Apparatus and method for dispensing fluid, semi-solid and solid samples
First Claim
1. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
- a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate;
a substrate holder support; and
a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support, wherein the means comprises a datum plane defined by at least three datums;
a first datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for restricting movement of the substrate-holder along an x-axis and a mutually orthogonal y-axis, and defining a first point in a z-axis, the z-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis;
a second datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for at least partially locating the substrate-holder along at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis and defining a second point in the z-axis; and
a third datum for engaging the substrate-holder and defining a third point in the z-axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates generally to the field of automated collection and deposition of fluid, semi-solid, and solid samples of biological or chemical materials. More specifically, the invention relates to the field of microarrayers, which are devices for autonomously depositing minute droplets of biological or chemical fluid samples in ordered arrays onto substrates. The invention also relates to tissue arrayers, which are devices for the collection and deposition of solid and semi-solid tissue samples in ordered arrays. Other aspects of the invention relate to fluidics robots, which are devices for the autonomous collection, dispensing and processing of biological or chemical fluid samples. The invention improves the throughput of microarrayers, tissue arrayers, and fluidics robots by providing methods and apparatuses to precisely and repeatably load supplies into the machines.
127 Citations
68 Claims
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1. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a substrate holder support; and a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support, wherein the means comprises a datum plane defined by at least three datums; a first datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for restricting movement of the substrate-holder along an x-axis and a mutually orthogonal y-axis, and defining a first point in a z-axis, the z-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis; a second datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for at least partially locating the substrate-holder along at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis and defining a second point in the z-axis; and a third datum for engaging the substrate-holder and defining a third point in the z-axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a substrate holder support comprising a first datum, a second datum, and a third datum; and a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising an apparatus for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support, wherein the apparatus for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support comprises; a first element for mating with the first datum disposed on the substrate-holder support, and for restricting movement of the removable substrate-holder along an x-axis and a mutually orthogonal y-axis and defining a first point in a z-axis, the z-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis; a second element for mating with the second datum disposed on the substrate-holder support, and for at least partially locating the removable substrate-holder along at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis while defining a second point in the z-axis; and a third element for mating with the third datum disposed on the substrate-holder support and defining a third point in the z-axis. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
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42. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising an apparatus for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on a substrate-holder support; a fluid reservoir holder support comprising a first datum, a second datum, and a third datum; and a removable fluid-reservoir holder for holding a removable fluid-reservoir, the fluid-reservoir holder comprising an apparatus for precisely and repeatably positioning the removable fluid-reservoir holder on the fluid-reservoir holder support, wherein the apparatus for repeatably positioning the removable fluid-reservoir holder on the fluid-reservoir holder support comprises; a first element for mating with the first datum disposed on the fluid-reservoir holder support, and for restricting movement of the removable fluid-reservoir holder along an x-axis and a mutually orthogonal y-axis and defining a first point in a z-axis, the z-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis; a second element for mating with the second datum disposed on the fluid-reservoir holder support, and for at least partially locating the removable fluid-reservoir holder along at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis while defining a second point in the z-axis; and a third element for mating with the third datum disposed on the fluid-reservoir holder support and defining a third point in the z-axis. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. A microarrayer assembly for depositing droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising an apparatus for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on a substrate-holder support; a fluid reservoir support; and a removable fluid-reservoir for holding at least one fluid, the removable fluid-reservoir comprising an apparatus for repeatably positioning the removable fluid-reservoir on the fluid-reservoir support, wherein the fluid-reservoir support comprises; a first datum for engaging the removable fluid-reservoir and for restricting movement of the removable fluid-reservoir along an x-axis and a mutually orthogonal y-axis, and defining a first point in a z-axis, the z-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis; a second datum for engaging the removable fluid-reservoir and for at least partially locating the removable fluid-reservoir along at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis and defining a second point in the z-axis; and a third datum for engaging the removable fluid-reservoir and defining a third point in the z-axis. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a substrate holder support; and a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising an apparatus for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support, wherein the removable substrate-holder further comprises a removable substrate-mounting fixture, the substrate-mounting fixture including a locking element for securing the substrate-mounting fixture into the removable substrate-holder, the substrate-mounting fixture for holding at least one substrate.
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49. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a plurality of deposition engines operating cooperatively, each deposition engine comprising a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a substrate-holder; and a support for holding the substrate-holder, the support comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the support, wherein the means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate holder on the support comprises; a first datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for restricting movement of the substrate-holder along an x-axis and a mutually orthogonal y-axis, and defining a first point in a z-axis, the z-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis; a second datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for at least partially locating the substrate-holder along at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis and defining a second point in the z-axis; and a third datum for engaging the substrate-holder and defining a third point in the z-axis. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51)
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52. A method for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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providing a deposit element; providing a substrate; providing a substrate-holder; providing a substrate holder support; loading the substrate on the substrate holder; loading the substrate-holder onto the substrate-holder support, the substrate-holder comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support, wherein the means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate holder on the support comprises; a first datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for restricting movement of the substrate-holder along an x-axis and a mutually orthogonal y-axis, and defining a first point in a z-axis, the z-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis; a second datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for at least partially locating the substrate-holder along at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis and defining a second point in the z-axis; and a third datum for engaging the substrate-holder and defining a third point in the z-axis; providing fluid to the deposit element, the deposit element moveable relative to the substrate-holder; and transferring a droplet of fluid from the deposit element to the substrate.
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53. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a substrate-holder support; and a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support, wherein the substrate-holder support comprises a datum plane defined by at least three datums; a first datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for restricting movement of the substrate-holder along an x-axis and a mutually orthogonal y-axis, and defining a first point in a z-axis, the z-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis; a second datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for at least partially locating the substrate-holder along at least one of the x-axis and the y-axis and defining a second point in the z-axis; and a third datum for engaging the substrate-holder and defining a third point in the z-axis.
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54. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a plurality of deposition engines operating cooperatively, each deposition engine comprising a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate; and a substrate conveyor for moving the removable substrate-holder from a first deposition engine to a second deposition engine, the substrate-holder comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate conveyor, wherein the means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate holder on the substrate conveyor comprises; a first datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for restricting movement of the substrate-holder along an x-axis and a mutually orthogonal y-axis, and defining a first point in a z-axis, the z-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the y-axis; a second datum for engaging the substrate-holder and for at least partially locating the substrate-holder along at least one of the x-axis and the v-axis and defining a second point in the z-axis; and a third datum for engaging the substrate-holder and defining a third point in the z-axis. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a fluid-reservoir holder support; and a fluid-reservoir holder comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the fluid-reservoir holder on the fluid-reservoir holder support, wherein the means for precisely and repeatedly positioning the fluid-reservoir holder on the fluid-reservoir holder support comprises; a first raised edge disposed on the fluid-reservoir holder support; a first spring clip disposed on the fluid-reservoir holder support for biasing the fluid-reservoir holder against the first raised edge and for restricting the movement of the fluid-reservoir holder along an x-axis; a second raised edge disposed on the fluid-reservoir holder support and perpendicular to the first raised edge; and a second spring clip disposed on the fluid-reservoir holder support for biasing the fluid-reservoir holder against the second raised edge and for restricting the movement of the fluid-reservoir holder along a y-axis orthogonal to the x-axis. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61)
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62. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a substrate holder support; and a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support, wherein the means for precisely and repeatedly positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support comprises; a first element for mating with a first datum disposed on the substrate-holder support, and for restricting movement of the removable substrate-holder along a first axis while defining a first point on the z-axis, wherein the first axis defines at least one of an x-axis and a y-axis; a second element for mating with a second datum disposed on the substrate-holder support, and for restricting movement of the removable substrate-holder along the first axis while defining a second point on the z-axis; and a third element for mating with a third datum disposed on the substrate-holder support, and for restricting movement of the removable substrate-holder along the second axis while defining a third point on the z-axis, wherein the second axis is orthogonal to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64)
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65. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a substrate holder support; and a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support, wherein the means for precisely and repeatedly positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support comprises; a first groove disposed on the substrate-holder, the first groove comprising an axis; a first datum disposed on the substrate-holder support, wherein the first datum is adapted for mating with the first groove and for restricting movement of the substrate-holder along an x-axis; a surface disposed on the substrate-holder support, wherein the surface is orthogonal to the axis of the first groove and the surface restricts movement of the substrate-holder along a y-axis orthogonal to the x-axis; and a biasing means to urge the substrate-holder against the surface. - View Dependent Claims (66)
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67. A microarrayer assembly for depositing minute droplets of fluid on a substrate comprising:
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a deposit element for depositing minute droplets of fluid onto a surface of a substrate; a substrate holder support; and a removable substrate-holder for holding at least one substrate, the substrate-holder comprising a means for precisely and repeatably positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support, wherein the means for precisely and repeatedly positioning the substrate-holder on the substrate-holder support comprises; a flat bottom surface disposed on the substrate-holder; a flat upper surface disposed on the substrate-holder support for engaging the planar bottom surface of the substrate-holder and for defining a position on a z-axis; a first surface disposed on the substrate-holder support and orthogonal to the planar upper surface, wherein the first surface restricts movement of the substrate-holder along an x-axis orthogonal to the z-axis; and a second surface disposed on the substrate-holder and orthogonal to both the planar upper surface and the first surface, wherein the second surface restricts movement of the substrate-holder along a y-axis mutually orthogonal to the x-axis and the z-axis. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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Specification