Device and method for microcontact printing
AssigneeParallel Synthesis Technologies
InventorsRobert Haushalter, Srinivas Vetcha
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microcontact printing pin for depositing a liquid on a substrate includes a printing tip at a first end and a reservoir, which holds a supply of a printing fluid, communicating with the printing tip. A fluid delivery channel extends between the reservoir and the printing tip and the channel has a tapered shape decreasing in width from the reservoir to the printing tip. This tapered shape ensures that the delivery of the printing fluid to the printing tip is smooth, accurate and controllable. The printing tip portion may also be thinned so that the printing tip portion is thinner than the portion provided with the reservoir and a stepped portion between the reservoir and the thinned printing tip portion that eliminates prespotting.
Claims22
A pin for depositing a liquid on a substrate, the pin comprising:
- a printing tip at a first end thereof;
- a reservoir communicating with the printing tip;
- and a channel extending between the reservoir to the printing tip for delivering the liquid from the reservoir to the printing tip, wherein the channel has a tapered shape decreasing in width from the reservoir to the printing tip.
A pin for depositing a liquid on a substrate, the pin comprising:
- a printing tip at a first end thereof;
- a reservoir communicating with the printing tip, the pin having a thinned printing tip portion and a non-thinned remainder portion, including the reservoir, that is thicker than the thinned printing tip portion;
- a stepped portion between the thinned printing tip and the reservoir formed by the change in the thickness between the thinned printing tip and the non-thinned remainer portion;
- and
- a channel extending between the reservoir to the printing tip for delivering the liquid from the reservoir to the printing tip.
A microcontact printing pin holder for use in producing a microarray, the holder comprising:
- a first planar member;
- a first aperture extending through the planar member for receiving a pin that deposits a predetermined volume of a liquid on a substrate to produce the microarray;
- and
- an elastomeric member provided at a distance above the first planar member,
- wherein the holder is microfabricated from a material selected from the group consisting of semiconductors, polymers, ceramics, and non-ferric alloys.
A method of making a pin for depositing a liquid on a substrate, the method comprising:
- patterning an outline of a bottom portion of the pin on a first side of a silicon wafer by deep reactive ion etch, the outline including a printing tip of the pin;
- thinning the printing tip of the pin from the second side of the silicon wafer by deep reactive ion etch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.