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US 6,660,480 B2Granted
Method for analyzing nucleic acids by means of a substrate having a microchannel structure containing immobilized nucleic acid probes
AssigneeUT-Battelle, LLC
InventorsJ. Michael Ramsey, Robert S. Foote
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for analyzing nucleic acids includes immobilizing nucleic probes at specific sites within a microchannel structure and moving target nucleic acids into proximity to the probes in order to allow hybridization and fluorescence detection of specific target sequences.
Claims26
A method for analyzing nucleic acids comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a substrate having a microchannel structure, at least one nucleic acid probe being affixed to at least one portion of said microchannel structure;
- b. electrokinetically transporting an analyte nucleic acid to said at least one probe;
- and,
- c. analyzing for the presence of said analyte nucleic acid hybridized to said at least one probe.
1 more element
An apparatus for analyzing nucleic acid comprising:
- a. a substrate with a microchannel structure formed therein, said microchannel structure having a probe channel and at least two end portions;
- b. at least one nucleic acid probe affixed within said probe channel intermediate said two end portions of said microchannel structure;
- c. a cover plate affixed to the substrate, said cover plate and said substrate cooperating to enclose said at least one nucleic acid probe;
- d. at least two fluid reservoirs in fluid communication with said end portions of said microchannel structure, one of said reservoirs adapted to contain a fluid comprising at least one substance from the group consisting of analyte nucleic acid and fluorescent label and, optionally, a buffer;
- e. a source of electrical voltage applied to said reservoirs for effecting electrokinetic transport of said at least one fluid from said one reservoir through said microchannel structure to a probe site adjacent to said at least one probe in said probe channel;
- and
- f. a detector for detecting the presence of said at least one fluid at said probe site.
4 more elements
An apparatus for analyzing nucleic acids comprising:
- a. a substrate having a microchannel structure formed therein said microchannel structure including at least two end portions and a number of different nucleic acid probes being immobilized at multiple probe sites within said microchannel structure, each of said different nucleic acid probes being immobilized at a discrete probe site;
- b. a cover plate affixed to the substrate, said cover plate and said substrate cooperating to enclose said probe sites;
- c. at least two fluid reservoirs in fluid communication with said end portions of said microchannel structure, one of said reservoirs adapted to contain a fluid comprising at least one substance from the group consisting of analyte nucleic acid and fluorescent label and, optionally, a buffer;
- d. a source of electrical voltage applied to said reservoirs for effecting electrokinetic transport of said at least one fluid from said one reservoir through said microchannel structure to a nucleic acid probe site;
- and
- e. a detector for detecting the presence of said at least one fluid at one of said nucleic acid probe sites.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.