Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or... – Involving nucleic acid
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-09
2002-10-08
Jones, W. Gary (Department: 1634)
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Measuring or testing process involving enzymes or...
Involving nucleic acid
C435S283100, C435S286200, C435S288200, C435S287200, C435S288500, C422S051000, C422S051000, C422S051000, C422S067000, C422S068100, C422S105000, C347S020000, C436S005000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06461812
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to biomolecular arrays and, particularly, to methods and apparatus for depositing biological materials in a pattern of array features on a surface of a solid support.
Arrays of binding agents have become an increasingly important tool in the biotechnology industry and related fields. Such arrays, in which such binding agents as oligonucleotides or peptides are deposited onto a solid support surface in the form of an array or pattern, can be useful in a variety of applications, including gene expression analysis, drug screening, nucleic acid sequencing, mutation analysis, and the like.
Such arrays may be prepared in any of a variety of different ways. For example, DNA arrays may be prepared manually by spotting DNA onto the surface of a substrate with a micro pipette. See, Khrapko et al. (1991), DNA Sequence 1:375-388. Or, a dot-blot approach or a slot-blot approach may be employed in which a vacuum manifold transfers aqueous DNA samples from a plurality of wells to a substrate surface. Or, an array of pins can be dipped into an array of fluid samples and then contacted with the substrate surface to produce the array of sample materials. Or, an array of capillaries can be used to produce biopolymeric arrays, as described for example in International Patent Publication WO 95/35505.
In an alternative approach, arrays of biopolymeric agents are constructed in discrete regions on the surface of the substrate. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,854; and Fodor, et al. (1991), Science 251:767-773.
There is a continued interest in developing methods and devices for making arrays of biomolecules, in which the apparatus is less complicated and more automated and the methods reduce waste of biological material that may be in limited supply, and which result in efficient and reproducible rapid production of more versatile and reliable arrays.
Arrays of biomolecular materials, and methods for their fabrication, are described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos.: 5,242,974; 5,384,261; 5,405,783; 5,412,087; 5,424,186; 5,429,807; 5,436,327; 5,445,934; 5,472,672; 5,527,681; 5,529,756; 5,545,531; 5,554,501; 5,556,752; 5,561,071; 5,599,695; 5,624,711; 5,639,603; and 5,658,734; in International Patent Publications WO 93/17126; WO 95/11995; and WO 95/35505; and in European Patent Publications EP 742 287; and EP 799 897.
Other publications of interest include: Lockhart, et al. (1996), Nature Biotechnology 14: 1675-1680; Schena, et al. (1995), Science 270: 467-470; Schena, et al. (1996), Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 93:10614-10619; Shalon, et al. (1996), Genome Res. 6: 639-645; Milosavljevic, et al. (1996), Genome Res. 6:132-141; Nguyen, et al. (1995), Genomics 29: 207-216; Piétu, et al. (1996), Genome Res. 6: 492-503; Zhao, et al. (1995), Gene 166:207-213; Chalifour, et al. (1994), Anal. Biochem. 216:299-304; Heller, et al. (1997), Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 94: 2150-2155; Lehrach, et al. (1990), Hybridization Fingerprinting in Genome Mapping and Sequencing, Genome Analysis, Vol. 1 (Davies & Tilgham, eds.) (Cold Spring Harbor Press) pp. 39-81; and Schema (1996), BioAssays 18: 427-431.
The use of inkjet printing devices to dispense biochemical agents such as proteins and nucleic acids is suggested or disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,658,802; 5,338,688; 5,700,637; 5,474,796; 4,877,745; and 5,449,754.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one general aspect the invention features apparatus for delivering a plurality of different biological materials onto discrete locations on a receiving surface, the apparatus including a plurality of orifices in an orifice member, at least six delivery chambers each in fluid conducting relationship with at least one of the orifices, a plurality of reservoirs each in fluid communication with at least one of the delivery chambers, and means associated with each orifice for propelling fluid through the associated orifice from the delivery chamber that is in fluid conducting relationship with the orifice.
In another general aspect the invention features apparatus for delivering a plurality of different biological materials onto discrete locations on a receiving surface, the apparatus including a plurality of orifices in an orifice member, at least six delivery chambers each in fluid conducting relationship with at least one of the orifices, a plurality of reservoirs each in fluid communication with at least one of the delivery chambers, means associated with each orifice for propelling fluid through the associated orifice from the delivery chamber that is in fluid conducting relationship with the orifice, and a vent for commonly venting at least two of the reservoirs.
In some embodiments the propelling means propels the fluid through the associated orifice by forming a bubble that displaces the fluid; particular bubble-forming means include a source of heat such as an electrical resistor. In other embodiments the propelling means propels the fluid through the associated orifice by electromechanical displacement; particular electromechanical displacement means include a piezoelectric device.
In some embodiments the orifice member is a generally planar orifice plate, and the orifices provide openings through from an inner surface to an exit surface of the plate; the apparatus further includes a back member having a generally planar surface facing the inner surface of the orifice plate; and the inner surface of the orifice plate and the facing surface of the back member are spaced apart by a barrier. The barrier is configured so that the barrier, the inner surface of the orifice plate, and the facing surface of the back member define the delivery chambers. In some such embodiments the fluid propelling means are situated on or in the back member, or on or in the barrier. Usually, the back member is constructed as a silicon die, and the fluid propelling means are formed within the silicon die by techniques that are conventional to solid state electronic device construction.
In another general embodiment the invention features apparatus for depositing a plurality of different biological materials onto discrete locations on a receiving surface, the apparatus including an orifice plate defining a plurality of orifices; a substrate connected to the orifice plate and defining a plurality of delivery chambers and a plurality of reservoirs, each of the orifices being in fluid communication with a reservoir by way of a delivery chamber; means adjacent each orifice for propelling fluid through the orifice from the delivery chamber that provides fluid communication with the orifice and reservoir; and common means for generating a pressure differential within at least a plurality of the delivery chambers.
In some embodiments each delivery chamber is connected to a fluid reservoir by way of a conduit. Accordingly, in another general aspect the invention features apparatus for depositing a plurality of different biological materials onto discrete locations on a receiving surface, the apparatus comprising an orifice member defining a plurality of orifices therethrough from a first surface to a second surface thereof; a barrier affixed to the first surface of the orifice member, the barrier and the orifice member together defining a plurality of delivery chambers each of which is in fluid communication with one of the orifices, and the barrier and the orifice member together defining a plurality of fluid reservoirs; the orifice member further having a plurality of channels, each of which has an opening in the first surface to one of the delivery chambers and an opening in the first surface to one of the reservoirs, and each of which provides fluid communication between the delivery chamber and the fluid reservoir to which it opens; and means associated with each orifice for propelling fluid through the orifice from the delivery chamber that is in fluid communication with the orifice.
The apparatus according to the invention is usefull in methods for delivering biological materials in a patterned array on a solid surface.
Accordingly, in another general aspec
Barth Phillip W.
Caren Michael P.
McAllister William H.
Schembri Carol T.
Schleifer Arthur
Agilent Technologie,s Inc.
Forman B J
Jones W. Gary
Stewart Gordon M.
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