Microarray spotting instruments incorporating sensors and methods of using sensors for improving performance of microarray spotting instruments

• US 6,642,054 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PerkinElmer LAS, Inc. (Perkinelmer Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Packard Instrument Co., Inc. (Revvity, Inc.)
• Inventors: Phaff, Mona L., Schermer, Mack J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DRODGE, JOSEPH W
• Application Number:
  US10/172,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20020151077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 210/91, 422/62, 422/63, 422/68.1, 422/82.05, 422/82.06, 422/82.07, 422/82.08, 422/81, 422/100, 422/104, 422/55, 422/56, 422/58, 422/67, 422/43, 422/102, 436/43, 436/48, 436/174, 436/180, 436/501, 436/518, 436/56, 436/164, 436/165, 436/172, 435/4, 435/6, 435/7.1, 435/287.1, 435/287.3, 356/244
• US Class Current: 436/43
• 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 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00547 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00689 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0244 using pins
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 70/00 Tags or labels specially adapted for combinatorial chemistry or libraries, e.g. fluorescent tags or bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0493 Locating samples; identifying different tube sizes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1025 Fluid level sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1074 arranged in a two-dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/12 Condition responsive control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing a microarray, including:

(A) a printhead device for collecting a sample of liquid target material from a reservoir and for depositing one or more samples of liquid target material onto a substrate;

(B) a first detector coupled to the device, the detector generating a signal indicative of whether an object is disposed a fixed distance away from the detector;

(C) a manipulator for selectively moving the device and detector.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further including a processor, the processor interpreting the signal for determining whether the device is proximal to a reservoir.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further including a processor, the processor interpreting the signal for determining whether the device is proximal to a substrate.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, further including a second detector coupled to the device, the second detector comprising a bar code reader.

5. A method of producing a microarray, comprising:

(A) collecting target material with a device for placement on a substrate expected to be positioned in a given location;

(B) automatically detecting whether the substrate is in the given location with a sensor coupled to the device; and

(C) placing the target material on the substrate if the substrate is determined to be in the given location to form a microarray.

6. A method of producing a microarray, comprising automatically detecting whether a substrate is in a particular location with a sensor coupled to a spot printing device, before attempting to print spots of target material onto that substrate to form a microarray.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising automatically detecting whether a reservoir of target material is located in a particular location before attempting to collect a sample of target material from that reservoir.

8. A method of producing a microarray, comprising automatically detecting whether a reservoir of target material is located in a particular location before using a device to collect a sample of target material from that reservoir,

and using the device to print spots of the target material onto a substrate to form a microarray.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising automatically detecting whether a substrate is located in a particular location before attempting to print spots of target material onto that substrate.

10. A method of producing a microarray, comprising:

automatically detecting whether a substrate is located in a particular location before using a device to print spots of target material onto that substrate to form a microarray; and

automatically detecting whether a reservoir of target material is located in a particular location before using the device to collect a sample of target material from that reservoir.