Apparatus and methods for arraying solution onto a solid support
AssigneeQIAGEN Genomics, Inc.
InventorsKristen Moynihan, Jeffrey Van Ness, John C. Tabone
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for depositing biomolecule onto a solid support, the method including the steps of: immersing a tip of a spring probe into a solution of biomolecule; removing said tip from said solution to provide biomolecule solution adhered to said tip; and contacting said biomolecule solution with a solid support to thereby transfer biomolecule solution from said tip to said solid support. The spring probe has a planar tip but it otherwise identical to commercial spring probes. The solution of biomolecule contains a thickening agent in addition to biomolecule, where oligonucleotide is a preferred biomolecule.
Claims23
A spring probe comprising a tubular housing encasing a compression spring, said spring in mechanical communication with a plunger, said plunger having a first region extending out of said housing, said first region comprising a cone-shaped fluted tip terminating as a flat surface, said surface perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said housing, said cone-shaped tip having in cross-section two exterior sides adjacent said surface which, if said sides extended past said surface, would meet at a point positioned a distance of about 0.00001-0.010 inches beyond said surface.
A composition comprising a thickening agent at a concentration of about 35 vol % to about 80 vol % based on the total volume of the composition, an oligonucleotide at a concentration ranging from 0.001 μg/mL to 10 μg/mL, and water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.