Fabricating biopolymer arrays

(54) FABRICATING BIOPOLYMER ARRAYS

(75) Inventors: Michael P. Caren, Palo Alto; Carol T.

Schembri, San Mateo; Peter G. Webb,

Menlo Park, all of CA (US)

(73) Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/302,922

(22) Filed: Apr. 30, 1999

(51) Int. CI.7 G01N 33/543; C12Q 1/68;

C12P 19/34; C12M 1/34; G01D 15/16

(52) U.S. CI 436/518; 435/6; 435/91.2

435/283.1; 435/285.2; 435/287.2; 536/22.1 536/24.3; 536/24.31; 536/24.32; 536/24.33 346/140.1; 436/180

(58) Field of Search 435/6, 91.2, 518,

435/283.1, 285.2, 287.2; 536/22.1, 24.3, 24.31, 24.32, 24.33; 346/140.1; 436/518,

180

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

3,974,508 8/1976 Blumenthal 346/140 R

4,184,169 1/1980 Taylor et al 346/140 R

4,314,264 2/1982 Bok et al 346/140 R

4,399,446 8/1983 McCann et al 346/140 R

4,593,296 6/1986 Dagna 346/140 R

4,607,261 8/1986 McCann et al 346/75

4,679,059 7/1987 Dagna 346/140 R

4,771,295 9/1988 Baker et al 346/1.1

4,875,055 10/1989 McCann et al 346/75

4,877,745 10/1989 Hayes et al 436/166

4,929,969 5/1990 Morris 346/140 R

4,931,811 6/1990 Cowger et al 346/140 R

5,121,132 6/1992 Pan et al 346/1.1

A method and apparatus for fabricating an array of biopolymers on a substrate using a biopolymer or biomonomer fluid, and using a dispensing head. The head has a reservoir chamber and at least one jet which can dispense droplets onto a substrate. The jet includes a capillary delivery chamber communicating with the reservoir chamber, which delivery chamber has an orifice. The jet further includes an ejector which, when activated, causes a droplet to be ejected from the orifice. The method includes loading the head by positioning the head with the orifice adjacent and facing a biomonomer or biopolymer fluid, and providing a load pressure to the reservoir chamber. The load pressure is sufficiently negative such that the fluid is drawn into the reservoir chamber through the orifice and delivery chamber, while simultaneously being insufficient to result in ambient atmosphere entering the delivery chamber through the orifice once the head has been loaded and no further fluid is facing and adjacent the orifice. The head is positioned with the orifice facing the substrate and multiple droplets are dispensed from the head orifice so as to form an array of droplets on the substrate.

35 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets

Page 2

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

5,510,817 4/1996 Sohn 347/21

5,539,952 7/1996 Hayes et al 15/321

5,563,639 10/1996 Cameron et al 347/34

5,658,802 8/1997 Hayes et al 436/518

5,681,757 10/1997 Hayes 437/7

5,973,708 * 10/1999 Fassler et al 346/140.1

cited by examiner