Fiber array and methods for using and making same
AssigneeApplera Corporation
InventorCharles S. Vann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for contacting at least two chemical species, comprising a support plate having a channel for receiving a mobile chemical species and a fiber, having a second chemical species immobilized thereon, disposed on the support plate. At least a portion of the fiber is exposed to the channel such that the mobile chemical species is capable of contacting the second chemical species. An apparatus and method for reading the fiber array, an apparatus and method for making the fiber array, and methods of using the fiber array of the present invention are also provided.
Claims40
A device of contacting at least two chemical species, comprising:
- a support plate comprising a channel capable of receiving a mobile chemical species;
- and
- a fiber having an immobilized chemical species disposed along a portion of said fiber, wherein said fiber is disposed on said support plate across a width of said channel, such that said portion of said fiber is exposed to said channel.
A base of a fiber array, comprising:
- a support plate comprising a channel configured to receive a mobile chemical species;
- and
- a fiber connector configured to couple a fiber having an immobilized chemical species disposed along a portion of said fiber, across a width of said support plate to expose said portion of the fiber to said channel.
An apparatus for contacting at least two chemical species, comprising:
- a wheel having a perimeter sidewall configured to hold a fiber having an immobilized chemical species disposed along portion of said fiber;
- and
- a container capable of receiving a mobile chemical species and at least a portion of said perimeter sidewall, such that in use when said wheel and said container are rotated relative to one another, said immobilized chemical species contacts the mobile chemical species.
An apparatus for presenting a chemical species for reaction, comprising:
- a wheel having a perimeter sidewall;
- a fiber disposed on said perimeter sidewall in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said wheel;
- and
- an immobilized chemical species disposed on said fiber.
A system for reading a microchip comprising:
- a plurality of optical fibers each having a polynucleotide probe immobilized thereon and each having a first end;
- a support for said plurality of fibers having a plurality of parallel and fluidly independent channels for receiving a first analyte, wherein said plurality of fibers are arranged substantially parallel on said support and substantially normal to, and across the width of, said plurality of channels, thereby forming a matrix of contact positions between each of said fibers and each of said plurality of channels, such that each of said fibers is contacted by said first analyte;
- a light source for generating light;
- a focusing lens for focusing said light on an end of each of said fibers;
- a light detecting device positioned to receive light emitted from each of said contact positions;
- and
- a motion device connected to said support to align each of said ends with said light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.