respectively, so that when fluid flows in the first fluid inlet fluid simultaneously flows out the first fluid outlet. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A microarray biomolecular analysis apparatus, comprising:
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a chamber for receiving a microarray, the chamber including at least two fluid inlets and at least two fluid outlets; and
a flow control system connected to the fluid inlets and fluid outlets of the chamber for providing test fluid to the chamber in a sequential series of pulses including a first pulse in which fluid enters the first fluid inlet and simultaneously exits the first fluid outlet, and a second pulse in which fluid enters the second fluid inlet and simultaneously exits the second fluid outlet. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of distributing fluid, comprising:
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(a) providing a working fluid volume;
(b) providing in the working fluid volume a probe surface having a plurality of probe samples of biological and/or chemical materials located on the probe surface;
(c) extracting at least a portion of the fluid from the working fluid volume;
(d) reinjecting at least part of the fluid extracted in step (c) back into the working fluid volume;
(e) repeating steps (c) and (d); and
(f) thereby distributing the fluid across the probe surface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification