Bioarray chip reaction apparatus and its manufacture
AssigneeAffymetrix, Inc.
InventorsDonald M. Besemer, Virginia W. Goss, James L. Winkler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Agitation systems for reversibly directing fluid samples flow back and forth across a nucleic acid array, thereby promoting hybridization between targets in the fluid sample and probes on the nucleic acid array.
Claims19
An agitation system for promoting hybridization of target molecules to a nucleic acid array, comprising:
- a cavity dimensioned to receive the a nucleic acid array therein, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet;
- a first fluid reservoir in communication with the inlet;
- a second fluid reservoir in communication with the outlet;
- a gas source in communication with both the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir;
- and
- a valving system for selectively directing gas from the gas source into either of the first or second reservoirs.
A method of promoting hybridization of target molecules to a nucleic acid array, comprising:
- depositing a fluid suspension of target molecules in a first reservoir;
- introducing gas from a gas source into the first reservoir, thereby causing the fluid suspension of target molecules to pass from the first reservoir through a cavity comprising a nucleic acid hybridization array and into a second reservoir, the first and second reservoirs being in fluid communication with the cavity;
- and subsequently;
- introducing gas from the gas source into the second reservoir, thereby causing the fluid suspension of target molecules to pass from the second reservoir through the cavity containing a nucleic acid hybridization array and into the first reservoir.
An agitation system for promoting hybridization of target molecules to a nucleic acid array, comprising:
- a chip package comprising a cavity with a nucleic acid array disposed therein, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet;
- a vortexer adapted top hold and vibrate the chip package;
- a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet to the chip package;
- a gas source;
- and
- a valving system adapted to selectively direct gas flow to either the fluid reservoir or the inlet to the chip package, wherein introduction of the gas flow into the reservoir causes fluid movement from the reservoir into the inlet to the chip package.
A method of promoting hybridization of target molecules to a nucleic acid array, comprising:
- depositing a fluid suspension of target molecules in a reservoir;
- introducing gas from a gas source into the reservoir, thereby causing the fluid suspension of target molecules to pass from the reservoir into a chip package comprising a cavity having the nucleic acid hybridization array disposed therein;
- and
- vibrating the chip package with a vortexer.
An agitation system for promoting hybridization of target molecules to a nucleic acid array, comprising:
- a cavity dimensioned to receive the a nucleic acid array therein, the cavity having an inlet and an outlet;
- a first fluid reservoir in communication with the inlet;
- a second fluid reservoir in communication with the outlet;
- and
- a gas and fluid delivery system in communication with the first fluid reservoir, the gas and fluid delivery system adapted to selectively introduce fluid and gas into the first fluid reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.