Fabricating biopolymer arrays
First Claim
1. A method of fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate using a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid, and using a dispensing head having:
- a reservoir chamber;
at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate, the jet including a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and which capillary delivery chamber has an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice;
the method comprising;
(a) loading the head by positioning the head with the orifice adjacent and facing a biomonomer or biopolymer containing fluid, and providing a load pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficient such that the fluid is drawn into the reservoir chamber through the orifice and delivery chamber, while simultaneously being insufficient to result in ambient atmosphere entering the delivery chamber through the orifice once the head has been loaded and no further fluid is facing and adjacent the orifice;
(b) positioning the head with the orifice facing the substrate; and
(c) dispensing multiple droplets from the head so as to form an array of droplets on the substrate.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate using a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid, and using a dispensing head. The head has a reservoir chamber and at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate. The jet includes a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, which delivery chamber has an orifice. The jet further includes an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice. The method includes loading the head by positioning the head with the orifice adjacent and facing a biomonomer or biopolymer fluid, and providing a load pressure to the reservoir chamber. The load pressure is sufficiently negative such that the fluid is drawn into the reservoir chamber through the orifice and delivery chamber, while simultaneously being insufficient to result in ambient atmosphere entering the delivery chamber through the orifice once the head has been loaded and no further fluid is facing and adjacent the orifice. The head is positioned with the orifice facing the substrate and multiple droplets are dispensed from the head orifice so as to form an array of droplets on the substrate.
233 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A method of fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate using a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid, and using a dispensing head having:
-
a reservoir chamber;
at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate, the jet including a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and which capillary delivery chamber has an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice;
the method comprising;
(a) loading the head by positioning the head with the orifice adjacent and facing a biomonomer or biopolymer containing fluid, and providing a load pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficient such that the fluid is drawn into the reservoir chamber through the orifice and delivery chamber, while simultaneously being insufficient to result in ambient atmosphere entering the delivery chamber through the orifice once the head has been loaded and no further fluid is facing and adjacent the orifice;
(b) positioning the head with the orifice facing the substrate; and
(c) dispensing multiple droplets from the head so as to form an array of droplets on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
positioning the head with the orifice facing a cleaning station which is spaced from the substrate;
exposing the head about the orifice to a cleaning fluid from the cleaning station while providing a holdoff pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficiently positive to prevent cleaning fluid entering the delivery chamber.
-
-
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the holdoff pressure is provided in the form of gas pressure to the reservoir.
-
7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the cleaning station comprises a pad carrying cleaning fluid and the head is exposed to the cleaning fluid by wiping at least one of the head and pad across the other.
-
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the head has multiple jets with respective orifices on a common front face of the head.
-
9. A method according to claim 1 additionally comprising:
-
positioning the head with the orifice facing a purge station which is spaced from the substrate; and
providing a purge pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficiently positive so as to purge fluid remaining in the delivery chamber through the orifice.
-
-
10. A method according to claim 5 additionally comprising:
-
positioning the head with the orifice facing a purge station which is spaced from the substrate; and
providing a purge pressure to the reservoir chamber which is greater than the holdoff pressure, so as to expel fluid remaining in the delivery chamber through the orifice thereof.
-
-
11. A method of fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate using a fluid dispensing head and a biopolymer or biomonomer containing fluid, the dispensing head having:
-
a reservoir chamber;
at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate, the jet including a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and which capillary delivery chamber has an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice;
the method comprising;
(a) loading the head by positioning the head with the orifice adjacent and facing a biomonomer or biopolymer containing fluid, and providing a load pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficient such that the fluid is drawn into the reservoir chamber through the orifice and delivery chamber, while simultaneously being insufficient to result in ambient atmosphere entering the delivery chamber through the orifice once the head has been loaded and no further fluid is facing and adjacent the orifice;
(b) positioning the head with the orifice facing the substrate and moving at least one of the head and the substrate with respect to the other while dispensing multiple droplets from the head, so as to form an array of droplets on the substrate; and
(c) positioning the head with the orifice facing a cleaning station which is spaced from the substrate, and exposing the head about the orifice to a cleaning fluid from the cleaning station while providing a gas holdoff pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficiently positive to prevent cleaning fluid entering the delivery chamber. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
(b1) positioning the head with the orifice facing a purge station which is spaced from the substrate, and providing a purge pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficiently positive so as to purge fluid remaining in the delivery chamber through the orifice.
-
-
15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the purge pressure is greater than the holdoff pressure.
-
16. A method according to claim 14 additionally comprising, following step (b) and prior to step (b1), loading the reservoir chamber with a cleaning fluid.
-
17. A method of fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate using a dispensing head with a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid, the fluid dispensing head having:
-
a reservoir chamber;
at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate, the jet including a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and which capillary chamber has an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice;
the method comprising;
(a) positioning the head with the orifice facing the substrate;
(b) dispensing multiple droplets from the head orifice so as to form an array of droplets on the substrate;
(c) positioning the head with the orifice facing a cleaning station which is spaced from the substrate; and
(d) exposing the head about the orifice to a cleaning fluid from the cleaning station while providing a holdoff gas pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficiently positive to prevent cleaning fluid entering the delivery chamber. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
-
20. An apparatus for fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate, comprising:
-
(a) a substrate station on which the substrate can be mounted;
(b) a dispensing head having;
a reservoir chamber;
at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate, the jet including a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and which capillary chamber has an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice;
(c) a load station spaced from the substrate station to receive at least one fluid sample for loading into the head;
(d) a positioning system to selectively position the head facing any one of the stations; and
(e) a pressure source which provides a gas load pressure valve to the reservoir chamber which is sufficiently negative such that fluid adjacent and facing the orifice is loaded into the head by being drawn into the reservoir chamber through the orifice and delivery chamber, while simultaneously being insufficient to result in ambient atmosphere entering the delivery chamber through the orifice once the head has been loaded and no further fluid is facing and adjacent the orifice. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
a cleaning station which is spaced from the substrate and load stations, and which provides a cleaning fluid for the head; and
a processor, wherein when the head is positioned at the cleaning station the processor directs the pressure source to provide a holdoff pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficiently positive to prevent cleaning fluid entering the delivery chamber.
-
-
26. An apparatus according to claim 25 wherein, when the head is facing the cleaning station, the positioning system moves at least one of head and cleaning station across the other so that the head can be cleaned by wiping.
-
27. An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the head has multiple pulse jets with orifices on a common front face of the head.
-
28. An apparatus according to claim 25 additionally comprising a purge station which is spaced from the substrate and load stations;
and wherein, when the head is facing the purge station, the pressure source provides a purge pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficiently positive so as to purge fluid remaining in the delivery chamber through the orifice, and which is greater than the holdoff pressure.
-
29. An apparatus for fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate, comprising:
-
(a) a substrate station on which the substrate can be mounted;
(b) a dispensing head having;
a reservoir chamber;
at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate, the jet including a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and which capillary delivery chamber has an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice;
(c) a load station spaced from the substrate station to receive at least one fluid sample for loading into the head;
(d) a cleaning station which is spaced from the substrate station, and which provides a cleaning fluid for the head;
(e) a positioning system to selectively position the head facing any one of the stations; and
(f) a pressure source which provide to the reservoir chamber;
when the head is facing the load station, a load pressure valve which is sufficiently negative such that the fluid adjacent and facing the orifice is loaded into the head by being drawn into the reservoir chamber through the orifice and delivery chamber, while simultaneously being insufficient to result in ambient atmosphere entering the delivery chamber through the orifice once the head has been loaded and no further fluid is facing and adjacent the orifice; and
when the head is facing the cleaning station, a holdoff pressure which is sufficiently positive to prevent cleaning fluid contacting the orifice from entering the delivery chamber. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
and wherein, when the head is facing the purge station, the pressure source provide s a purge pressure to the reservoir chamber which is sufficiently positive so as to purge fluid remaining in the delivery chamber through the orifice, and which is greater than the holdoff pressure.
-
-
34. An apparatus according to claim 29 additionally comprising a processor which directs the pressure source to provide the load pressure when the head is facing the load station and provide the holdoff pressure when the head is facing the cleaning station.
-
35. An apparatus according to claim 31 additionally comprising a processor which directs the pressure source to provide the load pressure when the head is facing the load station, provide the holdoff pressure when the head is facing the cleaning station, and provide the spotting pressure when the head is facing the substrate station.
Specification