Dual flow cell fluid delivery systems

A method of spotting a substrate, comprising:

• using an automated positioning system to position and seal a first contact spotter to the substrate, the first contact spotter having a plurality of flow chambers in fluid communication with a plurality of spotting orifices;
• flowing a plurality of fluids through respective flow chambers to deposit multiple compositionally different spots on the substrate;
• using the automated positioning system to remove the first contact spotter and position and seal a second contact spotter to the substrate at a location that overlaps the spots, the second contact spotter having a spotting orifice large enough to cover at least a plurality of the spots;
• and
• flowing a second fluid containing a second substance through the second contact spotter to contact the plurality of the spots.

A method of spotting a substrate, comprising:

• using an automated positioning system to position and seal a first contact spotter to the substrate, the first contact spotter having at least one flow chamber in fluid communication with a spotting orifice;
• flowing a first fluid to deposited a substance on an area of the substrate;
• using the automated positioning system to remove the first contact spotter and position and seal a second contact spotter to the substrate at a location that overlaps the area, wherein the second contact spotter includes a plurality of flow chambers in fluid communication with a plurality of spotting orifices;
• and
• flowing a plurality of distinct fluids through respective flow chambers of the second contact spotter to deposit multiple compositionally different substance spots over the area,
• wherein each contact spotter is a continuous flow microspotter, comprising:
• an outlet cavity defined at least in part by the spotting orifice, a first opening, and a second opening;
• a first conduit fluidly coupled to the first opening;
• and
• a second conduit fluidly coupled to the second opening,
• wherein each continuous flow microspotter is adapted so that fluid flowing through the first conduit and the second conduit is communicated among the first opening, the second opening, and the substrate when the spotting orifice is sealed against the substrate to form a deposition spot on the substrate.

A method of spotting a substrate, comprising:

• using an automated positioning system to position and seal a first contact spotter to the substrate, the first contact spotter having a plurality of flow chambers in fluid communication with a plurality of spotting orifices;
• flowing a plurality of fluids through respective flow chambers to deposit multiple compositionally different first spots on the substrate;
• using the automated positioning system to remove the first contact spotter and position and seal a second contact spotter to the substrate at a location that overlaps the spots, the second contact spotter also having a plurality of spotting orifices;
• and
• flowing a plurality of fluids through respective flow chambers to deposit multiple compositionally different second spots in contact with the plurality of the spots, thereby providing multiple combinations of first and second spots,
• wherein each contact spotter is a continuous flow microspotter, comprising:
• an outlet cavity defined at least in part by the spotting orifice, a first opening, and a second opening;
• a first conduit fluidly coupled to the first opening;
• and
• a second conduit fluidly coupled to the second opening,
• wherein each continuous flow microspotter is adapted so that fluid flowing through the first conduit and the second conduit is communicated among the first opening, the second opening, and the substrate when the spotting orifice is sealed against the substrate to form a deposition spot on the substrate.

A system for depositing substances onto a deposition surface, comprising:

• a first contact spotter comprising multiple spotting orifices fed by multiple fluid inlet conduits such that the first contact spotter is capable of depositing multiple spots of different substances onto the deposition surface simultaneously;
• a second contact spotter comprising a second spotting orifice fed by a second fluid inlet conduit;
• and
• a positioning device adapted to alternatively position and seal the first contact spotter and second contact spotter on the deposition surface at an overlapping location,
• wherein the second contact spotter includes a large format contact spotter comprising a single spotting orifice that is large enough to deposit a substance over all of the multiple spots deposited by the first contact spotter.