Chemical array with test dependent signal reading or processing

• US 20050026155A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Amores, Douglas A., Webb, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00547 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 25/00 ICT specially adapted for hybridisation; ICT specially adapted for gene or protein expression
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method in which an array identifier for a chemical array with probes at multiple feature locations is retrieved from a memory or read. The array identifier, a request for a test which requires an instruction on reading or processing the signal data read from the array, and payment information, are all forwarded to a remote location. A method is also provided which includes retrieving an instruction on reading or processing signal data read from a chemical array. This is retrieved from a memory using a test request and which memory carries one or more instructions for the array each retrievable with a different test request. Apparatus and computer program products are further provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

retrieving from a memory or reading an array identifier for a chemical array with probes at multiple feature locations; and

forwarding the array identifier, a request for a test which requires an instruction on reading or processing the signal data read from the array, and payment information to a remote location.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the array identifier, test request, and payment information are transmitted to the remote location.

3. A method according to claim 2 additionally comprising in response to the transmission of the array identifier, the test request, and payment information, receiving the instruction from the remote location.

4. A method according to claim 3 additionally comprising reading signal data or processing read signal data from the array in accordance with the received instruction.

5. A method according to claim 3 additionally comprising repeating the retrieving or reading, the forwarding, and the receiving one or more times each time with a different test request, and wherein the receiving comprises receiving different instructions in each repetition.

6. A method according to claim 3 wherein the instruction comprises a sub-array pattern.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the instruction additionally comprises an indication that only signal data from feature locations in the sub-array need be read or processed.

8. A method according to claim 6 additionally comprising reading signal data from the array.

9. A method according to claim 8 additionally comprising exposing the array to a sample.

10. A method according to claim 6 wherein the sub-array pattern is received from a memory at the remote memory which carries multiple sub-array patterns for the array each retrievable with a different test request.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein signal data is acquired only from features of the received sub-array pattern.

12. A method according to claim 10 additionally comprising generating a result from acquired signal data only from those array feature locations of the retrieved sub-array pattern.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the result does not provide any indication of which feature locations of the array bound to a sample component.

14. A method according to claim 3 additionally comprising receiving from the remote location in response to the transmitted array identifier, the test request, and payment information, a quoted price for the test requested.

15. A method according to claim 3 wherein the received instruction comprise an instruction on processing read signal data.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the received instruction comprises a data processing instruction in the form of computer program code, or a parameter for a method which performs array signal data interpretation.

17. A method according to claim 15 additionally comprising processing read signal data based on the received instruction.

18. A method according to claim 2 additionally comprising:

forwarding the read signal data to the remote location; and

in response to the forwarding of the array identifier, test request, payment information, and read signal data to the remote location, receiving a result based on the instruction retrieved from a memory which carries the instruction for the array retrievable with the test request.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein a result is received based on the instruction retrieved from a memory which carries multiple instructions for the array each retrievable with a different test request.

20. A method according to claim 18 additionally comprising reading signal data from the feature locations.

21. A method according to claim 18 additionally comprising in response to the transmitted array identifier, test request, and payment information, receiving a quoted price for the test request.

22. A method according to claim 3 additionally comprising repeating the retrieving or reading, the forwarding, and the receiving, one or more times each time with a different test request, and wherein the receiving comprises receiving different results in each repetition.

23. A method according to claim 18 wherein the instruction comprise a sub-array pattern.

24. A method according to claim 18 wherein the received result does not provide any indication of which feature locations of the array bound to a sample component.

30. An apparatus for use with a chemical array unit having a chemical array with probes at multiple feature locations, comprising:

an array reader which reads signal data from the array;

a processor which causes the apparatus to execute a method of claim 1.

31. An apparatus for use with a chemical array unit having a chemical array with probes at multiple feature locations, comprising:

an array reader which reads signal data from the array;

a processor which causes the apparatus to execute a method of claim 6.

32. An apparatus for use with a chemical array unit having a chemical array with probes at multiple feature locations, comprising:

an array reader which reads signal data from the array;

a processor which causes the apparatus to execute a method of claim 17.

33. An apparatus according to claim 30 wherein the array reader comprises:

a light source to illuminate array feature locations with an interrogating light; and

a detector to detect light emitted in response to the interrogating light.

34. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium carrying a computer program which when loaded into a computer executes a method of claim 1.

35. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium carrying a computer program which when loaded into a computer executes a method of claim 4.

37. A method comprising forwarding a result of a method of claim 1 to a remote location.

38. A method comprising receiving from a remote location a result from a method of claim 1.

25. A method comprising retrieving an instruction on reading or processing signal data read from a chemical array, from a memory using a test request and which memory carries multiple instructions for the array each retrievable with a different test request.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the instruction is retrieved from the memory using both an array identifier and the test request, which memory carries multiple instructions for each of multiple arrays, each instruction retrievable with a different combination of array identifier and test request.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the array identifier and test request are received from a remote location.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the retrieved instruction is communicated to the remote location.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein the receiving additionally comprising receiving payment information is additionally received from the remote location which payment information includes an account identification, the method additionally comprising;

repeating the receiving and retrieving at least once; and

charging received accounts with an amount based on the test request received with the account.

36. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium carrying a computer program which when loaded into a computer executes a method of claim 25.

39. A method comprising forwarding a result of a method of claim 25 to a remote location.

40. A method comprising receiving from a remote location a result from a method of claim 25.