Methods and systems for biological reagent placement

• US 6,013,446 A
• Filed: 10/16/1997
• Issued: 01/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amersham Biosciences (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ackley, Donald E., Maracas, George N., Reber, William L., Harvey, Thomas B. III
• Primary Examiner(s): CARLSON, KAREN C
• Application Number:
  US08/951,319
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 435/6, 435/91.1, 435/287.2, 101/327, 422/131, 436/506, 536/23.1, 536/24.3
• US Class Current: 435/6.11
• 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 2219/00367 capillary
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00369 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00382 Stamping
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00385 Printing
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• 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 4/02 for feeding measured , i.e. prescribed quantities of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6837 using probe arrays or probe chips C12Q1/6874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5302 Apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/0002 Lithographic processes using patterning methods other than those involving the exposure to radiation, e.g. by stamping

Abstract

An apparatus for placing at least one biological reagent at a plurality of locations on a substrate includes a stamp member onto which the at least one biological reagent is applied. The stamp member defines a plurality of transfer elements patterned to correspond to the plurality of locations. The stamp member contacts the substrate to transfer the at least one biological reagent from the plurality of transfer elements to the plurality of locations. The transfer elements can be defined by reservoirs or projected portions of the stamp member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transferring at least one biological reagent to a substrate, the apparatus comprising:

a stamp member having a plurality of independently projectable portions; and

an applicator to apply the at least one biological reagent to at least one of the independently projectable portions after the at least one of the independently projectable portions has been selectively projected;

wherein the at least one of the independently projectable portions is for contacting with the substrate to transfer the at least one biological reagent to the substrate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of independently projectable portions includes a first independently projectable portion and a second independently projectable portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first independently projectable portion is projected and the second independently projectable portion is unprojected.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the stamp member includes a first electromechanical element associated with the first independently projectable portion and a second electromechanical element associated with the second independently projectable portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first electromechanical element includes a first piston and wherein the second electromechanical element includes a second piston.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a first temperature probe associated with the first independently projectable portion and a second temperature probe associated with the second independently projectable portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a first heating element associated with the first independently projectable portion and a second heating element associated with the second independently projectable portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the applicator includes a roller.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the applicator includes at least one dispensing head.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the applicator comprises a capillary embedded in the stamp member.

11. A method of transferring at least one biological reagent to a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a stamp member having a plurality of independently projectable portions including a first projectable portion and a second projectable portion;

selectively projecting the first projectable portion;

applying the at least one biological reagent to the first projectable portion after selectively projecting the first projectable portion; and

contacting the stamp member with the substrate while the second projectable portion is unprojected to transfer the at least one biological reagent from the stamp member to the substrate.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first projectable portion is projected in response to at least one electrical signal.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the stamp member includes a first electromechanical element associated with the first independently projectable portion and a second electromechanical element associated with the second independently projectable portion.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first electromechanical element includes a first piston and wherein the second electromechanical element includes a second piston.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing a first temperature probe associated with the first independently projectable portion; and

providing a second temperature probe associated with the second independently projectable portion.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing a first heating element associated with the first independently projectable portion; and

providing a second heating element associated with the second independently projectable portion.