High capacity microarray dispensing

• US 6,979,425 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Agena Bioscience Inc. (Mesa Laboratories Inc.)
• Original Assignee: RoboDesign International, Inc. (Rigaku Corporation)
• Inventors: Brovold, Chritopher T., Ganz, Brian L., Moulds, John Andrew, Mickley, Mandel W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gakh, Yelena
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gordon, Brian R
• Application Number:
  US09/699,818
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 422/99, 422/100, 422/103, 422/105, 422/68.1, 422/58, 422/82.05, 422/66, 422/67, 141/1, 141/119, 141/129, 141/130, 141/57, 141/61, 436/174, 436/180, 436/46, 436/49, 738/630.1, 738/642, 738/641.1
• US Class Current: 422/504
• 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 2219/00364 Pipettes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00531 essentially square
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00691 using robots
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00693 Means for quality control
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0244 using pins
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0422 carried on a linear conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/112499 with sample on test slide
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/114998 with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A high capacity microarrayer for spotting solution onto slides in an automated microarray dispensing device. A microplate indexing device automatically moves, in sequence, a plurality of microplates to a solution removal area. A dispense head accesses each microplate at the solution removal area to remove solution from the microplate. The dispense head then moves to a slide positioning station to spot slides at the slide positioning station. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microplate indexing station has at least one input stacking chamber for stacking microplates, and at least one output stacking chamber for stacking microplates. A walking beam indexer is disposed between the at least one input stacking chamber and the at least one output stacking chamber. The walking beam indexer is for moving microplates from said at least one input stacking chamber to said at least one output stacking chamber. While at the solution removal area, a lid lifter lifts the lid off each microplate to permit the microplate to be accessed by the dispense head for solution removal. After the solution is removed, the lid lifter replaces the lid. In another preferred embodiment, there is at least one light source capable of illuminating the slides, and 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 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.

Claims

1. A high capacity microarrayer for spotting solution onto slides, comprising:

A) a solution removal area,

B) a microplate stacking device for stacking microplates,

C) a microplate indexing device for sequentially indexing microplates containing solution from said microplate stacking device to said solution removal area and for sequentially indexing said microplates from said solution removal area to said microplate stacking device after at least some of said solution has been removed,

D) a slide positioning station for positioning slides, and

E) a dispense head for accessing said solution removal area and for removing solution from a solution filled microplate at said solution removal area to spot a slide at said slide positioning station,

F) at least one light source capable of illuminating the slides,

G) 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,

H) 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

I) an adjustment means for permitting adjustments to be made to said spotting of solution onto the slides wherein said adjustments are made based on said post analysis data,

J) at least one cleaning station, comprising;

1) a sonic cleaner,

2) a rinsing fountain, and

3) a vacuum manifold.