Microtitre chemical reaction system

• US 6,436,351 B1
• Filed: 07/15/1998
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Senomyx Inc
• Original Assignee: Deltagen Research Laboratories, LLC (Deltagen Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cohen, Joe, Gubernator, Klaus M., Zambias, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): WRIGHT, PATRICIA KATHRYN
• Application Number:
  US09/116,435
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 422/101, 422/102, 422/104, 422/942, 422/943, 435/288.3, 435/288.4, 435/305--30, 210/257.2, 210/255, 210/321.75, 210/341, 210/416.1, 210/455
• US Class Current: 422/553
• 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 2219/00283 Reactor vessels with top opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00308 interchangeably mounted in racks or blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0031 the racks or blocks being mounted in stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00315 Microtiter plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00333 Closures attached to the reactor vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00335 Septa
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00364 Pipettes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00373 Hollow needles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00484 by shaking, vibrating or oscillating of the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0049 by centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/06 Test-tube stands; Test-tube holders
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries

Abstract

A microtiter reaction system (15), comprising, a support rack (16) having an array of reaction wells (18) disposed therein, each reaction well (18) having an open top end (30) and a closed bottom end (32); a plurality of generally funnel shaped reactor caps (20) with each of reactor cap (20) being received into open top end (30) of each reaction well (18); a porous gas-permeable layer (22) positioned over support rack (16), gas-permeable layer(22) having an array of holes (23) therein with each hole (23) being positioned over open top end (30) of each of the plurality of reaction wells (18); gasket (24) positioned over porous gas-permeable layer (22); and a top cover (26) positioned over gasket (22).

Claims

1. A microtitre reaction system, comprising,

a support rack having an array of reaction wells disposed therein, each reaction well having an open top end and a closed bottom end;

a gas-permeable layer positioned over the support rack, the gas-permeable layer having an array of holes therein with each hole being positioned over the open top end of each of the plurality of reaction wells, the gas permeable layer permitting gas movement between adjacent reaction wells, but preventing liquid movement between adjacent reaction wells; and

a self-sealing gasket positioned over the gas-permeable layer and the open top ends of the array of reaction wells.

2. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a base plate dimensioned to be positioned under the support rack, the base plate having an array of receiving holes dimensioned to support the bottom ends of the reaction wells in a nested relationship therein.

3. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, wherein,

an outer edge of the gasket contacts an outer edge of the support rack, thereby enclosing the interior volumes of the plurality of reaction wells in a sealed environment.

4. The microtitre reaction system of claim 3, further comprising,

a gas entry port liquidly coupled to the gas-permeable layer permitting gas exchange between the gas-permeable layer and an external environment.

5. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a top cover positioned over the gasket.

6. The microtitre reaction system of claim 5, wherein,

the top cover further comprises a plurality of retaining clips extending downwardly to matingly interlock with the support rack.

7. The microtitre reaction system of claim 5, wherein,

the top cover is formed from anodized aluminum.

8. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, further comprising,

a temperature heating and cooling block dimensioned to be positioned under the support rack, the block having an array of holes dimensioned to support the bottom ends of the reaction wells in a nested relationship therein.

9. The microtitre reaction system of claim 8, further comprising,

a thermocouple controlled heating element.

10. The microtitre reaction system of claim 8, further comprising,

a plurality of interior channels passing through the block.

11. The microtitre reaction system of claim 10, wherein,

the plurality of interior channels form a serpentine flow path.

12. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of generally funnel shaped reactor caps with each of the reactor caps being received into the open top end of each of the reaction wells.

13. The microtitre reaction system of claim 12, wherein,

the reactor cap comprises a sealing plug portion and an open-ended funnel cone portion.

14. The microtitre reaction system of claim 12, wherein,

the plurality of reaction caps are held together in an array formation by an interlocking web.

15. The microtitre reaction system of claim 14, wherein,

the plurality of reaction caps and the interlocking web are integrally formed from a single piece of material.

16. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, wherein,

the support rack has an array of passages passing therethrough;

and

each of the reaction wells comprise an individually removable reaction well received into one of the passages of the support rack.

17. The microtitre reaction system of claim 16, wherein,

the reaction well is tightly received into the passage, thereby sealing the passage.

18. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, wherein,

the support rack is formed from polypropylene.

19. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, wherein,

the reaction wells are formed from polypropylene.

20. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, wherein,

the reaction wells are formed from glass.

21. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, wherein,

the gas-permeable layer is formed from polypropylene.

22. The microtitre reaction system of claim 1, wherein,

the gasket is formed from silicone rubber.

23. A microtitre reaction system, comprising,

a support rack having an array of passages passing therethrough;

an array of individually removable reaction wells disposed in the passages, each reaction well having an open top end and a closed bottom end;

a plurality of generally funnel shaped reactor caps with each of the reactor caps being received into the open top end of each of the reaction wells;

a gas-permeable layer positioned over the support rack, the gas-permeable layer having an array of holes therein with each hole being positioned over the open top end of each of the plurality of reaction wells, the gas permeable layer permitting gas movement between adjacent reaction wells, but preventing liquid movement between adjacent reaction wells;

a self-sealing gasket positioned over the gas-permeable layer and the open top ends of the array of reaction wells, an outer edge of the gasket contacting an outer edge of the support rack, thereby enclosing the interior volumes of the plurality of reaction wells in a sealed environment;

a top cover positioned over the gasket; and

a plurality of retaining clips extending downwardly to matingly interlock with the support rack.