Microarrayer apparatus

• US 6,308,750 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Genetix Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Genpak LLC (C.P. Converters Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Burke, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/541,078
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 141/130, 141/83, 141/85, 141/98, 422/68.1, 422/99, 422/100, 435/6
• US Class Current: 141/130
• 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 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00693 Means for quality control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0293 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 9/56 Means for indicating position of a recipient or sample in an array
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/028 having reaction cells in the form of microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/002 Magnifying glasses

Abstract

A manual microarrayer apparatus is disclosed which includes an integral visual magnification system alphanumeric counter and LED display for tracking samples in a microtitre plate. The apparatus is preferably reversible so as to provide left and right handed user formats.

Claims

1. A manually operable spotting station comprising:

a body section;

a cleaning station or wash bath integrally formed in said body section;

means, mounted on said body section, for receiving a sample tray

means, integrally formed in said body section, for receiving a slide; and

a visual magnification system, mounted on said body section, for viewing a slide.

2. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sample tracking device for indicating which wells of a microtitre plate have been sampled.

3. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sample tracking device comprises an array of LEDs.

4. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 3, wherein said array of LEDs are arranged in a 8 ×

12 or 16×

24 format.

5. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sample tracking device is operated by a foot pedal.

6. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising alphanumeric sample well counter integrally formed in said body section.

7. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said visual magnification system provides at least a two-fold magnification.

8. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 7, wherein said visual magnification system is a four-fold, six-fold, eight-fold or ten-fold magnification system.

9. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said visual magnification system has a magnification selected from the group consisting of:

(a) at least ×

5;

(b) at least ×

10;

(c) at least ×

20; and

(d) at least ×

40.

10. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said visual magnification system comprises a stereo zoom microscope.

11. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 1, wherein said visual magnification system comprises a head-up display.

12. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an integral light source.

13. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 12, wherein said light source is dichroic.

14. A manually operable spotting station as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a gridded template for guiding an operator.

15. A manually operable spotting station according to claim 14, wherein said spotting station further comprises an LED display near said sample tray reception means for indicating when a well of a sample tray has been used.

16. A manually operable spotting station according to 15, wherein said LED display is linked to an alphanumeric counter.

17. A manual microarrayer apparatus for assisting in the production of microarrays at a pitch spacing of 0.5 mm or smaller, comprising the following integral components:

an imaging system;

a light source;

an alphanumeric counter; and

a foot operated sample tracking device.

18. A manually operable non-automated spotting station for DNA analysis comprising:

means for receiving a microtitre plate;

an integral microscope for viewing a slide;

an electronic display for displaying which well of a microtitre plate has had biological material removed therefrom and for displaying the current target position to be spotted on a slide; and

a base section and an upper section, said upper section being reversible so as to provide both left and right handed user formats.