Crystal growth devices and systems, and methods for using same

• US 7,279,146 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fluidigm Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fluidigm Corporation
• Inventors: Facer, Geoffrey, Nassef, Hany Ramez, Barco, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kunemund; Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US10/827,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20050019794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 117/68, 117/69, 117/925, 117/927, 422/245.1
• US Class Current: 422/245.1
• 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 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00355 peristaltic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00389 Feeding through valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00396 Membrane valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00398 in multiple arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00599 Solution-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00756 Compositions, e.g. coatings, crystals, formulations
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/54 Organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/58 Macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 35/002 Crucibles or containers
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 7/00 Single-crystal growth from solutions using solvents which are liquid at normal temperature, e.g. aqueous solutions from molten solvents C30B9/00; by normal or gradient freezing C30B11/00; under a protective fluid C30B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/08 Integrated apparatus specially adapted for both creating and screening libraries

Abstract

High throughput screening of crystallization of a target material is accomplished by simultaneously introducing a solution of the target material into a plurality of chambers of a microfabricated fluidic device. The microfabricated fluidic device is then manipulated to vary the solution condition in the chambers, thereby simultaneously providing a large number of crystallization environments. Control over changed solution conditions may result from a variety of techniques, including but not limited to metering volumes of crystallizing agent into the chamber by volume exclusion, by entrapment of volumes of crystallizing agent determined by the dimensions of the microfabricated structure, or by cross-channel injection of sample and crystallizing agent into an array of junctions defined by intersecting orthogonal flow channels.

Claims

1. A device for positioning protein crystal within an energy beam comprising:

a chip for holding said crystal therein, said chip being made from an elastomeric block having disposed therein a deflectable membrane;

an adapter plate for connecting said chip to a post, said chip being connected to said adapter plate through one or more posts penetrating into said chip; and

,

a goniometer, wherein said goniometer is connected to said adapter plate for positioning said crystal within said beam.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said adapter plate is movably translatable so as to further position said crystal within an axis perpendicular to said beam.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said goniometer is rotatable about an axis perpendicular and intersecting said beam, and said chip is rotated about said axis of said beam so as to expose different facets of said crystal to said beam.