Cleaning deposit devices that generate microarrays
AssigneeAffymetrix, Inc.
InventorJean I. Montagu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for depositing an array of spots on a receiving surface includes a fluid source, a deposit device that includes a drop-carrying surface, and a cleaning device. The deposit device and a fluid source are cooperatively arranged to deposit a spot(usually created by a drop) on a receiving surface. The cleaning device is constructed and arranged to clean the drop-carrying surface by employing a flow of cleaning fluid or another cleaning matter such as small particles the flow being arranged to prevent contaminating back flow.
Claims56
An apparatus for depositing an array of spots on a receiving surface, comprising:
- a deposit device, including a drop-carrying surface, and a fluid source cooperatively arranged to deposit a spot on a receiving surface;
- and
- a cleaning device constructed and arranged to clean said drop-carrying surface by employing a flow of cleaning fluid arranged to prevent contaminating back flow.
A method of depositing a biological material on a substrate, including:
- mechanically lowering a pin-like structure including a drop-carrying surface to a substrate and thereby depositing by contact a drop of biological material;
- moving said pin-like structure to a cleaning station;
- and
- emitting a flow of cleaning fluid toward said drop-carrying surface, said flow being arranged to prevent contaminating back flow.
A method of depositing a biological material on a substrate, comprising:
- receiving on a drop-carrying surface of a pin-like structure a first type of a biological material drop;
- mechanically lowering said pin-like structure toward a substrate and thereby depositing by contact from said drop-carrying surface said biological material drop of said first type;
- moving said pin-like structure to a cleaning station including a confinement area;
- emitting a flow of cleaning fluid toward said drop-carrying surface, said flow of cleaning fluid being arranged to prevent contaminating back flow from said confinement area;
- receiving on said drop-carrying surface a second type of said biological material drop;
- and
- mechanically lowering said pin-like structure toward said substrate and thereby depositing by contact from said drop-carrying surface said biological material drop of said second type.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.