System and method for programmable illumination pattern generation

• US 7,144,119 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BioArray Solutions Limited (Werfen SA)
• Original Assignee: BioArray Solutions Limited (Werfen SA)
• Inventors: Chau, Chiu Wo, Seul, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): KOVAL, MELISSA J
• Application Number:
  US09/768,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20010007775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,141 Days
• Field of Search: 353/30, 353/69, 353/121, 355/53, 355/35, 355/67, 435/6, 435/7.2, 436/518, 436/534, 359/855, 427/586, 205/666, 430/320, 382/312, 349/5
• US Class Current: 353/69
• 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 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00648 by the use of solid beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00653 the compounds being bound to electrodes embedded in or on the solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00713 Electrochemical synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0663 Stretching or orienting elongated molecules or particles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0668 Trapping microscopic beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0454 radiation pressure, optical tweezers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502761 specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules investigating characteristics of particles G01N15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502792 for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6825 Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6837 using probe arrays or probe chips C12Q1/6874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2563/155 Particles of a defined size, e.g. nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/501 being an array of oligonucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/607 being a sensor, e.g. electrode
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/00 : Libraries per se, e.g. arrays, mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 : specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54313 : the carrier being characterised by its particulate form
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0012 : characterised by the manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0043 : Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 3/04 : Acceleration by electromagnetic wave pressure

Abstract

An apparatus providing programmable illumination pattern generation for the manipulation of colloidal particulates and biomolecules in suspension between electrodes, is disclosed. The apparatus implements LEAPS (Light-controlled electrokinetic assembly of particles near surfaces), which relies on: AC electric field-induced assembly of particles the patterning of the electrolyte/silicon oxide/silicon interface to exert spatial control over the assembly process; and the real-time control of the assembly process via external illumination. The apparatus generates patterns of illumination and projects then onto planar surfaces, i.e., a LEAPS electrode. This enables the creation of patterns using graphical design or drawing software on a personal computer and the projection or said patterns, or sequences of patterns (“time-varying patterns”), onto the interface using a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and an optical design which images the LCD panel onto the surface of interest, to provide for arrangements and assembly of particles in such patterns.

Claims

1. A process for using a programmable illumination pattern generator so as to provide active feedback in the optimization of an illumination pattern prepared by said pattern generator, said process comprising:

creating a predetermined illumination pattern;

configuring said programmable illumination pattern generator in accordance with said predetermined illumination pattern;

illuminating a field of view on a substrate using a light source and a projection system using the programmable illumination pattern generator;

acquiring an image of the field of view;

analyzing said image so as to extract a set of feature coordinates within the image; and

iterating said creating, configuring, illuminating, acquiring and analyzing steps n times, wherein n is an integer from zero to 10,000, using said feature coordinates determined in the (n−

1)th analyzing step so as to create a derivative optimized illumination pattern.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the predetermined illumination pattern is created within a graphical user environment.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein said configuration step is performed using a liquid crystal display panel.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the programmable illumination pattern generator comprises an active mask which is configured by means of a video adapter interfaced with an active mask control circuit.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the active feedback is used to programmably reconfigure an array of particles assembled on the substrate.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein said particles are being reconfigured by applying a segmentation operation, said operation producing at least two subarrays.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the active feedback is used to optimize the configuration of an assembled particle array by iterating the operation of array segmentation.