METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MOLECULAR ASSOCIATION AND IMAGING
First Claim
1. A method for diagnostic molecular association of a sample comprising:
- disposing a fluid containing a sample for molecular association between a first and second substrate, said first substrate having an array of spots comprising biological material coupled to the substrate and said second substrate separated from the first substrate by a predetermined distance, said fluid occupying a chamber defined by said first and second substrates;
applying energy to said first substrate with a plurality of temperature affecting devices coupled to said first substrate, each of said temperature affecting devices sources providing at least one adjustable temperature to said first substrate and being disposed to create a temperature gradient profile along a surface of said first substrate; and
orienting said temperature gradient profile substantially along a gravitational field to generate Rayleigh-Benard instabilities;
whereby said temperature gradient profile enhances molecular association between molecules in said sample and a particular biological material coupled to said first substrate.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to devices and methods for molecular association, particularly to devices and methods for hybridization of nucleic acids utilizing temperature gradients and imaging thereof. In one aspect, a molecular hybridization system generally includes a substrate having a plurality of molecular probes attached thereto, the plurality of probes being generally present in multiple copies arranged in localized formations on the surface of the substrate. The molecular hybridization system further generally includes a chamber that encloses the plurality of molecular probes such that a fluid containing sample may be applied and kept in contact with the substrate having the probes thereon. The molecular hybridization system also includes a temperature affecting system that generally produces at least one desired temperature on the surface of the substrate and in the adjacent fluid within the chamber.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for diagnostic molecular association of a sample comprising:
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disposing a fluid containing a sample for molecular association between a first and second substrate, said first substrate having an array of spots comprising biological material coupled to the substrate and said second substrate separated from the first substrate by a predetermined distance, said fluid occupying a chamber defined by said first and second substrates; applying energy to said first substrate with a plurality of temperature affecting devices coupled to said first substrate, each of said temperature affecting devices sources providing at least one adjustable temperature to said first substrate and being disposed to create a temperature gradient profile along a surface of said first substrate; and orienting said temperature gradient profile substantially along a gravitational field to generate Rayleigh-Benard instabilities; whereby said temperature gradient profile enhances molecular association between molecules in said sample and a particular biological material coupled to said first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for diagnostic molecular association of a sample comprising:
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disposing a fluid containing a sample for molecular association between a first and second substrate, said first substrate having four corners and an array of spots comprising biological material coupled to the substrate and said second substrate separated from the first substrate by a predetermined distance, said fluid occupying a chamber defined by said first and second substrates; applying energy to said first substrate with four temperature affecting devices coupled to said first substrate, each of said temperature affecting devices sources coupled to and providing at least one different adjustable temperature to said first substrate at a different corner to create a temperature gradient profile along a surface of said first substrate; and orienting said temperature gradient profile substantially along a gravitational field to generate Rayleigh-Benard instabilities; whereby said temperature gradient profile enhances molecular association between molecules in said sample and a particular biological material coupled to said first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for diagnostic molecular association of a sample comprising:
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disposing a fluid containing a sample for molecular association between a first and second substrate, said first substrate having an array of spots comprising biological material coupled to the substrate and said second substrate separated from the first substrate by a predetermined distance, said fluid occupying a chamber defined by said first and second substrates; and applying energy to said first substrate with a plurality of temperature affecting devices coupled to said first substrate, each of said temperature affecting devices sources providing at least one adjustable temperature to said first substrate and being disposed to create a temperature gradient profile along a surface of said first substrate; whereby said temperature gradient profile enhances molecular association between molecules in said sample and a particular biological material coupled to said first substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification