Depositing fluid specimens on substrates, resulting ordered arrays, techniques for analysis of deposited arrays
First Claim
1. An apparatus for depositing fluid dots on a receiving surface in an array, comprising:
- a deposit device cooperatively related a fluid source including biological material;
a drop-carrying element coupled to and displaced by the deposit device;
a fluid-retaining structure, co-operatively arranged with the drop-carrying element, constructed to retain fluid including biological material by surface tension, the fluid-retaining structure being constructed and shaped for at least partial immersion into a well including the biological material;
a transport mechanism for positioning the deposit device and the drop-carrying element at a precisely referenced position over the receiving surface; and
a drive mechanism for moving the drop-carrying element, relatively through the fluid-retaining structure to receive the fluid including the biological material, in deposition motion toward and away from the surface.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
For depositing fluid dots in an array, e.g., for microscopic analysis, a deposit device, e.g. a pin, cooperating with a fluid source defines a precisely sized drop of fluid of small diameter on a drop carrying surface. Transport mechanism positions the device precisely over the receiving surface and drive mechanism moves the deposit device toward and away from the surface. By repeated action, minute drops of fluid can be deposited precisely in a dense array, preferably under computer control. The drop-carrying surface shown has a diameter less than 375, preferably less than 300, preferably between about 15 and 250 micron, and is bound by a sharp rim that defines the perimeter of the fluid drop. The deposit device is compliant in the direction of deposition motion, e.g. by overcoming resistance of a resilient member. When depositing, the deposit device is laterally constrained to a reference position, e.g. by flexure mounting or the deposit device is mounted to displace from its mounting upon engagement with the receiving surface, and is subject to a lateral force or turning moment that engages the device with a lateral reference surface. A mobile-fluid storage device resupplies the deposit device along the array, e.g. in the immediate vicinity of the deposit locations. Mobile annular storage rings are lowered and raised to obtain a supply of fluid, or a mobile multiwell plate is used. Cleaning mechanism, sampling plans, and array products on microscope slides and fragile or soft membranes are disclosed as are many types of fluid and uses, e.g., in biotechnology, analysis and process control.
106 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus for depositing fluid dots on a receiving surface in an array, comprising:
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a deposit device cooperatively related a fluid source including biological material;
a drop-carrying element coupled to and displaced by the deposit device;
a fluid-retaining structure, co-operatively arranged with the drop-carrying element, constructed to retain fluid including biological material by surface tension, the fluid-retaining structure being constructed and shaped for at least partial immersion into a well including the biological material;
a transport mechanism for positioning the deposit device and the drop-carrying element at a precisely referenced position over the receiving surface; and
a drive mechanism for moving the drop-carrying element, relatively through the fluid-retaining structure to receive the fluid including the biological material, in deposition motion toward and away from the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for depositing fluid dots on a receiving surface in an array, comprising:
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a multiplicity of deposit devices mounted for motion together in response to a common actuator, each said deposit device including a drop-carrying element;
a multiplicity of fluid-retaining structures associated with said multiplicity of deposit devices, each said fluid-retaining structure being constructed to retain fluid including biological material by surface tension, each said fluid-retaining structure being constructed for immersion inside a well to receive the fluid including biological material; and
a drive mechanism associated with said actuator constructed to move said multiplicity of deposit devices including said drop-carrying elements through said fluid-retaining structure to acquire a drop of the liquid onto each said drop-carrying element;
said drive mechanism being constructed to displace said deposit devices including said drop-carrying elements toward and away from the receiving surface for deposition.- View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification