Partitioned microelectronic device array
First Claim
1. A method of assaying nucleic acid which comprises separately and in parallel for each of two or more nucleic acid-containing samples:
- placing a first nucleic acid-containing sample and a second nucleic-acid-containing sample into an array comprising a solid substrate, a plurality of wells and channels, wherein at least one channel is formed in the upper surface of the substrate and is situated above another channel formed in the lower surface of the substrate, so as to form crossovers comprising crossing but non-intersecting channels;
moving said first sample into a first well for isolating nucleic acid;
moving said second sample into a second well for isolating nucleic acid;
moving the isolated nucleic acid from the first sample to a third well;
moving the isolated nucleic acid from the second sample to a fourth well;
amplifying the nucleic acid in the third and fourth wells by cycling the temperature of the third and fourth wells;
moving the amplified nucleic acid in the third well to a fifth well for assay;
moving the amplified nucleic acid in the fourth well to a sixth well for assay; and
assaying the amplified nucleic acid.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for processing a plurality of tests or syntheses in parallel comprising a sample channel for moving samples into a microlaboratory array of a plurality of wells connected by one or more channels for the testing or synthesis of samples, a station for housing the array and an optical system comprising at least one light source and at least one light detector for measuring the samples in the array, and a means of electrically connecting said array to an apparatus capable of monitoring and controlling the flow of fluids into the array. Samples are loaded from a common loading channel into the array, processed in the wells and measurements taken by the optical system. The array can process many samples, or synthesize many compounds in parallel, reducing the time required for such processes.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of assaying nucleic acid which comprises separately and in parallel for each of two or more nucleic acid-containing samples:
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placing a first nucleic acid-containing sample and a second nucleic-acid-containing sample into an array comprising a solid substrate, a plurality of wells and channels, wherein at least one channel is formed in the upper surface of the substrate and is situated above another channel formed in the lower surface of the substrate, so as to form crossovers comprising crossing but non-intersecting channels; moving said first sample into a first well for isolating nucleic acid; moving said second sample into a second well for isolating nucleic acid; moving the isolated nucleic acid from the first sample to a third well; moving the isolated nucleic acid from the second sample to a fourth well; amplifying the nucleic acid in the third and fourth wells by cycling the temperature of the third and fourth wells; moving the amplified nucleic acid in the third well to a fifth well for assay; moving the amplified nucleic acid in the fourth well to a sixth well for assay; and assaying the amplified nucleic acid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of assaying nucleic acid which comprises separately and in parallel for each of two or more nucleic acid-containing samples:
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placing a first nucleic acid-containing sample and a second nucleic acid-containing sample into an array comprising a solid substrate, a plurality of wells and channels, wherein at least one channel is formed in the upper surface of the substrate and is situated above another channel formed in the lower surface of the substrate, so as to form crossovers comprising crossing but non-intersecting channels; separately isolating nucleic acid from the first and second sample; separately amplifying the nucleic acid from the first and second sample; and assaying the amplified nucleic acid. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification