Microarray spotting instruments incorporating sensors and methods of using sensors for improving performance of microarray spotting instruments
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for producing a microarray, including:
- (A) a first holder for holding a substrate;
(B) a second holder for holding a reservoir of target material;
(C) a device for transferring some target material from a reservoir located in the second holder to a selected location on a substrate located in the first holder; and
(D) a detector for detecting whether a substrate is located in the first holder and for detecting whether a reservoir is located in the second holder.
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Abstract
The disclosed spotting instrument includes one or more sensors that are mechanically fixed to the instrument'"'"'s printhead. The sensors enable the instrument to detect whether a substrate is mounted in a particular holder of the instrument'"'"'s substrate station prior to attempting to print spots onto that substrate. Similarly, the sensors enable the instrument to detect whether a reservoir is mounted in a particular holder of the instrument'"'"'s well station prior to attempting to collect a sample of target material from that reservoir. The sensors also enable the instrument to read bar code labels affixed to substrates or reservoirs mounted in the instrument.
112 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for producing a microarray, including:
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(A) a first holder for holding a substrate;
(B) a second holder for holding a reservoir of target material;
(C) a device for transferring some target material from a reservoir located in the second holder to a selected location on a substrate located in the first holder; and
(D) a detector for detecting whether a substrate is located in the first holder and for detecting whether a reservoir is located in the second holder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for producing a microarray, including:
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(A) a first holder for holding a substrate;
(B) a second holder for holding a reservoir of target material;
(C) a device for transferring some target material from a reservoir located in the second holder to a selected location on a substrate located in the first holder; and
(D) a detector for detecting whether a substrate is located in the first holder.
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14. An apparatus for producing a microarray, including:
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(A) a first holder for holding a substrate;
(B) a second holder for holding a reservoir of target material;
(C) a device for transferring some target material from a reservoir located in the second holder to a selected location on a substrate located in the first holder; and
(D) a detector for detecting whether a reservoir is located in the second holder.
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15. A method of producing a microarray, comprising:
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(A) providing a first holder for holding a substrate;
(B) providing a second holder for holding a reservoir of target material;
(C) providing a device for collecting some target material from a reservoir located in the second holder and for placing at least some of the collected target material at a selected location on a substrate located in the first holder; and
(D) detecting whether a reservoir is located in the second holder before attempting to collect target material from the reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of producing a microarray, comprising:
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(A) providing a first holder for holding a substrate;
(B) providing a second holder for holding a reservoir of target material;
(C) providing a device for collecting some target material from a reservoir located in the second holder and for placing at least some of the collected target material at a selected location on a substrate located in the first holder; and
(D) detecting whether a substrate is located in the first holder before attempting to place target material on the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification