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US 7,285,411 B1Granted
High throughput screening assay systems in microscale fluidic devices
AssigneeCaliper Life Sciences, Inc.
InventorsJohn Wallace Parce, Anne R. Kopf-Sill, Luc J. Bousse
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Abstract
The present invention provides novel microfluidic devices and methods that are useful for performing high-throughput screening assays. In particular, the devices and methods of the invention are useful in screening large numbers of different compounds for their effects on a variety of chemical, and preferably, biochemical systems.
Claims16
An apparatus for conducting a microfluidic process, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first plate comprising an array of sample access ports adapted for receiving a plurality of samples from an array of sample containers and dispensing said samples;
- and,
- (b) a second plate integral with said first plate for receiving said dispensed samples, said second plate comprising a planar array of microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels for conducting a microfluidic process.
An apparatus for conducting a microfluidic process, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first plate comprising an array of sample access ports adapted for receiving a plurality of samples from an array of sample wells;
- and,
- (b) a second plate integral with said first plate, said second plate comprising a planar array of microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels for conducting a microfluidic process wherein each of said microfluidic networks is adapted for fluid communication with a corresponding sample access port of said first plate.
A method for processing an array of samples, said method comprising:
- (a) simultaneously transferring at least a portion of each sample in an array of sample wells to a corresponding array of sample access ports that are part of a first plate comprising an array of sample access ports adapted for receiving a plurality of samples from an array of sample wells,
- (b) simultaneously transferring at least a portion of each sample from said sample access ports to a corresponding array of microfluidic networks that is a part of a second plate integral with said first plate, said second plate comprising a planar array of microfluidic networks of cavity structures and channels for conducting a microfluidic process wherein each of said microfluidic networks is adapted for fluid communication with a corresponding sample access port, and
- (c) processing said array of samples.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.