Reactor with memory component

• US 20050026273A1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BioProcessors Corp.
• Original Assignee: BioProcessors Corp.
• Inventors: Zarur, Andrey J., Basque, Todd A., MacGregor, Ian K., Rodgers, Seth T., Russo, A. Peter, Leblanc, Sean J.
• Application Number:
  US10/863,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20050026273A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/286.100
• 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 2219/0031 the racks or blocks being mounted in stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00315 Microtiter plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00364 Pipettes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00376 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00389 Feeding through valves
• 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 2219/00542 Alphanumeric characters
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00545 Colours
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00549 2-dimensional
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00563 Magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00565 Electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00689 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00691 using robots
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00695 Synthesis control routines, e.g. using computer programs
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00704 : integrated with the reactor apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 : Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00743 : Cells
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 : Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/022 : Transponder chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/024 : Storing results with means integrated into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0806 : Standardised forms, e.g. compact disc [CD] format
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 : Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/046 : Chemical or electrochemical formation of bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 : by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/545 : for laboratory containers
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 : Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• 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 35/0099 : comprising robots or similar manipulators robots per se B25J

Abstract

The present invention provides techniques for conveniently and reliably storing and/or retrieving data associated with a chemical, biological, or biochemical chip, reactor, or reaction system. The data can pertain to the reactor; to chemical, biological, or biochemical species introduced into, taken from, or otherwise associated with the reactor; to conditions to which the reactor and/or some or all of its contents has been, is being, or will be exposed to, or the like. Various aspects of the present invention relate to memory and data storage components suitable for use in chips or other reaction systems. These components may include silicon integrated circuits, magnetic media, optical media, radio-frequency tags, smart cards, bar-codes and other kinds of data storage devices. The chip may contain a reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml. In some embodiments, the chip may be constructed in such a way as to be able to support a living cell. The chip may be used for imaging or analysis, or the chip may be used to facilitate a chemical or biological reaction, which may be light-sensitive or light-activated in certain cases. Other facilitated reactions may include the production and/or consumption of a chemical or biological species. In some embodiments, the chip may include more than one component or component type, and/or more than one reaction site.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a chemical, biological, or biochemical reactor chip comprising a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml; and

at least one data storage component associated with the chip.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site is constructed and arranged to maintain at least one living cell at the site.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a plurality of reaction sites.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site has a volume of less than about 500 microliters.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site has a volume of less than about 100 microliters.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site has a volume of less than about 10 microliters.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site has a volume of less than about 1 microliter.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site has a maximum dimension of less than about 1 cm.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site has a maximum dimension of less than about 1 mm.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site has a maximum dimension of less than about 100 micrometers.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site has a maximum dimension of less than about 10 micrometers.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises a computer-readable medium.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is non-volatile.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is volatile.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises a magnetic medium.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the magnetic medium comprises a magnetic strip.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises an optical medium.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical medium is laser-readable.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises a semiconductor chip.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises a silicon chip.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises a radio frequency tag.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises a bar code.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is reversibly attachable.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is rotatable.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is rewritable.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is read-only.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site comprises at least one substantially hydrophobic surface.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site comprises at least one substantially hydrophilic surface.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site comprises at least one substantially cytophobic surface.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reaction site comprises at least one substantially cytophilic surface.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data component is able to store data associated with the reaction site.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises a compact disc or a digital versatile disc.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises flash memory.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component comprises an integrated circuit.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is a memory stick.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is reversibly removable from the chip.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component can be exposed to gamma rays -without deformation.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component can be exposed to ultraviolet radiation without deformation.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component can be heated to a temperature of at least about 37°

C. without deformation.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the at least one data storage component can be heated to a temperature of at least about 100°

C. without deformation.

41. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one data storage component is moisture-resistant.

42. A system, comprising the apparatus of claim 1, and an external data interface able to interface with the at least one data storage compartment.

43. A method, comprising:

transferring data to or from a chemical, biological, or biochemical reactor chip comprising a data storage component and a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the data is associated with the reaction site.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the data identifies the chip.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the data comprises a measurement of an environmental condition of the reaction site.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein the data is transferred to an external data interface.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the data is transferred to the external data interface through an electrical connection.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the data is transferred to the external data interface through a wireless connection.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the wireless connection is a Bluetooth transmission protocol.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the data is transferred to the external data interface using a radio wave.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein the data is transferred to the external data interface using a light interaction.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein the data is transferred to the external data interface using a magnetic interaction.

54. A system, comprising:

a chemical, biological, or biochemical reactor chip comprising a predetermined reaction site and a data storage component; and

an external data interface able to interface with the data storage component.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the external data interface is able to write data to the data storage component.

56. The system of claim 54, wherein the external data interface is able to read data from the data storage component.

57. A system, comprising:

a holder able to secure a chemical, biological, or biochemical reactor chip; and

an external data interface positioned to interface with a chip secured by the holder.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the external data interface is positioned to magnetically interface with the chip.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the external data interface is positioned to establish an electrical connection with the chip.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the external data interface is positioned to interface with the chip through a wireless connection.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the external data interface is positioned to interface with the chip through a radio wave.

62. The system of claim 60, wherein the external data interface is positioned to interface with the chip through a light interaction.

63. The system of claim 60, wherein the external data interface is positioned to interface with the chip through a laser interaction.

64. A method, comprising:

storing data to and/or retrieving data from a data storage component of a chemical, biological, or biochemical reactor chip comprising a predetermined reaction site having a volume of less than about 2 ml.

65. A method as in claim 64, comprising storing data to the data storage component.

66. A method as in claim 64, comprising retrieving data from the data storage component.

67. A method as in claim 64, comprising storing data to and retrieving data from the data storage component.