Multi-well apparatus

• US 7,413,910 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2002
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exelixis Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Exelixis Incorporated
• Inventors: Leahy, James William, Kearney, Patrick, Mercer, Robert D., Donaldson, Jeffrey D., Swartwood, Troy M., Keller, Douglas O., Hager, David Clarence, Morrissey, Micheal
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEVKOVICH, NATALIA A
• Application Number:
  US10/471,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20040115098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,356 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102, 436/180
• US Class Current: 436/180
• 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 2219/00283 Reactor vessels with top opening
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00286 Reactor vessels with top and bottom openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00313 the reactor vessels being formed by arrays of wells in blocks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00315 Microtiter plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00319 the blocks being mounted in stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00333 Closures attached to the reactor vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00416 Vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00418 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00423 using filtration, e.g. through porous frits
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00599 Solution-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/141 Preventing contamination, tampering
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50255 Multi-well filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/563 Joints or fittings in general F16L; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5635 connecting two containers face to face, e.g. comprising a filter
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 50/08 Liquid phase synthesis, i.e. wherein all library building blocks are in liquid phase or in solution during library creation; Particular methods of cleavage from the liquid support
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 : Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A multi-well assembly (10) comprises a multi-well block (12) and a guide plate (14). The multi-well block (12) has a plurality of wells (18) each with a fluid-impermeable bottom surface (22). The guide plate (14) has a plurality of fluid passageways (34) corresponding to the wells (18) of the multi-well block (12). The guide plate (14) is configured to establish fluid communication between each well (18) and an associated fluid passageway (34) when the guide plate (14) is aligned with the multi-well block (12).

Claims

1. A method of carrying out multiple chemical reactions, the method comprising:

providing a multi-well device comprising a plurality of wells having fluid-impervious bottom surfaces;

providing a guide plate defining a plurality of passageways corresponding to the wells;

introducing reagents into the wells to initiate respective chemical reactions in the wells; and

registering the guide plate with the multi-well device so that each well is in flow-through communication with a respective passageway to permit products of the respective chemical reactions to flow through the passageways,

wherein the guide plate has a plurality of upwardly extending projections that open the fluid-impervious bottom surfaces of the plurality of wells whenever the guide plate is registered with the multi-well device, and wherein registering the guide plate with the multi-well device comprises pressing the guide plate and the multi-well device together using a pressing apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising registering a multi-well receptacle plate comprising a plurality of wells with the guide plate to collect the products of the chemical reactions flowing from the passageways.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing respective filters in the wells for filtering the reagents.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a pressure differential across the passageways to facilitate the flow of the respective products of the respective chemical reactions through the passageways.