Claims
- 1. A microtiter-microarray device comprising:
a bottomless microtiter plate having a plurality of wells; one or more gaskets having a first face, a second face, and a plurality of perforations; and one or more substrates having a first side with a plurality of microarrays of materials attached thereto, whereby the microtiter plate and the one or more substrates are attached through the one or more gaskets so that the plurality of wells, the plurality of perforations and the plurality of microarrays are aligned.
- 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the microtiter plate is attached to the first face of the one or more gaskets by an irreversible, water-tight seal, and the first side of the one or more substrates is attached to the second face of the one or more gaskets by a reversible, water-tight seal.
- 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the microtiter plate is attached to the first face of the one or more gaskets by an irreversible, water-tight seal, and the first side of the one or more substrates is attached to the second face of the one or more gaskets by a irreversible, water-tight seal.
- 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the microtiter plate is attached to the first face of the one or more gaskets by a reversible, water-tight seal, and the first side of the one or more substrates is attached to the second face of the one or more gaskets by a reversible, water-tight seal.
- 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the microtiter plate and the one or more substrates are attached through a single gasket.
- 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the microtiter plate and the one or more substrates are attached through more than one gasket.
- 7. The device of claim 2, wherein the first face of the one or more gaskets comprises an irreversible adhesive and the second face of the one or more gaskets comprises a reversible adhesive.
- 8. The device of claim 3, wherein the first face of the one or more gaskets comprises an irreversible adhesive and the second face of the one or more gaskets comprises an irreversible adhesive.
- 9. The device of claim 4, wherein the first face of the one or more gaskets comprises a reversible adhesive and the second face of the one or more gaskets comprises a irreversible adhesive.
- 10. The device of any one of claims 2-4, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise a 0.25 to 3 mm thick layer of silicone.
- 11. The device of any one of claims 2-4, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise one or more layers of a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive.
- 12. The device of any one of claims 2-4, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise a layer of 0.25 to 3 mm thick silicone arranged between two or more layers of a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive.
- 13. The device of claim 11 or 12, wherein the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a permanent acrylic adhesive or a permanent silicone adhesive on one side.
- 14. The device of claim 11 or 12, wherein the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a clean-release acrylic adhesive or a clean-release silicone adhesive on one side.
- 15. The device of claim 1, wherein the microtiter plate is a 96-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 96-well plate.
- 16. The device of claim 1, wherein the microtiter plate is a 384-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 384-well plate.
- 17. The device of claim 1, wherein the microtiter plate is a 1536-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 1536-well plate.
- 18. The device of claim 1, wherein the microtiter plate is a 3456-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 3456-well plate.
- 19. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of small molecules.
- 20. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of biomolecules.
- 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of proteins.
- 22. The device of claim 20, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of polynucleotides.
- 23. The device of claim 20, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of polysaccharides.
- 24. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of whole cells or tissue samples.
- 25. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more substrates are glass or plastic slides.
- 26. A method for preparing a microtiter-microarray device comprising:
providing a bottomless microtiter plate having a plurality of wells; providing one or more gaskets having a first, a second face, and a plurality of perforations; providing one or more substrates having a first face with a plurality of microarrays of materials attached thereto; adhering the bottomless microtiter plate to the first face of the one or more gaskets so that the plurality of wells are aligned with the plurality of perforations; and adhering the first side of the one or more substrates to the second face of the one or more gaskets so that the plurality of microarrays are aligned with the plurality of perforations.
- 27. The method of claim 26, whereby an irreversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first face of the one or more gaskets and the microtiter plate, and whereby a reversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first side of the one or more substrates and the second face of the one or more gaskets.
- 28. The method of claim 26, whereby an irreversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first face of the one or more gaskets and the microtiter plate, and whereby an irreversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first side of the one or more substrates and the second face of the one or more gaskets.
- 29. The method of claim 26, whereby a reversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first face of the one or more gaskets and the microtiter plate, and whereby a reversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first side of the one or more substrates and the second face of the one or more gaskets.
- 30. The method of claim 26, wherein the microtiter plate and the one or more substrates are attached through a single gasket.
- 31. The method of claim 26, wherein the microtiter plate and the one or more substrates are attached through more than one gasket.
- 32. The method of claim 27, wherein the first face of the one or more gaskets comprises an irreversible adhesive and the second face of the one or more gaskets comprises a reversible adhesive.
- 33. The method of claim 28, wherein the first face of the one or more gaskets comprises an irreversible adhesive and the second face of the one or more gaskets comprises an irreversible adhesive.
- 34. The method of claim 29, wherein the first face of the one or more gaskets comprises a reversible adhesive and the second face of the one or more gaskets comprises a reversible adhesive.
- 35. The method of any one of claims 32-34, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise a 0.25 to 3 mm thick layer of silicone.
- 36. The method of any one of claims 32-34, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise one or more layers of a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive.
- 37. The method of any one of claims 32-34, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise a 0.25 to 3 mm thick layer of silicone arranged between two or more layers of a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive.
- 38. The method of claim 36 or 37, wherein the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a permanent acrylic adhesive or a permanent silicone adhesive on one side.
- 39. The method of claim 36 or 37, wherein the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a clean-release acrylic adhesive or a clean-release silicone adhesive on one side.
- 40. The method of claim 35 or 37, wherein one or both sides of the layer of silicone have been treated with a chemical adhesion promoter or primer.
- 41. The method of claim 26, wherein the microtiter plate is a 96-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 96-well plate.
- 42. The method of claim 26, wherein the microtiter plate is a 384-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 384-well plate.
- 43. The method of claim 26, wherein the microtiter plate is a 1536-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 1536-well plate.
- 44. The method of claim 26, wherein the microtiter plate is a 3456-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 3456-well plate.
- 45. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of small molecules.
- 46. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of biomolecules.
- 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of proteins.
- 48. The method of claim 46, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of polynucleotides.
- 49. The method of claim 46, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of polysaccharides.
- 50. The method of claim 26, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of whole cells or tissue samples.
- 51. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of adhering the bottomless microtiter plate to the first face of the one or more gaskets further comprises first aligning the one or more gaskets with the microtiter plate so that the plurality of wells are aligned with the plurality of perforations.
- 52. The method of claim 51, wherein the one or more gaskets are aligned with the microtiter plate using a first aligning device.
- 53. The method of claim 52, wherein the first aligning device comprises a rigid material with a plurality of protrusions that are dimensioned and arranged to fit within the perforations of the one or more gaskets, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more gaskets with the microtiter plate comprises placing the one or more gaskets over the plurality of protrusions so that the protrusions fit within the perforations of the one or more gaskets.
- 54. The method of claim 53, wherein the protrusions are taller than the one or more gaskets are thick, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more gaskets with the microtiter plate further comprises placing the microtiter plate over the plurality of protrusions after the one or more gaskets have been placed so that the protrusions also fit within the wells of the microtiter plate.
- 55. The method of claim 53, wherein the first aligning device further comprises one or more features that are dimensioned and arranged to accommodate or fit within one or more complementary features of the microtiter plate, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more gaskets with the microtiter plate further comprises placing the microtiter plate over the first aligning device after the one or more gaskets have been placed so that the complementary features are aligned.
- 56. The method of claim 52, wherein the first aligning device is the device shown in FIG. 3 or 8.
- 57. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of adhering the first side of the one or more substrates to the second face of the one or more gaskets further comprises first aligning the one or more substrates with the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto so that the plurality of microarrays and the plurality of perforations are aligned.
- 58. The method of claim 57, wherein the one or more substrates are aligned with the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto using a second aligning device.
- 59. The method of claim 58, wherein the second aligning device comprises a rigid material comprising one or more casings, each casing surrounded by four walls, wherein the dimensions of the casings comprise the dimensions of the substrates, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more substrates with the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto comprises placing the one or more substrates over the one or more casings so that the one or more substrates fit within the one or more casings.
- 60. The method of claim 59, wherein the second aligning device further comprises one or more features that are dimensioned and arranged to accommodate or fit within one or more complementary features of the microtiter plate, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more substrates with the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto further comprises placing the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto over the second aligning device after the one or more substrates have been placed so that the complementary features are aligned.
- 61. The method of claim 57, wherein the second aligning device is the device shown in FIG. 5 or 10.
- 62. A method for screening microarrays of materials comprising:
providing a bottomless microtiter plate having a plurality of wells; providing one or more gaskets having a first, a second face, and a plurality of perforations; providing one or more substrates having a first face with microarrays of materials attached thereto; adhering the bottomless microtiter plate to the first face of the one or more gaskets so that the plurality of wells are aligned with the plurality of perforations; adhering the first side of the one or more substrates to the second face of the one or more gaskets so that the plurality of microarrays are aligned with the plurality of perforations; and processing the microarrays of materials in the microtiter-microarray device to determine one or more desired characteristics of the materials; and scanning the microarrays of materials.
- 63. The method of claim 26, whereby an irreversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first face of the one or more gaskets and the microtiter plate, and whereby a reversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first side of the one or more substrates and the second face of the one or more gaskets.
- 64. The method of claim 26, whereby an irreversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first face of the one or more gaskets and the microtiter plate, and whereby an irreversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first side of the one or more substrates and the second face of the one or more gaskets.
- 65. The method of claim 26, whereby a reversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first face of the one or more gaskets and the microtiter plate, and whereby a reversible, water-tight seal is formed between the first side of the one or more substrates and the second face of the one or more gaskets.
- 66. The method of claim 62, wherein the microtiter plate and the one or more substrates are attached through one gasket.
- 67. The method of claim 62, wherein the microtiter plate and the one or more substrates are attached through more than one gasket.
- 68. The method of claim 63, wherein the first face of the one or more gaskets comprises an irreversible adhesive and the second face of the one or more gaskets comprises a reversible adhesive.
- 69. The method of claim 64, wherein the first face of the one or more gaskets comprises an irreversible adhesive and the second face of the one or more gaskets comprises an irreversible adhesive.
- 70. The method of claim 65, wherein the first face of the one or more gaskets comprises a reversible adhesive and the second face of the one or more gaskets comprises a reversible adhesive.
- 71. The method of any one of claims 68-70, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise a 0.25 to 3 mm thick layer of silicone.
- 72. The method of any one of claims 68-70, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise one or more layers of a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive.
- 73. The method of any one of claims 68-70, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise a layer of 0.25 to 3 mm thick silicone arranged between two or more layers of a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive.
- 74. The method of claim 72 or 73, wherein the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a permanent acrylic adhesive or a permanent silicone adhesive on one side.
- 75. The method of claim 72 or 73, wherein the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a clean-release acrylic adhesive or a clean-release silicone adhesive on one side.
- 76. The method of claim 71 or 73, wherein one or both sides of the layer of silicone have been treated with a chemical adhesion promoter or primer.
- 77. The method of claim 62, wherein the microtiter plate is a 96-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 96-well plate.
- 78. The method of claim 62, wherein the microtiter plate is a 384-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 384-well plate.
- 79. The method of claim 62, wherein the microtiter plate is a 1536-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 1536-well plate.
- 80. The method of claim 62, wherein the microtiter plate is a 3456-well plate and the perforations of the one or more gaskets are in the pattern and dimensions of a 3456-well plate.
- 81. The method of claim 62, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of small molecules.
- 82. The method of claim 62, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of biomolecules.
- 83. The method of claim 82, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of proteins.
- 84. The method of claim 82, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of polynucleotides.
- 85. The method of claim 82, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of polysaccharides.
- 86. The method of claim 62, wherein the one or more substrates comprise microarrays of whole cells or tissue samples.
- 87. The method of claim 62, wherein the step of adhering the bottomless microtiter plate to the first face of the one or more gaskets further comprises first aligning the one or more gaskets with the microtiter plate so that the plurality of perforations and the plurality of wells are aligned.
- 88. The method of claim 87, wherein the one or more gaskets are aligned with the microtiter plate using a first aligning device.
- 89. The method of claim 88, wherein the first aligning device comprises a rigid material with a plurality of protrusions that are dimensioned and arranged to fit within the perforations of the one or more gaskets, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more gaskets with the microtiter plate comprises placing the one or more gaskets over the plurality of protrusions so that the protrusions fit within the perforations of the one or more gaskets.
- 90. The method of claim 89, wherein the protrusions are taller than the one or more gaskets are thick, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more gaskets with the microtiter plate further comprises placing the microtiter plate over the plurality of protrusions after the one or more gaskets have been placed so that the protrusions also fit within the wells of the microtiter plate.
- 91. The method of claim 89, wherein the first aligning device further comprises one or more features that are dimensioned and arranged to accommodate or fit within one or more complementary features of the microtiter plate, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more gaskets with the microtiter plate further comprises placing the microtiter plate over the first aligning device after the one or more gaskets have been placed so that the complementary features are aligned.
- 92. The method of claim 88, wherein the first aligning device is the device shown in FIG. 3 or 8.
- 93. The method of claim 62, wherein the step of adhering the first side of the one or more substrates to the second face of the one or more gaskets further comprises first aligning the one or more substrates with the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto.
- 94. The method of claim 93, wherein the one or more substrates are aligned with the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto using a second aligning device.
- 95. The method of claim 94, wherein the second aligning device comprises a rigid material comprising one or more casings, each casing surrounded by four walls, wherein the dimensions of the casings comprise the dimensions of the substrates, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more substrates with the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto comprises placing the one or more substrates over the one or more casings so that the one or more substrates fit within the one or more casings.
- 96. The method of claim 95, wherein the second aligning device further comprises one or more features that are dimensioned and arranged to accommodate or fit within one or more complementary features of the microtiter plate, and whereby the step of aligning the one or more substrates with the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto further comprises placing the microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto over the second aligning device after the one or more substrates have been placed so that the complementary features are aligned.
- 97. The method of claim 93, wherein the second aligning device is the device shown in FIG. 5 or 10.
- 98. The method of claim 62 further comprising removing the one or more substrates from the microtiter-microarray device before scanning the microarrays of materials.
- 99. The method of claim 98, wherein the one or more substrates are removed from the microtiter-microarray device using a removal device.
- 100. The method of claim 99, wherein the removal device comprises a rigid material with a plurality of protrusions that are dimensioned and arranged to fit within selected wells of the microtiter-microarray device, and whereby the step of removing the one or more substrates from the microtiter-microarray device comprises placing the microtiter-microarray device over the plurality of protrusions so that the protrusions fit within the selected wells of the microtiter-microarray device and break the seal with the one or more gaskets by exerting pressure onto the one or more substrates.
- 101. The method of claim 99, wherein the selected wells are unoccupied by microarrays.
- 102. The method of claim 99, wherein the removal device is the device shown in FIG. 6.
- 103. A gasket comprising:
an adhesive material having a first face comprising an irreversible adhesive and a second face comprising a reversible adhesive, the gasket further comprising a plurality of perforations.
- 104. A gasket comprising:
an adhesive material having a first face comprising an irreversible adhesive and a second face comprising an irreversible adhesive, the gasket further comprising a plurality of perforations.
- 105. A gasket comprising:
an adhesive material having a first face comprising a reversible adhesive and a second face comprising a reversible adhesive, the gasket further comprising a plurality of perforations.
- 106. The gasket of any one of claims 103-105 further comprising a liner removably attached to one or both of the faces of the gasket.
- 107. The gasket of any one of claims 103-105, wherein the gasket further comprises a layer of 0.25 to 3 mm thick silicone.
- 108. The gasket of any one of claims 103-105, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise one or more layers of a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive.
- 109. The gasket of any one of claims 103-105, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise a layer of 0.25 to 3 mm thick silicone arranged between two or more layers of a double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive.
- 110. The gasket of claim 108 or 109, wherein the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a permanent acrylic adhesive or a permanent silicone adhesive on one side.
- 111. The gasket of claim 108 or 109, wherein the double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive includes a clean-release acrylic adhesive or a clean-release silicone adhesive on one side.
- 112. The gasket of claim 107 or 109, wherein one or both sides of the layer of silicone have been treated with a chemical adhesion promoter or primer.
- 113. The gasket of any one of claims 103-105, wherein the perforations are in the pattern and dimensions of a 96-well plate.
- 114. The gasket of any one of claims 103-105, wherein the perforations are in the pattern and dimensions of a 384-well plate.
- 115. The gasket of any one of claims 103-105, wherein the perforations are in the pattern and dimensions of a 1536-well plate.
- 116. The gasket of any one of claims 103-105, wherein the perforations are in the pattern and dimensions of a 3456-well plate.
- 117. A device for aligning one or more gaskets with a microtiter-plate comprising:
a rigid material with a plurality of protrusions, whereby the one or more gaskets comprise a plurality of perforations and the plurality of protrusions are dimensioned and arranged to fit within the perforations of the one or more gaskets.
- 118. The device of claim 117, wherein the protrusions are dimensioned and arranged to fit within the perforations of any one of the gaskets of claims 113-116.
- 119. The device of claim 117, wherein the height of the protrusions is less than or equal to the thickness of the one or more gaskets.
- 120. The device of claim 117, wherein the height of the protrusions is greater than the thickness of the one or more gaskets.
- 121. The device of claim 117 further comprising one or more features that are dimensioned and arranged to accommodate or fit within one or more complementary features of the microtiter plate.
- 122. The device of claim 117, wherein the device has the structure and dimensions of the device shown in FIG. 3 or 8.
- 123. A device for aligning one or more substrates with a microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto comprising:
a rigid material comprising one or more casings, wherein the dimensions of the casings comprise the dimensions of the substrates.
- 124. The device of claim 123 further comprising one or more features that are dimensioned and arranged to accommodate or fit within one or more complementary features of the microtiter plate.
- 125. The device of claim 123, wherein the device has the structure and dimensions of the device shown in FIG. 5 or 10.
- 126. A device for removing one or more substrates from a microtiter-microarray device comprising:
a rigid material with a plurality of protrusions that are dimensioned and arranged to fit within selected wells of the microtiter-microarray device, wherein the selected wells are unoccupied by microarrays.
- 127. The device of claim 126, wherein the device has the structure and dimensions of the device shown in FIG. 6.
- 128. A kit comprising:
one or more gaskets comprising an adhesive material with a plurality of perforations; a device for aligning one or more gaskets with a microtiter-plate comprising a rigid material with a plurality of protrusions, whereby the one or more gaskets comprise a plurality of perforations and the plurality of protrusions are dimensioned and arranged to fit within the perforations of the one or more gaskets; and a device for aligning one or more substrates with a microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto comprising a rigid material with one or more casings, wherein the dimensions of the casings comprise the dimensions of the substrates.
- 129. A kit comprising:
a bottomless microtiter plate having a plurality of wells; one or more gaskets comprising an adhesive material with a plurality of perforations; a device for aligning one or more gaskets with a microtiter-plate comprising a rigid material with a plurality of protrusions, whereby the one or more gaskets comprise a plurality of perforations and the plurality of protrusions are dimensioned and arranged to fit within the perforations of the one or more gaskets; and a device for aligning one or more substrates with a microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto comprising a rigid material with one or more casings, wherein the dimensions of the casings comprise the dimensions of the substrates.
- 130. A kit comprising:
a bottomless microtiter plate having a plurality of wells; one or more substrates having a first face with a plurality of microarrays of materials attached thereto; one or more gaskets comprising an adhesive material with a plurality of perforations; a device for aligning one or more gaskets with a microtiter-plate comprising a rigid material with a plurality of protrusions, whereby the one or more gaskets comprise a plurality of perforations and the plurality of protrusions are dimensioned and arranged to fit within the perforations of the one or more gaskets; a device for aligning one or more substrates with a microtiter plate having one or more gaskets attached thereto comprising a rigid material with one or more casings, wherein the dimensions of the casings comprise the dimensions of the substrates.
- 131. The kit of any one of claims 128-130 further comprising a device for removing one or more substrates from a microtiter-microarray device comprising a rigid material with a plurality of protrusions that are dimensioned and arranged to fit within selected wells of the microtiter-microarray device, wherein the selected wells are unoccupied by microarrays.
- 132. The kit of any one of claims 128-130, wherein the one or more gaskets comprise a gasket of any one of claims 113-116
- 133. The kit of any one of claims 128-130, wherein the first aligning device comprises the device of any one of claims 118-122.
- 134. The kit of any one of claims 128-130, wherein the second aligning device comprises the device of any one of claims 124-125.
- 135. The kit of claim 131, wherein the removal device comprises the device of claim 127.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to provisional applications U.S. S. No. 60/297,991, filed Jun. 13, 2001 and U.S. S. No. 60/329,253, filed Oct. 12, 2001 which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Provisional Applications (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60297991 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
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60329253 |
Oct 2001 |
US |