Small volume chambers
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJay K. Bass, John f. McEntee, Tim J. Lazaruk, Maryam Mobed-Miremadi, Brent T. Tolosko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a reaction chamber having relatively small volumes. An apparatus comprises two elements and a mechanism for introducing a gas to form a movable aerodynamic seal between the elements. In this manner a chamber having a controllable interior environment is formed. One of the elements may have at least a portion of a device for dispensing reagents sealingly affixed therein. The other element may be adapted for introduction of a support into the interior of the chamber formed by the top and the bottom element. The apparatus may be used in methods for synthesizing biopolymers on a support.
Claims67
An apparatus for preparing an array of chemical compounds on the surface of a support, said apparatus comprising two elements that are in a sealed, movable relationship relative to one another and that form a chamber having a controllable interior environment for preparing said array of chemical compounds.
An apparatus for manufacturing a plurality of biopolymers on a support in the form of an array, comprising:
- (a) a top element having sealingly affixed therein at least a portion of a device for dispensing reagents for synthesizing said biopolymers on a surface of said support,
- (b) a bottom element adapted for introduction of a said support therethrough wherein a surface of said support comprises discrete sites that are activated for reaction with said reagents,
- (c) a mechanism for introducing a gas to form a movable aerodynamic seal between said top element and said bottom element thereby forming a chamber having a controllable interior environment, and
- (d) a platform to which said support is releasably attached for moving said surface of said support relative to said dispensing device and said bottom element relative to said top element.
A method for forming a chamber having a controllable interior environment for preparing an array of biopolymers on the surface of a support, said method comprising:
- (a) disposing a separate top element and a separate bottom element relative to one another to form a gap therebetween, and
- (b) introducing a gas into said gap, the pressure of said gas being sufficient to form a movable aerodynamic seal between said top element and said bottom element thereby forming said chamber.
A method for synthesizing an array of biopolymers on a support, said method comprising:
- (a) forming a reaction chamber by disposing two elements relative to one another in a sealed, movable relationship,
- (b) bringing said support within said reaction chamber to perform a step in the synthesis of said array on said support wherein said support and one of said elements is moved relative to the other of said elements,
- (c) removing said support from said reaction chamber, and
- (d) optionally repeating steps (b) through (d) until said biopolymer is formed.
A method for synthesizing an array of biopolymers on a support, said method comprising:
- (a) forming a reaction chamber by disposing a separate top element and a separate bottom element relative to one another to form a gap therebetween, said a top element having sealingly affixed therein at least a portion of a device for dispensing reagents, said bottom element being adapted for introduction of a support therethrough, and introducing a gas into said gap, the pressure of said gas being sufficient to form a movable aerodynamic seal between said top element and said bottom element thereby forming said chamber,
- (b) introducing said support into said reaction chamber, said support being activated,
- (c) bringing said support and a dispensing system for dispensing reagents for the synthesis of said biopolymers into a dispensing position relative to discrete sites on said activated surface of said support by moving said support and said bottom element relative to said top element,
- (c) dispensing said reagents to said discrete sites,
- (d) removing said support and/or said dispensing system from said relative dispensing position, and
- (e) optionally repeating steps (b) through (d) until said biopolymer is formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.