Patent Application
20060051250
With the hope of finding new drugs and unlocking the secrets of the genetic code, companies have aggressively pursued technology for handling biological materials. One technology area of particular interest includes liquid handling and/or high throughput screening, which attempts to process hundreds or thousands of samples of substances in parallel to rapidly determine a property of those substances. Typically, a first set of substances are provided on a chip or substrate while a second set of substances are applied to the first set of substances to identify any useful interactions. Systems for performing high throughput screening and/or liquid handling include various functions such as filling reservoirs, aspirating liquids from those reservoirs, and dispensing fluids into testing reservoirs. Liquids are ultimately deposited onto substrates, such as a slide, or into holding reservoirs such as a microplate with an array of wells.
Unfortunately, despite heavy pursuit of simplification in this technology area, these high throughput screening systems or liquid handling systems, are still fairly cumbersome. Fluids are placed into reservoirs for storage using one type of device, such as a micropipette system, and then using a separate type of device such as a quill pin system, fluids are drawn from the reservoirs and then dispensed into other wells, onto chips as arrays, or onto slides. With each additional step of handling, the chances increase of making errors in maintaining the intended state of the biological material. Moreover, the systems for performing these tasks can be rather bulky since separate subsystems are used for each desired function, for example, these systems may include a micropipette for filling, a microplate for holding a substance or receiving test reagents, a dispensing mechanism for dispensing fluids from the microplate onto a slide, etc.
In addition, conventional liquid handling systems use relatively larger volumes of biological materials due to the larger size and/or lack of precision associated with conventional liquid dispensing devices. Conventional liquid handling systems also typically require frequent steps of washing and/or rinsing components of the system, which wastes time and resources.
For these reasons, among others, systems for liquid handling of biological materials have yet to achieve their full potential.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of embodiments of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a microtray system configured for handling liquids such as biological substances. Biological substances (herein “biosubstances”) includes biological flowable materials which includes, but is not limited to, human fluids, cells, and/or cell components, animal fluids, cells, and/or cell components, plant fluids cells, and/or cell components, other cellular components, as well as non-cellular biological materials including, but not limited to, proteins, antibodies, antigens, RNA, DNA, oligonucleotides, nucleotides, nucleosides, sugars, lipids, cytokines, etc. In one embodiment, biosubstances also include fluid mediums which act as a carrier to enable biological materials to flow for handling with a microtray. In another embodiment, biosubstances also include materials capable of affecting biological materials, such as chemicals, pharmaceutical agents, reagents, etc.
In one embodiment, biosubstances comprise oligonucleotides such as those provided in microarrays, as well as those biological materials typically handled in microvolume liquid handling systems.
In another embodiment, a microtray acts as a liquid handler for handling general chemicals that do not necessarily affect or relate to biologic materials, properties, causes or effects. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the term “chemical” can be substituted generally for the the term “biosubstance” in relation to the function being served by a microtray, such as filling, mixing, heating, routing, ejecting, etc. of chemicals instead of biosubstances.
In one embodiment, a microtray is an active device which holds biosubstances in an array of wells and then also dispenses the biosubstances onto a target media, such as a glass slide for building a microarray or such as wells of a microplate. The microtray comprises a fluid holding structure and a fluid ejection structure in fluid communication with the fluid holding structure. The fluid holding structure comprises an array of wells, which supply the fluid ejection structure with biosubstances to be dispensed. The fluid ejection structure comprises an array of fluid ejection devices. In one embodiment, these fluid ejection devices act as ejection ports and are configured to generate a force within the fluid ejection structure on a microvolume of the biosubstances to cause the biosubstances to be ejected from the ejection ports as a drop(s) onto the target media. In another embodiment, these fluid ejection devices comprise at least one thermal drop-on-demand ejection device or other drop-generating mechanisms (e.g., piezoelectric or flex-tensional), which selectively dispense microvolumes of biosubstances onto the target media without the ejection device contacting the target media (i.e., non-contact dispensing).
In one embodiment, a microtray is an active device that has the look, feel, and sizing of a conventional passive microplate, thereby enabling its use for holding biosubstances in conventional liquid handling systems. However, this microtray is also capable of active functions such as dispensing fluids supplied from the fluid holding structure of the microtray, thereby enabling use of the microtray in entirely new schemes of liquid handling and microarray deposition. Accordingly, in another embodiment, a microtray is not limited to the sizes and shapes of conventional microplates, since this microtray is capable of operating significantly differently than conventional microplates.
Moreover, a microtray of embodiments of the present invention is not strictly limited to handling microliter volumes of fluids as the term “micro” refers more generally to the general field of liquid handling systems (e.g. high throughput screening, other array handling mechanisms), microtiters, microarrays, etc. which involve handling a range of volumes of fluids and in which the devices, such as microplates, that are used to handle the volumes have some dimensions (e.g. any one or more of well volumes, well density, well pitch, certain lengths or widths, footprint, array population, spot pitch, spot size, spot volumes, etc.) that are typically on the micron scale of measurement. Accordingly, one or more microtrays are in embodiments of the invention configured to handle (e.g. hold and/or dispense) biosubstances in volumes such as milliliter volumes, microliter volumes, nanoliter volumes, picoliter volumes, and/or femptoliter volumes.
The term “microvolume” of a biosubstance in this document refers generally to small scale volumes of fluids and includes volumes in the ranges of milliliter volumes, microliter volumes, nanoliter volumes, picoliter volumes, and femptoliter volumes, with these specific volume ranges being referenced by their respective prefix-liter designation.
In one embodiment, a microvolume drop of a biosubstance (e.g. milliliter, microliter, nanoliter, picoliter, femptoliter, etc.) from a single well of a fluid holding structure is dispensed using a single ejection device (including a single or multiple nozzles) of the fluid ejection structure. Each ejection device can eject drops that are substantially the same size, or each ejection device can eject a different size drop. In one embodiment, each ejection device has several nozzles of different sizes to thereby eject different volumes of biosubstances (e.g., milliliter, microliter, nanoliter, picoliter, fempto, etc) from the respective nozzles. Accordingly, differently-sized volumes of the same biosubstance are dispensed adjacent each other via adjacently-placed nozzles of a single ejection device. In another embodiment, the multiple nozzles associated with the single ejection device are substantially the same size, thereby producing substantially the same size drop from each nozzle.
In another embodiment, a drop of a biosubstance is dispensed in a selected volume (e.g., milliliter, microliter, nanoliter, picoliter, femptoliter, etc.) by using multiple nozzles of an ejection device of the fluid ejection structure in a coordinated manner to produce the selected volume drop for depositing on a target surface (e.g., slide, well, etc.).
In another embodiment, a microtray comprises a fluid processing structure sandwiched between a top fluid holding structure and a bottom fluid ejection structure. The fluid processing structure enables performing various operations on biosubstances prior to ejection onto a target media. These operations include mixing, reacting, filtering, etc. one or more biosubstances to yield altered biosubstances, combined biosubstances, and/or new biosubstances. In one embodiment, two or more different biosubstances are processed via the fluid processor structure to create a new biosubstance. Accordingly, placing these functions within the microtray virtually eliminates conventional arduous steps of moving biosubstances between different plates or slides via micropipettes, quill pin systems, aspirators and other devices. Instead, these operations are performed on biosubstances within a single microtray that also holds biosubstances and dispenses biosubstances out of the microtray on demand. In other embodiments, this microtray including a fluid processor structure handles chemicals (e.g. holding and/or dispensing) that need not be biosubstances. Accordingly, this microtray mimics a liquid handling system rather than merely being a passive fluid holder. This microtray including a fluid processor structure may or may not be substantially the same size and shape as conventional microplates.
In one embodiment, the microtray includes circuitry to operate the fluid ejection structure and/or fluid processor structure and includes input/output (I/O) contact pads for electrical communication with a control station, which also includes electrical contact I/O pads for interfacing with the active microtrays. Via these respective I/O pads of the microtray and control station, microtray receives power and instructions for operation. In one embodiment, an aspect of the control station releasably secures the microtray in a fixed position to enable movement of a target media relative to the microtray, thereby enabling higher density applications of drops or spots of biosubstances on a target media. In another embodiment, an aspect of the control station enables the microtray to be moved relative to a stationary or moving target media during dispensing of the biosubstances.
Finally, in another embodiment, a fluid ejection structure of microtray embodies thermal inkjet-type technology to enable dispensing volumes of biosubstances as low as 5 picoliters, or even lower volumes in the femptoliter volume range. Accordingly, the size of wells that supply fluid to each fluid ejection device can be much smaller, which thereby enables much smaller microtrays carrying densities of 6144 wells per microtray. When used as a microplate, this density creates a new smaller form factor for ANSI-standard-sized microplates of 6144 wells per microplate. Accordingly, this microtray enables carrying about 4 times more unique biosubstances within wells of a single microtray than possible with a conventional ANSI/SBS standard microplate. Moreover, in one embodiment, the microtray can dispense fluid from each well of the fluid holding structure via a uniquely corresponding group of fluid ejection devices of the fluid ejection structure onto the target media. This direct one-to-one correspondence between each well and a group of ejection devices, in turn, increases the precision and accuracy of biosubstance printing, enabling an increased density of unique spots of biosubstances being applied per surface area of the target media.
With these features, among others, embodiments of the present invention greatly simplify handling of biosubstances, and increase the precision and accuracy of depositing biosubstances as microarrays and onto other targets, such as glass slides and/or wells of microplates. Within a single microtray, biosubstances can be stored, processed with property-altering operations or combined, and then dispensed in extremely minute volumes. These capabilities will overcome many problems associated with conventional handling biosubstances, such as in situ building of oligonucleotides.
In one embodiment, microtray 12 comprises a single structure in which both fluid holding structure 20 (e.g., a first layer) and fluid ejection structure 22 (e.g., a second layer) formed together as a monolithic structure. In another embodiment, microtray 12 comprises fluid holding structure 20 and fluid ejection structure 22 defining separate elements that are joined together to define a single structure.
In one embodiment, target media 14 comprises a substrate or work surfaces, such as a slide configured to receive biological substances deposited onto its upper surface. In one embodiment, target media 14 comprises a conventional microplate with an array of wells 40 for receiving drops dispensed by microtray 12. In another embodiment, target media 14 comprises a microplate with a footprint (e.g., length, width), height, and well positions (e.g. densities of 96, 384, 1536 wells per microplate) in accordance with microplate standards under American National Standards Institute/Society for Biomolecular Screening (SBS), including ANSI/SBS 1-2004, 2-2004, 3-2004 and 4-2004.
In another embodiment, target media 14 comprises a microplate that meets the ANSI/SBS standards for footprint and height of conventional microplates, but further comprises well positions in new form factors having greater densities than those specified in the standards, such as a density of 6144 wells per microplate, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.
Finally, in another embodiment, target media 14 comprises a second microtray having substantially the same features and attributes as microtray 12 except placed below fluid ejection structure 22 of microtray 12 to receive dispensed drops of biosubstances into an array of wells of a fluid holding structure of the second microtray. This embodiment is described further in association with the embodiments of
In one embodiment, each well 26 holds a unique biosubstance different than biosubstances in the other wells 26 of fluid holding structure 20. In another embodiment, each well 26 holds substantially the same biosubstance in each well 26 of fluid holding structure 20. In another embodiment, the same biosubstance is held in more than one well 26 of fluid holding structure 20, but not in all wells 26 of fluid holding structure 20.
Microtray 52 has substantially the same features and attributes as microplate 12. Microplate 52 comprises fluid handling components 70, circuitry 71, and input/output interface 72. Fluid handling components 70 include, but are not limited to, fluid holding structure 73, fluid processor 74, and fluid ejection structure 76. Circuitry 71 comprises electrical components suitable for operating an electrically activatable liquid ejection device and includes, but is not limited to, memory 80 and logic 82. Station 54 comprises controller 90 with memory 92, input/output interface 94, filling module 96, mixing module 98, dispensing module 100, and transport module 102.
Microtray 52 ejects drops of fluid, including one or more biological substances such as liquids, fluids, and other flowable materials, through a plurality of orifices or nozzles 83. In one embodiment, drops produced from fluid ejection structure 76 are on the order of about 5 picoliters in volume, which is understood to be about 4-5 times smaller than volumes produced by conventional piezoelectric drop-on-demand ejection technology.
In one embodiment, the drops are directed toward a medium, such as target media 60, so as to print onto target media 60. Typically, nozzles 83 are arranged in one or more columns or arrays such that properly sequenced ejection of fluid (e.g. biosubstances) from nozzles 83 causes, in one embodiment, an array of spots to be printed upon target media 60 as microtray 52 and target media 60 are moved relative to each other.
Fluid holding structure 73, as one embodiment of a fluid supply, supplies fluid to fluid ejection structure 76 and includes one or more reservoirs for storing fluids. As such, fluid flows directly from fluid holding structure 73 to fluid ejection structure 76. In one embodiment, a fluid processor 74 (e.g., a third layer) is interposed between fluid holding structure 73 (e.g., a first layer) and fluid ejection structure 76 (e.g., a second layer). In another embodiment, fluid processor 74 is omitted and fluid holding structure is in direct fluid communication with fluid ejection structure 76. One embodiment of fluid processor 74 is later described in more detail in association with the embodiment of
Tray handler 56 positions microtray 52 relative to target media handler 58, and target media handler 58 positions target media 60 relative to microtray 52. As such, a print zone 62 within which microtray 52 deposits fluids, such as biosubstances, is defined adjacent to nozzles 83 in an area between microtray 52 and target media 60. Target media 60 is held stationary or advanced through print zone 62 during printing by target media handler 58.
In one embodiment, microtray 52 includes a scanning type fluid ejection structure 76, and tray handler 56 moves microtray 52 relative to target media handler 58 and target media 60 during printing of a pattern of biosubstances on target media 60. In another embodiment, microtray 52 includes a non-scanning type fluid ejection structure 76, and tray handler 56 fixes microtray 52 at a prescribed position relative to target media handler 58 during printing of a pattern of biosubstances on target media 60 as target media handler 58 advances target media 60 past the prescribed position.
Electronic controller 90 of station 54 communicates with microtray 52, tray handler 56, and target media handler 58. In one embodiment, electronic controller 90 receives instructions and data from a host system, such as a computer, and includes memory 92 for temporarily storing those instructions and data. Typically, data is sent to microtray system 50 along an electronic, infrared, optical or other information transfer path. In another embodiment, station 54 including controller 90 is self-supporting, i.e., including its own instructions and data supplied through a user interface and/or stored in memory 92. In either embodiment of controller 90, these instructions and data represent, for example, an instruction set specifying a request for depositing an array of biosubstances from microtray 52 onto target media 60. As such, these instructions and data form a bioprinting job for microtray system 50 and includes one or more bioprinting commands and/or command parameters that dictate operation of the components of microtray system 50.
As shown in the embodiment of
In one embodiment of station 54, electronic controller 90 provides control of microtray 52 including timing control for ejection of fluid drops from nozzles 83. As such, electronic controller 90 defines a pattern of ejected drops of biosubstances which form an array of spots on target media 60. Timing control and, therefore, the pattern of ejected drops of biosubstances, is determined by the job commands and/or command parameters held in memory 92 of station 54 or in memory 80 of circuitry 71 of microtray 52. In one embodiment, logic and drive circuitry forming a portion of electronic controller 90 is located in station 54 externally of fluid ejection structure 76 of microtray 52. In another embodiment, logic and drive circuitry forming a portion of electronic controller 90 is formed as part of circuitry 71 of fluid ejection structure 76 of microtray 52.
Microtray 52 is formed from a silicon, glass, or stable polymer, using semiconductor and thin-film microfabrication techniques, known to those skilled in the art, enabling the formation of various structures of microtray 52 such as wells, channels, operational components of fluid processor 74, and ejection devices. Materials and fabrication techniques for forming fluid ejection structure 76 are later described in more detail in association with the embodiment of
Finally, microtrays 12, 52 of the embodiments of
In another embodiment, a microtray comprises a fluid holding structure and the fluid ejection structure formed together and having a length, width, and height meeting the ANSI/SBS microplate standard yet configured to enable a fourth array of 6144 wells in the fluid holding structure with a pitch between adjacent wells of about 1.125 millimeters and a density of about 56 wells per square centimeter over a surface of the microplate.
Accordingly, microtrays 12, 52 enable meeting known form factors for microplates and enable exceeding those form factors to create new form factors for microplates, as well as creating whole new functions (e.g., processing, dispensing, etc.) not previously associated with conventional microplates.
In one embodiment of fluid holding structure 20, body 110 of wells 26 have a diameter that is sufficiently small and a length (i.e., height as seen in
Drop-ejecting elements 120 are formed on a substrate 140 which has a fluid (or biosubstance) feed hole 142 formed therein, such as fluid inlet 122 (
In one embodiment, each drop-ejecting element 120 includes a thin-film structure 150, a barrier layer 160, an orifice layer 170, and a drop generator 180. Thin-film structure 150 has a fluid (or biosubstance) feed opening 152 formed therein which communicates with fluid feed hole 142 of substrate 140 and barrier layer 160 has a fluid ejection chamber 162 and one or more fluid channels 164 formed therein such that fluid ejection chamber 162 communicates with fluid feed opening 152 via fluid channels 164.
Orifice layer 170 has a front face 172 and an orifice or nozzle opening 174 formed in front face 172. In one embodiment, orifice layer 170 corresponds to a lower surface of microtray 12, 52 (
While barrier layer 160 and orifice layer 170 are illustrated as separate layers, in other embodiments, barrier layer 160 and orifice layer 170 may be formed as a single layer of material with fluid ejection chamber 162, fluid channels 164, and/or nozzle opening 174 formed in the single layer. In addition, in one embodiment, portions of fluid ejection chamber 162, fluid channels 164, and/or nozzle opening 174 may be shared between or formed in both barrier layer 160 and orifice layer 170.
In one embodiment, during operation, fluid (e.g. a biosubstance) flows from fluid feed hole 142 to fluid ejection chamber 162 via fluid feed opening 152 and one or more fluid channels 164. Each nozzle opening 174 is operatively associated with its own resistor 182 such that droplets of fluid are ejected from each fluid ejection chamber 162 through the respective nozzle opening 174 (e.g., substantially normal to the plane of resistor 182) and toward a target medium (e.g., target media 60 in
In one embodiment, each drop-ejecting element 120 comprises a single nozzle opening 174 with its associated resistor 182, chamber 162, and channel 164. As such,
Resistor 182 is energized by sending a current thru it. Energy applied to the resistor is controlled by applying a fixed voltage to the resistor for a duration of time. In one embodiment, energy applied to the resistor is represented by the following equation:
Energy=((V*V)*t)/R
where V is the voltage applied, R is the resistance of the resistor, and t is the duration of the pulse. Typically, the pulse is a square pulse.
In one embodiment, resistor 182 is connected to a switch which in turn is connected in series to a power supply. Resistor 182 comprises an arrangement of one or more resistors configured in suitable configurations for applying energy to biosubstances within fluid ejection chamber 162.
In one embodiment, liquid ejection structure 22 is a fully integrated thermal fluid ejection device, such as a thermal inkjet printhead. As such, substrate 140 is formed, for example, of silicon, glass, or a stable polymer, and thin-film structure 150 includes one or more passivation or insulation layers formed, for example, of silicon dioxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, tantalum, poly-silicon glass, or other material. Thin-film structure 150 also includes a conductive layer which defines resistor 182 and leads 184. The conductive layer is formed, for example, by aluminum, gold, tantalum, tantalum-aluminum, or other metal or metal alloy. In addition, barrier layer 160 is formed, for example, of a photoimageable epoxy resin and orifice layer 170 is formed of one or more layers of material including, for example, a metallic material, such as nickel, copper, iron/nickel alloys, palladium, gold, or rhodium. Other materials, however, may be used for barrier layer 160 and/or orifice layer 170.
Accordingly, with these features, drop ejection elements 120 enable drop-on-demand, non-contact dispensing of biosubstances as microvolumes as little as 5 picoliters per drop dispensed. With this architecture, in one embodiment, microtrays 12, 52 (
In one embodiment, using multiple nozzles to dispense the same biosubstance from a single well, via fluid feed hole 142, as side-by-side spots on a target media (e.g., target media 60) enables the target media to carry duplicate spots of the same biosubstance. This spot duplication, enabled by multiple nozzles per well, permits using experimental replicates, thereby increasing the accuracy of tests using that biosubstance. This multiple nozzle per well arrangement also provides an effective mechanism to achieve redundancy in spotting onto a target media, so that if a single spot of a biosubstance produces an error or is defective in some manner, another identical spot of the same biosubstance can take the place of the defective spot. In one embodiment, there are as many duplicate drops of biosubstances dispensed as spots onto a target media as there are nozzles per fluid feed hole 42 (associated with a single well 26). In another embodiment, some of these nozzles associated with a single fluid feed hole 42 produce differently-sized drops, so that some of the duplicate spots of the same biosubstance have different volumes, thereby providing another level experimental robustness if a particular volume spot fails to achieve a successful result.
As shown in
Second state B of operation of microtray 12 comprises storing biosubstances within the wells of fluid holding structure 20 of microtray 12 until some suitable time period when another operation is to be performed using those biological substances. In one embodiment, microtray 12 comprises a fluid holding structure 20 including at least 6144 wells (e.g., wells 26
In another embodiment, microtray 12 comprises the fluid holding structure 20 with at least 6144 wells wherein after the biosubstances are held in microtray 12 for a period of time, an ejection mechanism different than fluid ejection structure 22 receives the biosubstances from wells 26 of fluid holding structure 20 and dispenses the biosubstances. This different ejection mechanism may or may not be directly connected to microtray 12. Accordingly, once fluid holding structure 20 of microtray 12 holds biosubstances within its well, microtray 12 is not strictly limited in its use to ejecting a biosubstance via fluid ejection structure 22.
Third state C of operation of microtray 12 comprises adding a second volume of biosubstances from a second fluid source(s) 204 into one or more wells of fluid holding structure 20 of microtray 12. Accordingly, the first volume of biosubstances from the first fluid source(s) 202 (added in operational state A) are necessarily mixed with the second volume of biosubstances within individual wells of fluid holding structure 20 of microtray 12.
Fourth state D of operation of microtray 12 comprises dispensing the biosubstances from wells of fluid holding structure 20 onto a target media via fluid ejection structure 22.
Fifth state E of operation of microtray 12 comprises positioning a second microtray 206 relative to microtray 12 to enable additional filling of fluid holding structure 20 of microtray 12 with biosubstances from microtray 206. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the position of microtray 206 and microtray 12 are reversed, so that microtray 12 fills fluid holding structure 20 of microtray 206, from which volumes of mixed biosubstances are then dispensed via fluid ejection structure 22. Accordingly, multiple microtrays can be positioned in a vertically stacked, spaced arrangement for filling and/or dispensing relative to one another. In one embodiment, more than two microtrays can be stacked vertically for filling and/or dispensing operations relative to one another.
Sixth state F of operation of microtray 12 comprises using microtray 12 that has been storing biosubstances (e.g., second state B of operation) and aspirating the biosubstances out of the fluid holding structure.
Seventh state G of operation of microtray 12 comprises using microtray 12 that has been storing biosubstances (e.g., second state B of operation) for an extended period of time and dispensing the biosubstances in a manner, substantially similar to fourth state D of operation of microtray 12.
In one embodiment, microtray 260 comprises back pressure devices 262 which are formed as bladder-type reservoirs mountable separately into and/or over each respective well to exert back pressure on a corresponding fluid ejection device. These bladder-type reservoirs also carry a volume of biological substance for filling a corresponding well over which the bladder reservoirs are mounted. Further details regarding these bladder-shaped back pressure devices 262 are described and illustrated in association with the embodiment of
In one embodiment, microtray 270 comprises hose assemblies 272, which include connector 274 and hose 276. Each connector 274 fits into or over each well of fluid holding structure 20 to permit separate filling of each well from a uniquely corresponding hose assembly 272. In addition to supplying biosubstances through hose 276 to wells 26 from external sources, these fluid-filled hoses 276 also exert a back pressure on fluid ejection elements 120 of fluid ejection structure 22 to prevent drooling of biosubstances from orifices of fluid ejection elements 120.
Finally, a microtray can include a combination of more than one type of back pressure device. In one embodiment, a single microtray can have both bellows-type and bladder-type back pressure devices mounted on a top surface of the fluid holding structure of that microtray. In addition, multiple back pressure devices can be ganged together with a frame or handled simultaneously by an applicator so that each back pressure device 254, 262, 272 need not be handled separately when mounted on wells 26 of the fluid holding structure 20.
In one embodiment, wells 26 of fluid holding structure 20 are also partially filled with materials, such as beads or foam, in a manner suitable to exert back pressure on fluid ejection devices of fluid ejection structure. These back pressure materials can be used in combination with back pressure devices 254, 262, or 272 or without back pressure devices 254, 262, or 272.
Microtray 400 including fluid processor 404 enables microtray 400 to perform operations on biosubstances within microtray 400 without requiring transport of biosubstances to and from the microtray 400 relative to other microtrays, microplates and/or other external devices. In addition, after these internal operations on biosubstances, fluid ejection structure 406 can dispense the biosubstances without resort to any external devices.
Fluid processor 404 comprises input structure 420 with router 421 and valves 422, operations module 430, and output structure 424 with router 425 and valves 426. Operations module 430 comprises mixer 432, bypass 434, filter 436, heater 438, reactor 440, router 442, and valves 444.
Input structure 420 uses router 421 including one or more channels to enable flow of one or more biological substances from wells in fluid holding structure into fluid processor 404 while valves 422 regulate flow of fluids into various functions, chambers, of operations module 430. Output structure 420 uses router 425, including one or more channels and valves 426, to enable flow of biological substances from fluid processor 404 into fluid ejection structure 406.
Operations module 404 enables performing various operations on biological substances available from wells 410 of fluid holding structure 402, prior to dispensing biosubstances from fluid ejection structure 406. In one embodiment, mixer 432 of fluid processor 404 mixes biological substances together to create new biosubstances, prior to dispensing from fluid ejection structure 406. For example, if each well contains a base nucleotide, mixer 432 can combine different base nucleotides supplied by a plurality of separate wells, to create an oligonucleotide, which then can be dispensed by fluid ejection structure 406.
In one embodiment, heater 438 of fluid processor 404 heats one or more biosubstances prior to dispensing from fluid ejection structure 406. In another embodiment, filter 436 of fluid processor 404 filters a biological substance to separate one or more components or biosubstances from each other, prior to dispensing from fluid ejection structure 406. In one embodiment, bypass 434 of fluid processor 404 enables a biosubstance to flow directly from a fluid holding structure 402 to fluid ejection structure 406 without any other operations (e.g., heating, mixing, etc) being performed on that biosubstance. In one embodiment, reactor 440 of fluid processor 404 enables causing a reaction between two different biosubstances (provided from different wells 410) prior to dispensing from fluid ejection structure 406.
In one embodiment, router 442 (e.g., channels) and valves 444 of fluid processor 404 enable moving biological substances within fluid processor 404 between various functions, such as mixer 432, bypass 434, heater 438, filter 436, reactor 440, etc. As such, biosubstances can be the subject of more than one operation performed by fluid processor 404 before being dispensed by fluid ejection structure 406.
Accordingly, microtray 400 with fluid processor 404 enables performing many operations normally associated different components of a liquid handling systems within microtray 400, independent of and separate from devices external of microtray 400, except for communication with a controller, such as controller 90 of
As shown at box of
Finally, any one of microtrays of the embodiments of
Embodiments of the present invention including an active microtray enable more precise and accurate dispensing of biosubstances as well as novel combinations of storage, processing, and/or dispensing of biosubstances not previously available in single liquid handling devices, such as conventional passive microplates. Moreover, these functions are provided in a device that can mimic the size and shape of a conventional microplate, enabling use of this active microtray in some aspects of conventional liquid handling systems. In addition, this increased accuracy and precision in liquid handling will make the use of each chemical and/or biosubstance more cost effective, which is particularly attractive to high volume applications, as high throughput screening in the biotechnology industry.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternative and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
