Robotic microchannel bioanalytical instrument
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Accused Products
Abstract
A substrate with a plurality of microchannels is movably deployed with other movable objects that will load sample into the microchannels, stimulate molecular migration, read the results of the migration, remove and replace the substrate, and prepare for a new run. The other objects include a gripper for engaging and moving the substrate, an electrode array of fine wires suitable for fitting into the microchannels for electromigration, and a scanning detector for reading migration results. A sequence of automatic operations is established so that one substrate after another may be moved into position, loaded with sample, stimulated for molecular migration, read with a beam, and then removed and replaced with a fresh substrate.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1-15. -15. (cancelled)
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16. A robotic instrument for microchannel chemical analysis comprising:
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a plurality of microchannels formed in a substrate, the microchannels having a closed cross-section and at a first end, a plurality of ports and at a second end a common port, a plurality of wells spaced apart from the microchannels containing fluid sample to be inserted into selected ports of the microchannels, an automated multifunctional device movable between the first end ports and the sample wells, adapted to insert fluid sample into selected ports of the microchannels, and an array of electrode wires insertable into selected ports of the microchannels, whereby voltage applied to the array of electrode wires causes molecular migration in the microchannels. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A robotic instrument for microchannel chemistry comprising:
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a first microchip substrate having a plurality of microchannels therein mounted on a first frame, the first frame having microchannel loading apparatus associated therewith, a second frame having microchannel sample analysis equipment therein, a robotic arm rotationally movable about a central axis and having an arm capable of carrying a microchip substrate, the arm movable between the first and second frames, and a plurality of stations disposed in proximity to the rotational movement of the robot arm, at least some stations servicing the microchannel loading apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. Apparatus for bioanalytical measurement of a fluid comprising:
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a plurality of elongated microchannels defined within a body, having first and second ends, the first ends spaced apart and having openings into the body for injection of fluid into the microchannels, the second ends being spaced in close proximity to each other for optical inspection, and a plurality of edge connector electrodes associated with the microchannels at the first ends thereof, the edge connector electrodes extending outside of said body for contact with external circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. Apparatus for bioanalytical measurement of a fluid comprising:
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a substrate having a plurality of elongated microchannels, with each microchannel having first and second ends, a cover disposed over the substrate, enclosing the microchannels, a pair of stub microchannels formed in the substrate transverse to said elongated microchannel, a first pair of edge connectors disposed on the substrate at the free ends of the stub microchannels and a second pair of edge connectors disposed on the substrate at the first and second ends of the elongated microchannels, wherein a portion of the edge connectors extend beneath said cover.
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41. A microchip having an array of microchannels comprising:
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a substrate having a common end reservoir, and a plurality of microchannels extending radially from the end reservoir in a spoke-like pattern with free ends having sample inlet ports.
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Specification