(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (io) Pub. No.: US 2001/0010206 Al
Bryning et al. (43) Pub. Date: Aug. 2,2001
(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SPOTTING A SUBSTRATE
(75) Inventors: Zbigniew Bryning, Campbell, CA
(US); Charles S. Vann, Fremont, CA
(US)
Correspondence Address:
PATTI SELAN, PATENT ADMINISTRATOR
APPLIED BIOSYSTEMS
850 LINCOLN CENTRE DRIVE
FOSTER CITY, CA 94404 (US)
(73) Assignee: PE Corporation (NY)
(21) Appl. No.: 09/813,233
(22) Filed: Mar. 20, 2001
Related U.S. Application Data
(62) Division of application No. 09/270,218, filed on Mar. 15, 1999.
Publication Classification
(51) Int. CI.7 B05C 11/00
(52) U.S. C I 118/669
(57) ABSTRACT
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing a small volume of a selected liquid, such as a biological sample or reagent, onto a substrate. The device includes a tube adapted to contain the liquid. An elongate fiber is disposed within the tube for axial movement therein between raised and lowered positions. Upon shifting or oscillating the fiber between its raised and lowered positions, a liquid spot can be formed at a selected position on the substrate. The device is readily adaptable for the production of micro-arrays having a great number of individual spots.
