Making apparatus for conducting biochemical analyses
First Claim
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1. A method of making apparatus having microfabricated chambers for conducting biochemical analysis, comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a substrate having a metallic layer, comprised of a first metal, and a non-metallic layer comprising an ablatable polymeric material wherein the non-metallic layer has a first major face and a bottom surface, the metallic layer being on the first major face;
(b) identifying multiple portions of the first major face of the non-metallic layer each of which will correspond to the area of a reaction chamber;
(c) removing portions of the metallic layer to form a plurality of independently controllable heaters from remaining portions of said metallic layer including at least one heater proximate to each said identified area;
(d) removing portions of the non-metallic layer in said identified areas by ablation with a laser to form a plurality of reaction chambers having a floor above the bottom surface of the non-metallic layer wherein each heater is adjacent to one of said reaction chambers;
(e) removing portions of the non-metallic layer by ablation with a laser to form a plurality of analysis chambers and a path of fluid communication from each analysis chamber to one of the reaction chambers wherein each analysis chamber has said path of fluid communication leading into one of said reaction chambers;
(f) depositing fluids to be used in biochemical analysis by means of an ink jet device into one or more of said chambers; and
(g) sealing said fluid deposited within said one or more chambers by applying a cover material upon the first major face of the substrate.
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Abstract
Miniaturized, self-contained apparatus for conducting bio-chemical reactions and analyses is formed in a compact structure made from a substrate which includes a plurality of reaction chambers and a plurality of analysis chambers which are in fluid communication with the reaction chambers. Independently controllable heaters and coolers are positioned in thermal contact with the reaction chambers to permit parallel processing of biological samples at different temperature cycles. The apparatus is especially useful for performing and analyzing the results of a polymerase chain reaction.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of making apparatus having microfabricated chambers for conducting biochemical analysis, comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming a substrate having a metallic layer, comprised of a first metal, and a non-metallic layer comprising an ablatable polymeric material wherein the non-metallic layer has a first major face and a bottom surface, the metallic layer being on the first major face; (b) identifying multiple portions of the first major face of the non-metallic layer each of which will correspond to the area of a reaction chamber; (c) removing portions of the metallic layer to form a plurality of independently controllable heaters from remaining portions of said metallic layer including at least one heater proximate to each said identified area; (d) removing portions of the non-metallic layer in said identified areas by ablation with a laser to form a plurality of reaction chambers having a floor above the bottom surface of the non-metallic layer wherein each heater is adjacent to one of said reaction chambers; (e) removing portions of the non-metallic layer by ablation with a laser to form a plurality of analysis chambers and a path of fluid communication from each analysis chamber to one of the reaction chambers wherein each analysis chamber has said path of fluid communication leading into one of said reaction chambers; (f) depositing fluids to be used in biochemical analysis by means of an ink jet device into one or more of said chambers; and (g) sealing said fluid deposited within said one or more chambers by applying a cover material upon the first major face of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification