Fabricating biopolymer arrays
First Claim
1. A method of synthesizing or depositing a biopolymer on a substrate using a dispensing head with biopolymer or biomonomer fluids, the fluid dispensing head having:
- a reservoir chamber;
multiple jets which can dispense droplets of biopolymer or biomonomer fluids onto a substrate, each jet including a delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and including an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice;
the method comprising;
(a) positioning the head with the orifices facing the substrate;
(b) dispensing at least one droplet from an orifice of said orifices on the substrate;
(c) positioning the head with the orifices facing a cleaning station; and
(d) exposing the head about the orifices to a cleaning fluid from the cleaning station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate using a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid, and using a dispensing head. The head has a reservoir chamber and at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate. The jet includes a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, which delivery chamber has an orifice. The jet further includes an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice. The method includes loading the head by positioning the head with the orifice adjacent and facing a biomonomer or biopolymer fluid, and providing a load pressure to the reservoir chamber. The load pressure is sufficiently negative such that the fluid is drawn into the reservoir chamber through the orifice and delivery chamber, while simultaneously being insufficient to result in ambient atmosphere entering the delivery chamber through the orifice once the head has been loaded and no further fluid is facing and adjacent the orifice. The head is positioned with the orifice facing the substrate and multiple droplets are dispensed from the head orifice so as to form an array of droplets on the substrate.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of synthesizing or depositing a biopolymer on a substrate using a dispensing head with biopolymer or biomonomer fluids, the fluid dispensing head having:
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a reservoir chamber; multiple jets which can dispense droplets of biopolymer or biomonomer fluids onto a substrate, each jet including a delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and including an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice; the method comprising; (a) positioning the head with the orifices facing the substrate; (b) dispensing at least one droplet from an orifice of said orifices on the substrate; (c) positioning the head with the orifices facing a cleaning station; and (d) exposing the head about the orifices to a cleaning fluid from the cleaning station. - View Dependent Claims (4, 6, 19, 21)
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2. A method of synthesizing or depositing a biopolymer on a substrate using a dispensing head with biopolymer or biomonomer fluids, the fluid dispensing head having:
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a reservoir chamber; multiple jets which can dispense droplets of biopolymer or biomonomer fluids onto a substrate, each jet including a delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and including an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice; the method comprising; (a) loading the head with a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid; (b) positioning the head with the orifices facing the substrate; (c) dispensing at least one droplet from an orifice of said orifices on the substrate; (d) positioning the head with the orifices facing a cleaning station; and (e) exposing the head about the orifices to a cleaning fluid from the cleaning station. - View Dependent Claims (3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 22)
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9. An apparatus for synthesizing or depositing a biopolymer on a substrate, comprising:
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(a) a dispensing head having; a reservoir chamber; at least one jet which can dispense droplets of a biomonomer or biopolymer onto a substrate, the jet including a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, and which capillary delivery chamber has an orifice and an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice; (b) a cleaning station which provides a cleaning fluid for the head; and (c) a pressure source to provide to the reservoir chamber, when the head is facing the cleaning station, a pressure which is sufficiently positive to prevent cleaning fluid contacting the orifice from entering the delivery chamber, wherein the pressure source also provides a holdoff pressure when the head is facing the cleaning station. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification