Systems for filling a sample array by droplet dragging

• US 8,029,745 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Hunter, Ian, Kanigan, Tanya S., Brenan, Colin J. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Soderquist; Arlen
• Application Number:
  US12/468,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 356/244, 356/246, 359/599, 359/886, 362/318, 362/342, 362354-356, 422 56- 58, 422 8205- 8209, 422/100, 422/102, 422/104, 422400-401, 422/408, 422/412, 422/63, 422/67, 422/501, 422/509, 422/515, 422/521, 422/552, 422/560, 436/43, 436164-166, 436171-172, 436/174, 436179-180, 436/183, 506/34
• US Class Current: 422/515
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3021 the components to be mixed being combined in a single independent droplet, e.g. these droplets being divided by a non-miscible fluid or consisting of independent droplets
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30351 using hydrophilic/hydrophobic surfaces
• 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 2219/00317 Microwell devices, i.e. having large numbers of wells
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00319 the blocks being mounted in stacked arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00351 Means for dispensing and evacuation of reagents
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0036 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00369 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00373 Hollow needles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00389 Feeding through valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00423 using filtration, e.g. through porous frits
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0043 for direct application of reagents, e.g. through openings in a shutter
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00479 Means for mixing reactants or products in the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00495 Means for heating or cooling the reaction vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/005 Beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00511 Walls of reactor vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00533 essentially rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00536 in the shape of disks
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00549 : 2-dimensional
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 : Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00587 : High throughput processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 : Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00648 : by the use of solid beads
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 : Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00686 : Automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 : Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 : Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 : Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0845 : Filaments, strings, fibres, i.e. not hollow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/022 : droplet contacts the surface of the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0262 : using touch-off at substrate or container
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 : for liquids
• 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 3/5085 : for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50857 : using arrays or bundles of open capillaries for holding samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/523 : for multisample carriers, e.g. used for microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 70/00 : Tags or labels specially adapted for combinatorial chemistry or libraries, e.g. fluorescent tags or bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 : Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1037 : Using surface tension, e.g. pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/466 : with separation columns in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/6095 : Micromachined or nanomachined, e.g. micro- or nanosize
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 30/82 : Automatic means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00069 : whereby the sample substrate is of the bio-disk type, i.e. having the format of an optical disk
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 : Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 : including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25625 : Dilution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0481 : Puncturing

Abstract

Systems for filling sample array by droplet dragging are provided. One aspect of the invention provides an array filling system for filling a platen having a platen surface and an array of receptacles, the receptacles having an internal surface and the receptacles separated by the platen surface, the system comprising: a liquid transfer device capable of holding liquid; and a controller configured to position the liquid transfer device in proximity to the platen surface and to move the liquid transfer device across the surface and over the receptacles to be filled so as to cause sequential communication of liquid in the liquid transfer device with the interior surface of each receptacle.

Claims

1. An array filling system for filling a platen, the system comprising:

a platen having a platen surface and an array of receptacles to be filled, the receptacles having an internal surface and the receptacles separated by the platen surface;

a liquid transfer device capable of holding liquid; and

a controller configured;

(a) to position the liquid transfer device in the proximity to the platen surface;

(b) to cause a droplet of liquid to (i) be dispensed from the liquid transfer device and (ii) contact the platen surface, wherein surface tension maintains contact between the droplet and the liquid transfer device; and

(c) to move the liquid transfer device across the platen surface and over the receptacles to be filled thereby causing sequential communication of liquid in the droplet with the interior surface of each receptacle.

2. A system of claim 1, the system further comprising:

an array of liquid transfer devices capable of holding liquid,

wherein the controller is configured to position the array of liquid transfer devices in proximity to the platen surface and to move the array of liquid transfer devices across the platen surface and over the receptacles to be filled so as to cause sequential communication of liquids in the array of liquid transfer devices with the interior surface of each receptacle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to move the liquid transfer device away from the platen surface to cause the removal of excess liquid from the platen surface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to dispense the liquid to keep the droplet from being depleted.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid transfer device holds a liquid test sample.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the receptacles contain a reagent.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid transfer device is a capillary.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid transfer device is a pipette.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the liquid transfer device is a needle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the platen surface is hydrophobic and the internal surfaces of the receptacles are hydrophilic;

and wherein the liquid is an aqueous liquid sample.

11. An array filling system for transferring liquid to an array of receptacles, the system comprising:

a platen including a platen surface and an array of receptacles, the receptacles having an internal surface and the receptacles separated by the platen surface;

a liquid transfer device capable of holding liquid; and

a controller configured to position the liquid transfer device in proximity to the platen surface and to move the liquid transfer device across the surface and over the receptacles to be filled so as to cause sequential communication of liquid in the liquid transfer device with the interior surface of each receptacle.

12. The system of claim 11, the system further comprising:

an array of liquid transfer devices capable of holding liquid,

wherein the controller is configured to position the array of liquid transfer devices in proximity to the platen surface and to move the array of liquid transfer devices across the platen surface and over the receptacles to be filled so as to cause the sequential communication of liquids in the array of liquid transfer devices with the interior surface of each receptacle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to move the liquid transfer device away from the platen surface to cause the removal of excess liquid from the platen surface.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to dispense the liquid to keep the droplet from being depleted.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the liquid transfer device holds a liquid test sample.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein a plurality of the receptacles contain a reagent.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the liquid transfer device is a capillary.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the liquid transfer device is a pipette.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the liquid transfer device is a needle.