Patent Application
20080199861
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a real-time microarray apparatus. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to a real-time PCR microarray apparatus.
Active microarrays that integrate nucleic acid sample preparation, on-chip nucleic acid amplification and microarrays are highly desired for their ease of use, varied functionality and other advantages. Active microarrays currently used employ a nucleic acid amplification process first, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and then proceed with microarray hybridization. When a target nucleic acid, such as DNA, is at a very low concentration, the under-amplified DNA may not give a strong enough signal for microarray detection. In this situation, retesting will result which may consume excess time and resources.
In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes represent different instances of substantially similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.
Embodiments of the invention relate to a real-time microarray apparatus comprising an upper substrate, a lower substrate, a buffer positioned between the upper and lower substrate, a microarray positioned on either the upper substrate or the lower substrate, a heater positioned near the microarray, a pump positioned near the buffer and microarray and an imaging sensor positioned near the microarray.
The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. The embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, or structural, and logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used to include one or more than one and the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or” unless otherwise indicated. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein, and not otherwise defined, is for the purpose of description only and not of limitation. Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference should be considered supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.
Embodiments of the invention relate to a real-time microarray apparatus utilizing a heater to release under amplified nucleic acid samples on a microarray to be re-amplified and further detected. The methods and apparatus of the present invention reduce the amount of retesting of low concentration nucleic acid on a microarray. A microarray is a collection of microscopic nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) spots attached to a solid surface, forming an array for the purpose of expression profiling (monitoring expression levels for thousands of genes simultaneously). The combined nucleic acid amplification and hybridization reaction can be utilized with microarray applications for optimal analysis.
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The heater 108 may be comprised of multiple heaters or multiple parts of heaters capable of maintaining separate temperatures. For example, a heater may be positioned to denature under-amplified nucleic acid at one temperature (for example, about 90° C. and above), a separate heater or portion of a single heater may be heated to a lower temperature to anneal or hybridize (such as about 60° C.) in a separate portion of the reaction chamber.
The substrate (upper 102 and lower 104) may be comprised of an optical material, such as glass or polymer, for example. The nucleic acid sample, or target nucleic acid, may be DNA, RNA or both, for example. The heater 108 may be a wire, heat plate or utilize hot air or radiant heat for example. The heater 108 may be positioned within the reaction chamber, integrated within the structure of the reaction chamber or positioned on the outside of the reaction chamber, for example.
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The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b) to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
