Method for performing microassays
First Claim
1. A method for analyzing specified properties of a set of samples, the method comprising:
- a. providing a platen having two substantially parallel planar surfaces, an inner layer of hydrophilic material, two outer layers of hydrophobic material coupled to opposite sides of the inner layer, and a two-dimensional array of a plurality of addressable through-holes, the through-holes being disposed substantially perpendicularly to the planar surfaces and the array characterized by an areal density of at least 1.6 through-holes per square millimeter;
b. loading a first sample into a first set of through-holes of the two-dimensional array, the first sample being a liquid;
c. retaining the first sample in the first set of through-holes by surface tension;
d. adding a second sample into a specified subset of through-holes, the specified subset of through-holes having at least one adjacent through-hole containing a sample other than the second sample, the specified subset of through-holes further coinciding with one of the first set of at least one of the though-holes thereby permitting a reaction between the first sample and the second sample, wherein the layers of hydrophobic material prevent capillary outmigration of the samples; and
e. characterizing the reaction in the specified subset of through-holes in terms of the specified properties.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for analyzing a plurality of liquid samples. The system has a platen having two substantially parallel planar surfaces and a plurality of through-holes dimensioned so as to maintain a liquid sample in each through-hole by means of surface tension. A source of optical radiation illuminates the through-holes, and an optical arrangement analyzes the light emanating from the through-holes. The through-holes may be individually addressable, and may have volumes less than 100 nanoliters. Samples may be drawn from a planar surface by capillary action and may be accurately dispensed, diluted and mixed in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for analyzing specified properties of a set of samples, the method comprising:
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a. providing a platen having two substantially parallel planar surfaces, an inner layer of hydrophilic material, two outer layers of hydrophobic material coupled to opposite sides of the inner layer, and a two-dimensional array of a plurality of addressable through-holes, the through-holes being disposed substantially perpendicularly to the planar surfaces and the array characterized by an areal density of at least 1.6 through-holes per square millimeter;
b. loading a first sample into a first set of through-holes of the two-dimensional array, the first sample being a liquid;
c. retaining the first sample in the first set of through-holes by surface tension;
d. adding a second sample into a specified subset of through-holes, the specified subset of through-holes having at least one adjacent through-hole containing a sample other than the second sample, the specified subset of through-holes further coinciding with one of the first set of at least one of the though-holes thereby permitting a reaction between the first sample and the second sample, wherein the layers of hydrophobic material prevent capillary outmigration of the samples; and
e. characterizing the reaction in the specified subset of through-holes in terms of the specified properties. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
f. illuminating a set of more than one of the plurality of through-holes with opitical radiation; and
g. seperately analyzing the optical radiation emanating from each through-hole of the set of more through-holes than one using an optical arrangement including a detector array.
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12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the step of analyzing includes spectrally characterizing the optical radiation emanating from each through-hole.
Specification