Apparatus and method for spotting a substrate
AssigneePE Corporation (NY)
InventorsZbigniew Bryning, Charles S. Vann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a small volume of a selected liquid, such as a biological sample or reagent, onto a substrate. The device includes a tube adapted to contain the liquid. An elongate fiber is disposed within the tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions. Upon shifting or oscillating the fiber between its raised and lowered positions, a liquid spot can be formed at a selected position on the substrate. The device is readily adaptable for the production of micro-arrays having a great number of individual spots.
Claims15
An apparatus for micro-spotting a predetermined volume of a liquid at a plurality of spaced regions on a substrate or substrates, comprising:
- a tube adapted to contain such liquid, and having a lower end defining an orifice with an inner diameter less than about 200 μm;
- a workpiece holder for holding such substrate(s),
- an elongate, flexible fiber having a diameter of less than about 100 μm and a distal free end, said fiber being disposed within said tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions at which the fiber's free end is spaced from and in contact with the surface of such a substrate(s), respectively, with the substrate(s) held in the workpiece holder,
- shifting means operatively connected to said fiber for shifting the same between its raised and lowered positions,
- positioning means for positioning said tube and associated fiber laterally with respect to the holder, at selected deposition positions with respect to the substrate(s), and
- a control unit operatively connected to the positioning means and shifting means for use in successively (i) positioning the tube and associated fiber at a selected deposition position with respect to a substrate, and (i) shifting the fiber to its lowered position, to deposit a selected volume of liquid upon such substrate, with variations in the distance between the tube's lower end and the substrate being accommodated by flexing of the fiber.
An apparatus for micro-spotting a predetermined volume of a liquid on a substrate, comprising:
- a tube adapted to contain such liquid, and having an inner diameter that tapers on progressing downwardly to a defined-volume tube end region having a substantially uniform diameter of less than about 500 μm,
- an elongate fiber having a diameter substantially the same as that of said tube end region, said fiber being disposed within said tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions at which the fiber's free end is disposed above and below said tube end region, respectively, and
- shifting means operatively connected to said fiber for shifting the same between its raised and lowered positions, whereby a defined volume of liquid contained in said tube end region is expelled from the tube onto such a substrate disposed below the tube.
An apparatus for micro-spotting a predetermined volume of a liquid at a plurality of spaced regions on a substrate or substrates, comprising:
- a tube adapted to contain such liquid, and having a lower end defining an orifice with an inner diameter less than about 200 μm;
- a workpiece holder for holding such substrate(s),
- an elongate, flexible fiber having a diameter of less than about 100 μm and a distal free end, said fiber being disposed within said tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions at which the fiber's free end is spaced from and in contact with the surface of such a substrate(s), respectively, with the substrate(s) held in the workpiece holder,
- an actuator movable between two positions, said actuator operatively connected to said fiber for shifting the same between its raised and lowered positions, and
- an x-y positioner operatively connected to said tube for positioning said tube and associated fiber laterally with respect to the holder, at selected deposition positions with respect to the substrate(s), and
- a control unit operatively connected to the x-y positioner and vertical actual for use in successively (i) positioning the tube and associated fiber at a selected deposition position with respect to a substrate, and (i) shifting the fiber to its lowered position, to deposit a selected volume of liquid upon such substrate, with variations in the distance between the tube's lower end and the substrate being accommodated by flexing of the fiber.
An apparatus for micro-spotting a predetermined volume of a liquid on a substrate, comprising:
- a tube adapted to contain such liquid, and having an inner diameter that tapers on progressing downwardly to a defined-volume tube end region having a substantially uniform diameter of less than about 500 μm,
- an elongate fiber having a diameter substantially the same as that of said tube end region, said fiber being disposed within said tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions at which the fiber's free end is disposed above and below said tube end region, respectively, and
- an actuator movable between two positions, said actuator operatively connected to said fiber for shifting the same between its raised and lowered positions, whereby a defined volume of liquid contained in said tube end region is expelled from the tube onto such a substrate disposed below the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.