Microarray dispensing with real-time verification and inspection
First Claim
1. A microarrayer for spotting solution onto a receiving surface, comprising:
- A. a receiving surface,B. at least one dispense head for spotting said receiving surface,C. at least one light source capable of illuminating said receiving surface,D. at least one camera operating in conjunction with said at least one light source, said at least one camera capable of acquiring and transmitting surface image data,E. a computer programmed to;
1) receive said surface image data from said at least one camera,2) analyze said surface image data, and3) generate post analysis data based on said analysis of said surface image data, wherein said post analysis data comprises information relating to the success or failure of said microarrayer to successfully spot solution onto said receiving surface,F. an adjustment device for permitting adjustments to be made to said spotting of solution onto said receiving surface, wherein said adjustments are based on said post analysis data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microarrayer for spotting solution onto a receiving surface in an automated microarray dispensing device. Elements of the present invention include: at least one dispense head for spotting the receiving surface, at least one light source capable of illuminating the receiving surface, 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 surface image data to a computer. The computer is programmed to receive the surface image data and analyze it. The computer will then generate post analysis data based on the analysis of the surface image data. The post analysis data is available for improving the spotting of the solution onto the receiving surface. In a preferred embodiment, the surface image data includes information relating to receiving surface alignment, information relating to spot quality, and receiving surface identification information. In a preferred embodiment, the analysis of the information relating to receiving surface alignment enables the computer to make automatic adjustments to the relative positions of the at least one dispense head and the receiving surface 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 receiving surface identification information enables the computer to track each receiving surface. In a preferred embodiment the receiving surface is a plurality of slides.
120 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A microarrayer for spotting solution onto a receiving surface, comprising:
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A. a receiving surface, B. at least one dispense head for spotting said receiving surface, C. at least one light source capable of illuminating said receiving surface, D. at least one camera operating in conjunction with said at least one light source, said at least one camera capable of acquiring and transmitting surface image data, E. a computer programmed to; 1) receive said surface image data from said at least one camera, 2) analyze said surface image data, and 3) generate post analysis data based on said analysis of said surface image data, wherein said post analysis data comprises information relating to the success or failure of said microarrayer to successfully spot solution onto said receiving surface, F. an adjustment device for permitting adjustments to be made to said spotting of solution onto said receiving surface, 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)
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16. A microarrayer for spotting solution onto a receiving surface, comprising:
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A. a receiving surface means, B. a dispensing means for spotting said receiving surface means, C. a light source means capable of illuminating said receiving surface means, D. a camera means operating in conjunction with said light source means, said camera means capable of acquiring and transmitting surface image data, E. a computer means programmed to; 1) receive said surface image data from said at least one camera means, 2) analyze said surface image data, and 3) generate post analysis data based on said analysis of said surface image data, wherein said post analysis data comprises information relating to the success or failure of said microarrayer to successfully spot solution onto said receiving surface means. F. an adjustment means for permitting adjustments to be made to said spotting of solution onto said receiving surface means, wherein said adjustments are based on said post analysis data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification