# US 2004/0171167 A1 · Chip-in-a-well scanning

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- Number: US 2004/0171167 A1
- Document ID: US20040171167A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/733,926
- Filed: 2003-12-11
- Published: 2004-09-02
- Earliest claimed: 2002-12-13
- Assignees: Affymetrix, Inc.
- Inventors: Melvin Yamamoto; Stephen P. A. Fodor; Richard P. Rava
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040171167A1

## CPC

- B01L 3/5085: {for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates}
- C12Q 1/6837: using probe arrays or probe chips (C12Q1/6874 takes precedence)
- B01L 2300/0636: Integrated biosensor, microarrays
- B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES

## Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, methods and apparatus for packaging microarray suspended in a well of a well plate are provided. In another embodiment of the invention, microarrays can be successfully scanned with its target surface up or down.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of packaging a microarray comprising:
placing a microarray in a well of a well plate; wherein the microarray is suspended in the well.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the well plate has one of more wells.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the microarray is suspended in the well with buffer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the microarray is suspended in the well without buffer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plate has an optically clear window.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the clear window is made of fused silica.

### Claim 7

A method of scanning a microarray chip comprising:
dicing one or more wafers into individual microarrays;
placing the individual microarrays into a well of a well plate; wherein the individual microarrays are conatined into the well in a suspended form with an optically clear window;
scanning the microarrays through the optically clear window.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of scanning a microarray of claim 7, wherein the optically clear window is made of fused silica.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of scanning a microarray of claim 7, wherein the scanning can be done with the surface of the individual microarray up.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of scanning a microarray of claim 7, wherein the scanning can be done with the surface of the individual microarray down.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of scanning a microarray of claim 7, wherein the well plate has one or more wells.