Atmospheric control in reaction chambers
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorBill J. Peck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling atmospheric characteristics inside a chamber. An apparatus comprises a mechanism for diffusively introducing pressurized gas into the apparatus, an outlet element in fluid communication with the mechanism, and a chamber in fluid communication with the outlet element. The outlet element and the chamber are disposed such that gas flow therethrough is substantially uniform. The chamber comprises a gas outlet and the outlet element comprises a plurality of openings. The apparatus may be employed in the manufacture of biopolymers on the surface of a support such as an array of biopolymer features on the support.
Claims39
An apparatus for manufacturing an array of biopolymers on a support, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a manifold comprising at least two compartments, each of said compartments being in fluid communication with a respective gas inlet,
- (c) a perforated element in fluid communication with said manifold,
- (d) a chamber in fluid communication with said perforated element, said chamber comprising an opening in a wall thereof,
- (e) a device for dispensing reagents for synthesizing an array of biopolymer features on a support, at least a portion of said device being within said chamber, and
- (f) a mechanism for moving said support into and out of said chamber through said opening and for positioning said support relative to said device for dispensing reagents.
A method for synthesizing an array of biopolymers on a support, said method comprising:
- (a) introducing a support into a reaction chamber wherein said reaction chamber has a positive and substantially uniform flow of gas therethrough wherein said gas exits said reaction chamber through a gas outlet in a direction that is the same as said substantially uniform flow and wherein said surface of said support is activated,
- (b) bringing said support and a dispensing system for dispensing reagents for the synthesis of said biopolymers into a dispensing position relative to said activated surface,
- (c) dispensing said reagents to said surface at discrete feature locations,
- (d) removing said support and/or said dispensing system from said relative dispensing position, and
- (e) optionally repeating steps (a) through (d) until said biopolymer is formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.