Automated method of manufacturing polymer arrays

• US 20060141612A1
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Affymetrix, Inc. (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Liu, Dan, Yamamoto, Melvin, Sze, John S., Pearson, Keith S., Yu, Chi Sou, Oostman, Clifford A. Jr., Trenholme, Philip C.
• Application Number:
  US11/347,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20060141612A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.200
• 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 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00509 Microcolumns
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00621 by physical means, e.g. trenches, raised areas
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00662 Two-dimensional arrays within two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00675 In-situ synthesis on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00689 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00693 Means for quality control
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/021 Identification, e.g. bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 : Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 : Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 : with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50855 : using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6883 : for diseases caused by alterations of genetic material

Abstract

The present invention provides methods to process multiple sensors by providing a sensor plate and HT plates. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, methods for assembling microarray pegs and microarray plates are described for high throughput microarray processing.

Claims

1-78. -78. (canceled)

79. A method of performing an array assay using a set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier, said method comprising:

(a) contacting said set of chemical arrays to a multiwell plate containing samples to provide closed chambers about each array of said set; and

(b) maintaining said set of chemical arrays together with said multiwell plate under conditions sufficient to perform said array assay.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein said common carrier is a one-piece substrate having a surface on which the arrays are disposed.

81. The method of claim 80, further comprising separating said set of chemical arrays into multiple sub-sets of arrays, each carried on separate substrates.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein said separation occurs along markings present on said substrate prior to said separating.

83. The method of claim 81, wherein said separation occurs subsequent to said array assay.

84. The method of claim 81, wherein said common carrier comprises a substrate holder and said multiple sub-sets of arrays are mounted at different locations on said holder, wherein said separating comprises removing said separate substrates from said holder.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the separate substrates are mounted in a series each adjacent the next.

86. The method of claim 81, wherein multiple array identifiers are present before separating such that after the separating each separated sub-set of arrays is carried on a separate substrate along with at least one of the array identifiers.

87. The method of claim 86, further comprising retrieving array layout information for a separated array sub-set using an array identifier carried on a same separate substrate as that separated array sub-set.

88. The method of claim 79, wherein said maintaining comprises providing a housing about said set of chemical arrays and said multiwell plate.

89. The method of claim 79, wherein said housing comprises a base and a cover.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein said common carrier serves as said base or said cover.

91. The method of claim 81, further comprising reading said separated sub-sets of the chemical arrays following said separation

92. A method of using a set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier in a reaction, said method comprising:

(a) contacting said set of chemical arrays to a multiwell plate containing one or more reagents to provide closed chambers about each array of said set; and

(b) maintaining said set of chemical arrays together with said multiwell plate under conditions sufficient to perform said reaction.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein said reaction is an amplification reaction.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein said method is a cellular transvection reaction.

95. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier; and

(b) a multiwell plate to be used with said set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier to provide closed chambers about each array of said set.

96. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein said common carrier is a one-piece substrate having a surface on which arrays are disposed.

97. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein said common carrier comprises a substrate holder and said set comprises multiple sub-sets of arrays each carried on separate substrates and each mounted at different locations on said holder.

98. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein said common carrier comprises an indication of locations along which said carrier should be separated so as to separate said set of chemical arrays into multiple sub-sets each with one or more arrays.

99. The apparatus of claim 95, further comprising a housing for maintaining said set of chemical arrays and said plate of wells together in an operative configuration to provide closed chambers about each array.

100. The apparatus of claim 99, wherein said housing comprises a base and a cover.

101. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein said common carrier serves as said base or said cover.

102. A kit comprising:

(a) a set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier; and

(b) a multiwell plate to be used with said set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier to provide closed chambers about each array of said set.

103. The kit of claim 102, further comprising a housing for maintaining said set of chemical arrays and said multiwell plate together in an operative configuration to provide closed chambers about each array.

104. The kit of claim 102, wherein said housing comprises a base and a cover.

105. The kit of claim 102, wherein at least one well of said multiwell plate comprises at least one reagent for use in a chemical reaction.