System and Method for Hybridization Slide Processing

A system for the substantially automated hybridization of a plurality of microarray slides comprising:

• a basin enclosure;
• a slide carrier rotor disposed on a support axle within the basin enclosure, for receiving at least one microarray slide substrate therein;
• a clamp rotor disposed on the support axle and adjacent the carrier rotor, for receiving at least one disposable shell therein;
• wherein engaging the clamp rotor with the carrier rotor couples the shell to the slide substrate to form at least one sealed reaction chamber;
• and
• wherein disengaging the clamp rotor from the carrier rotor de-couples the shell from the slide substrate to unseal the at least one reaction chamber.

A method of processing a plurality of microarray slides comprising:

• inserting a plurality of microarray slides into a processing device, each of the plurality of slides having a reaction area enclosed by a low-volume disposable shell to form a low-volume reaction chamber;
• filling the reaction chambers with a low-volume of hybridization fluid to hybridize the reaction areas;
• removing the disposable shells from the plurality of slides to expose the hybridized reaction areas;
• washing the plurality of slides in a common bath of wash fluid;
• removing the plurality of slides from the common bath of wash fluid.

A method of in-situ processing of a microarray slide for the analysis of immobilized samples comprising:

• obtaining a microarray slide substrate having a reaction area containing immobilized samples;
• mounting the slide substrate into a processing device for automated processing,
• the processing further comprising the steps of:
• coupling a disposable shell to the slide substrate to form a low-volume reaction chamber enclosing the reaction area;
• filling the reaction chamber with hybridization fluid to react with the immobilized samples;
• sealing the reaction chamber to prevent contamination during incubation;
• de-coupling the shell from the slide substrate to unseal the reaction chamber;
• flushing the reaction area with a high volume of wash fluid to remove the hybridization fluid;
• and
• removing the wash fluid from the slide substrate;
• and
• disengaging the slide substrate from the processing device.

A method of in-situ processing of at least two microarray slides for the analysis of immobilized samples comprising:

• obtaining at least two microarray slide substrates having a reaction area containing immobilized samples;
• coupling a disposable shell to each slide substrate to form a low-volume reaction chamber enclosing the reaction area;
• filling the reaction chambers with hybridization fluid to react with the immobilized samples;
• mounting the at least two slide substrates into a processing device for automated processing, the processing further comprising the steps of:
• sealing the reaction chamber to prevent contamination during incubation;
• agitating the hybridization fluid during incubation by alternately inflating and deflating pneumatic bladders formed in the disposable shell portion of the reaction chamber;
• de-coupling the shell from the slide substrate to unseal the reaction chamber;
• flushing the at least two slide substrates with a common wash fluid to remove the hybridization fluids from the reaction areas;
• and
• removing the wash fluid from the slide substrates;
• and
• disengaging the at least two slide substrate from the processing device.