Microarray dispensing with real-time verification and inspection
First Claim
1. A microarrayer for spotting solution onto slides, comprising:
- A) at least one dispense head for spotting the slides, B) at least one light source capable of illuminating the slides, C) at least one camera operating in conjunction with said at least one light source, said at least one camera capable of acquiring and transmitting slide image data, D) a computer programmed to;
1) receive said slide image data from said at least one camera, 2) analyze said slide image data, and 3) generate post analysis data based on said analysis of said slide image data, wherein said post analysis data comprises information relating to the success or failure of said microarrayer to successfully spot solution onto the slides and E) an adjustment means for permitting adjustments to be made to said spotting of solution onto the slides, wherein said adjustments are based on said post analysis data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microarrayer for spotting solution onto slides in an automated microarray dispensing device. Elements of the present invention include: at least one dispense head for spotting the slides, at least one light source capable of illuminating the slides, at least one camera operating in conjunction with the at least one light source. The at least one camera is capable of acquiring and transmitting slide image data to a computer. The computer is programmed to receive the slide image data and analyze it. The computer will then generate post analysis data based on the analysis of the slide image data. The post analysis data is available for improving the spotting of the solution onto the slides. In a preferred embodiment, the slide image data includes information relating to slide alignment, information relating to spot quality, and slide identification information. In a preferred embodiment, the analysis of the information relating to slide alignment enables the computer to make automatic adjustments to the relative positions of the at least one dispense head and the slides to increase the accuracy of the spotting. In a preferred embodiment, the analysis of the information relating to spot quality identifies a spot as pass or fail. An operator is then able to rework the spot. In a preferred embodiment, the analysis of the slide identification information enables the computer to track each slide.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A microarrayer for spotting solution onto slides, comprising:
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A) at least one dispense head for spotting the slides, B) at least one light source capable of illuminating the slides, C) at least one camera operating in conjunction with said at least one light source, said at least one camera capable of acquiring and transmitting slide image data, D) a computer programmed to;
1) receive said slide image data from said at least one camera, 2) analyze said slide image data, and 3) generate post analysis data based on said analysis of said slide image data, wherein said post analysis data comprises information relating to the success or failure of said microarrayer to successfully spot solution onto the slides and E) an adjustment means for permitting adjustments to be made to said spotting of solution onto the slides, wherein said adjustments are based on said post analysis data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
A) information relating to slide alignment, B) information relating to spot quality, and C) slide identification information.
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11. The microarrayer as in claim 1, further comprising a three axis robotic positioning stage for presentation of the slides and said at least one dispense head.
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12. The microarrayer as in claim 11, wherein said three axis robotic positioning stage comprises three linear actuators.
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13. The microarrayer as in claim 1, further comprising at least one cleaning station, comprising:
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A) a sonic cleaner, B) a rinsing fountain, and C) a vacuum manifold.
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14. The microarrayer as in claim 1, wherein said at least one dispense head is two dispense heads, wherein the first of said two dispense heads is a main dispense head, wherein the second of said two dispense heads is a rework dispense head.
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15. The microarrayer as in claim 14, further comprising a dispense head assembly, comprising:
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A) a mounting plate attached to the microarrayer via a linear actuator, B) a pneumatic slide mounted to said mounting plate, wherein said main dispense head is mounted to said mounting plate and wherein said rework dispense head is mounted to said pneumatic slide enabling said rework dispense head to move above or below said main dispense head.
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16. The microarrayer as in claim 1, wherein said camera is a CCD camera comprising a C-mount lens capable of providing the proper field of view and magnification for reading of the slides'"'"' 2D bar code and for acquiring said slide image data.
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17. The microarrayer as in claim 1, further comprising a vibration isolated base pneumatically isolated from the microarrayer, wherein said vibration isolated base assists in absorbing the shock of external vibrations.
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18. The microarrayer as in claim 1, wherein said computer comprises:
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A) a PC based controller comprising VISUAL BASIC programming, and B) a touch screen monitor for user interface.
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19. The microarrayer as in claim 1, wherein said computer is capable of being connected to a computer network for remote monitoring and control.
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20. The microarrayer as in claim 1, wherein further comprising at least one dispense tip attached to said at least one dispense head.
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21. The microarrayer as in claim 1, wherein said at least one dispense tip is a quill type dispense tip.
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22. The microarrayer as in claim 1, wherein said at least one dispense tip is a piezo type dispense tip.
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23. The microarrayer as in claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is a strobe light.
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24. The microarrayer as in claim 1, wherein said at least one light source is a fluorescence device.
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25. A microarrayer for spotting solution onto slides, comprising:
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A) a dispensing means for spotting the slides, B) a light source means for illuminating the slides, C) an image acquisition means for operating in conjunction with said light source means for acquiring and transmitting slide image data, D) a computer programmed to;
1) receive said slide image data from said image acquisition means, 2) analyze said slide image data, and 3) generate post analysis data based on said analysis of said slide image data, wherein said post analysis data comprises information relating to the success or failure of said microarrayer to successfully spot solution onto the slides and E) an adjustment means for permitting adjustments to be made to said spotting of solution onto the slides, wherein said adjustments are based on said post analysis data.
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Specification