Form in place gaskets for assays

• US 7,919,308 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Schleifer, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): ALEXANDER, LYLE
• Application Number:
  US10/172,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,217 Days
• Field of Search: 422 99-104, 359/398, 435/288.3, 435/288.4, 435/305.4, 413/9
• US Class Current: 435/305.4
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0689 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/12 Specific details about manufacturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0822 Slides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/508 rigid containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 41/20 incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. moulding inserts or for coating articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/265 Packings, Gaskets
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5304 Reaction vessels, e.g. agglutination plates for solid-phase systems G01N33/543
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation

Abstract

Assay chambers that include a form-in-place gasket between a substrate and a cover, and methods of forming such assay chambers, are described. The assay chambers may further be associated with an analysis site for analyzing a sample solution contained within the assay chamber.

Claims

1. A method of forming an assay chamber comprising:

depositing a gasket material onto a substrate, the deposited gasket material having a predetermined configuration which includes one or more structural features selected from a discontinuous structure, a vent, a channel, a maze, a serpentine channel, a bump, a sample inlet, and a sample outlet,

positioning a cover adjacent the substrate to provide the assay chamber, the assay chamber having the material disposed between the cover and the substrate; and

curing the gasket material to provide a form-in-place gasket, wherein a permanent seal is formed between the form-in-place gasket and the cover, wherein the substrate, form-in-place gasket, and the cover define an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet and outlet are through openings of the form-in-place gasket.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gasket material is self-leveling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gasket material is non-slumping.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the form-in-place gasket is of uniform thickness.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the form-in-place gasket is between about 10 micrometers and about 250 micrometers thick.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the form-in-place gasket is between about 250 micrometers and about 1500 micrometers thick.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the form-in-place gasket is between about 100 micrometers and about 1000 micrometers wide.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the form-in-place gasket is between about 100 micrometers and about 3000 micrometers wide.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein curing is done before positioning.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gasket material is contacted with the cover before curing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the gasket material is a self-leveling silicone material that has a viscosity of between about 15,000 to about 50,000 centipoise.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the form-in-place gasket forms a non-releasable seal between the cover and the substrate.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein curing comprises contacting the gasket material with moisture in the air.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein curing comprises heating the gasket material.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein curing comprises shining light on the gasket material.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein curing comprises contacting the gasket material with a catalyst.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the cover or substrate further comprises an analysis component.

18. An assay chamber comprising a substrate, a cover, and a form-in-place gasket disposed between the substrate and the cover, wherein a permanent seal is formed between the cover and the form-in-place gasket, the form-in-place gasket having a predetermined configuration which includes one or more structural features selected from a discontinuous structure, a vent, a channel, a maze, a serpentine channel, a bump, a sample inlet, and a sample outlet, wherein the substrate, form-in-place gasket, and the cover define an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet and outlet are through openings of the form-in-place gasket.

19. The assay chamber according to claim 18, wherein the form-in-place gasket has a thickness of between about 10 micrometers and about 1.5 millimeters.

20. The assay chamber according to claim 18, wherein the form-in-place gasket has a width of between about 100 micrometers and about 3 millimeters.

21. The assay chamber according to claim 18, wherein the assay chamber further comprises an analysis component.

22. The assay chamber according to claim 18, wherein the substrate defines a depression in the substrate, the depression defining a well.

23. The assay chamber according to claim 18, wherein the cover defines a depression in the cover, the depression defining a well.

24. The assay chamber of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of assay chambers, wherein the assay chambers are spaced at uniform intervals.

25. The assay chamber of claim 24, wherein the uniform interval is selected from the group consisting of about 4.5 mm, about 9 mm and about 2.25 mm.

26. The assay chamber of claim 25, wherein the assay chambers are in fluid communication with an external fluid dispensing system that handles multiple fluids in parallel.

27. The assay chamber of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of assay chambers each having an inlet, wherein the inlets are fluidically coupled to an external fluid dispensing system that handles multiple fluids in parallel.

28. The assay chamber of claim 27, wherein the inlets are spaced at uniform intervals.

29. The assay chamber of claim 28, wherein the uniform interval is selected from the group consisting of about 4.5 mm, about 9 mm and about 2.25 mm.

30. The assay chamber of claim 18, further comprising:

a second assay chamber defined by the substrate, the cover, and the form-in-place gasket disposed between the substrate and the cover, wherein the second assay chamber is in fluidic communication with the assay chamber via a channel, and wherein the assay chamber and the second assay chamber are positioned in series with one another.

31. The assay chamber of claim 30, wherein the second assay chamber further comprises an analysis component.

32. The assay chamber of claim 31, wherein the inlets of the array chambers are fluidically coupled to an external fluid dispensing.

33. The assay chamber of claim 32, wherein the inlets are spaced at uniform intervals.

34. The assay chamber of claim 33, wherein the uniform interval is selected from the group consisting of about 4.5 mm, about 9 mm and about 2.25 mm.