Method and apparatus for hybridization
First Claim
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1. A apparatus for hybridization, comprising:
- a cavity including a probe array with different probes comprising biological polymers immobilized on a surface; and
an inlet and an outlet arranged in communication with said cavity for introducing and removing fluids from said cavity, said cavity, said inlet and outlet being constructed and arranged to provide bubble formation during hybridization of a target to said probes of said probe array and thereby increasing a hybridization rate of said target to said probes.
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Abstract
A body 300 having a cavity 310 for mounting a substrate 120 fabricated with probe sequences at known locations according to the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,854 and PCT WO 92/10092 or others, is provided. The cavity includes inlets 350 and 360 for introducing selected fluids into the cavity to contact the probes. Accordingly, a commercially feasible device for use in high throughput assay systems is provided.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A apparatus for hybridization, comprising:
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a cavity including a probe array with different probes comprising biological polymers immobilized on a surface; and
an inlet and an outlet arranged in communication with said cavity for introducing and removing fluids from said cavity, said cavity, said inlet and outlet being constructed and arranged to provide bubble formation during hybridization of a target to said probes of said probe array and thereby increasing a hybridization rate of said target to said probes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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16. An apparatus for hybridizing polymers to targets, comprising:
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a probe array having a plurality of different biological polymers on a surface;
a package for housing the probe array; and
a cavity defined by said package, said cavity being constructed for receiving fluid and being constructed to freely move bubbles in contact with said probe array for agitating the fluid with respect to said probe array. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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22. A method of evaluating probe arrays comprising the acts of:
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providing a package for housing a probe array having a plurality of different biological polymers immobilized with respect to a substrate, said package defining a cavity constructed for receiving fluid;
delivering the fluid including targets inside said cavity for hybridization; and
achieving bubble formation during hybridization and thereby increasing a hybridization rate of said targets to the polymers of said probe array. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
piercing said seal of said inlet;
piercing said seal of said outlet; and
flowing said fluid from said inlet into said cavity and out through said outlet.
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24. The method of claim 22 further comprising the act of agitating said target molecules to facilitate reaction between the polymers of the probe array and the targets.
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25. The method of claim 22 further comprising the act of identifying at least one location where at least one said targets is located on said probe array.
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26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein said identifying act comprises placing said package in a detection system.
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27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein said identifying act comprises placing said package in a scanning system, and wherein said scanning system is capable of imaging labeled targets on said probe array.
Specification