Devices and methods for producing microarrays of biological samples
First Claim
1. A support device for holding microarray substrates in place during microarrayer operation, comprising:
- a flat platform on which substrates may be placed, the flat platform including an array surface including first, second, third and fourth peripheral edges;
a first bar on the first peripheral edge;
a second bar on the second peripheral edge, the second bar perpendicular to the first bar;
a third bar on the third peripheral edge, the third bar perpendicular to the second bar and opposed to the first bar, the third bar capable of applying force to the substrates to hold them in place during microarray operation; and
a plurality of end bars perpendicular to the first and third bars and opposed to the second bar, the end bars capable of being located on the third peripheral edge or on the array surface spaced apart from the third peripheral edge, the end bars capable of applying force to the substrates to hold them in place during microarray operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for producing microarrays of biological samples using an improved slide platform, vacuum manifold, and variable pin contact velocity. Slides onto which spotting pins produce the microarray of biological samples are secured on a flat slide platform using magnetic unit bars. The vacuum manifold effects optimal cleaning of the spotting pins by inducing increased air flow and turbulence. By reducing the velocity of the spotting pins before or after contact with the blot pad or the microarray slide, the morphology of biological samples deposited may be kept uniform. Similarly, low impact and separating velocities while acquiring biological materials prevent the pins from being overloaded with solution on the outside of the pin and causing sample wastage and non-uniform spotting.
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Citations
61 Claims
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1. A support device for holding microarray substrates in place during microarrayer operation, comprising:
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a flat platform on which substrates may be placed, the flat platform including an array surface including first, second, third and fourth peripheral edges;
a first bar on the first peripheral edge;
a second bar on the second peripheral edge, the second bar perpendicular to the first bar;
a third bar on the third peripheral edge, the third bar perpendicular to the second bar and opposed to the first bar, the third bar capable of applying force to the substrates to hold them in place during microarray operation; and
a plurality of end bars perpendicular to the first and third bars and opposed to the second bar, the end bars capable of being located on the third peripheral edge or on the array surface spaced apart from the third peripheral edge, the end bars capable of applying force to the substrates to hold them in place during microarray operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A blotting device for blotting liquid from the exterior of microarray spotting members, comprising:
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a blotting surface for drawing liquid from the microarray spotting members when the microarray spotting members contact the blotting surface; and
structure for contacting the microarray spotting members with the blotting surface. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A method of delivering liquid from a spotting member onto a microarray substrate for a microarray operation, comprising:
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advancing the spotting member from a first position to a second position, the spotting member spaced apart from the substrate in the first position and the spotting member engaging the substrate in the second position for delivering liquid, the spotting member advancing from the first position to the second position at predetermined, variable velocity, the spotting member velocity reduced when the spotting member approaches the second position from the first position; and
permitting the spotting member to engage the substrate for a pre-determined period of time to allow the liquid to form a spot on the substrate suitable for microarray operation. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of drawing liquid from a well into a spotting member for a microarray operation, comprising:
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advancing the spotting member from a first position to a second position, the spotting member spaced apart from the well in the first position and the spotting member proximate to the bottom of the well for drawing liquid in the second position, the spotting member advancing from the first position to the second position at predetermined, variable velocity, the spotting member velocity reduced when the spotting member approaches the second position from the first position; and
permitting the spotting member to remain proximate to the bottom of the well for a predetermined period of time to draw the liquid into the spotting member.
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60. A method of removing liquid from a plurality of microarray spotting members, comprising:
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creating turbulence in air flowing from the inlet to the outlet of an assembly in the space between a spotting member and an aperture for removing liquid from the first open end portions of the spotting members wherein turbulence is created in air by applying a source of vacuum to the spotting members of the assembly to draw air around the spotting members to flow from the inlet to the outlet;
aligning the spotting members proximate to the apertures with each spotting member body extending generally axially away from the corresponding aperture; and
repeatedly reciprocating the microarray spotting members generally axially toward and away from the apertures and limiting axially inward travel to provide clearance with the aperture in the limiting position to create turbulence in air flowing from the inlet to the outlet in the space between the spotting member and the aperture for removing liquid from the first open end portions of the spotting members.
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61. A microarrayer substrate with a surface comprising 3000 or more groups of DNA molecules attached to the surface in discrete known regions, the 3000 or more groups of DNA molecules occupying a total area of less than 1 cm2 on the substrate.
Specification