Apparatus for high-throughput non-contact liquid transfer and uses thereof

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus for high-throughput non-contact liquid transfer. The high-throughput non-contact liquid transfer apparatus may be implemented for high-throughput biological, chemical and biochemical, synthesis and / or screening. In one variation, the apparatus comprise of an acoustic emitter, one or more X / Y linear stage with associated handling device, one or more storage queue, and an image detection system. The apparatus may be controlled by a centralized system controller with associated electronic and / or software. The apparatus may further be integrated within a frame with environment and safety enclosure. The system controller may control positioning of source vessel and target device relative to an acoustic emitter device. The system controller may also track the location of all the source well plates and target well plates, thus providing for user-defined association of any well on any source well plate with any well on any target well plate for liquid transfer.

Description

[0001] This application is claiming the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional on Ser. No. 60 / 435,767 entitled "APPARATUS FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT NON-CONTACT LIQUID TRANSFER AND USES THEREOF" filed on Dec. 19, 2002, and it is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.[0002] The present invention generally relates to non-contact liquid transfer systems and in particular to acoustic liquid transfer systems with multiple sources and targets that may be dynamically positioned for liquid transfer.DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART[0003] Many methods for the precision transfer and handling of fluids are known and used in a variety of commercial and industrial applications. However, most of these methods require the direct contact of transfer device with the source fluid, thus increasing the risk of cross contamination between various fluid sources. The presently burgeoning industries of biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals are particularly relevant examples of industries requiring ultra-pure ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, most of these methods require the direct contact of transfer device with the source fluid, thus increasing the risk of cross contamination between various fluid sources.

Fluid transfer methods that require contacting the fluid with a transfer device, e.g., a pipette, a pin, or the like, dramatically increase the likelihood of contamination.

Furthermore, fluid transfer methods that require physical contact with source fluids also require elaborate mechanical controls and cleaning mechanisms, and do not conveniently and reliably produce the high efficiency, high-density arrays.

Contamination of the strand with an erroneously placed nucleotide renders the oligonucleotide useless.

However, a major obstacle in developing a reliable and cost-effective fluid ejection system lies in the development of an appropriate coupling interface for the wave-guide.

This may increase the difficulty in changing fluid containment structure and changing alignment of the acoustic liquid deposition emitter.

Dispersion or wicking of coupling fluid from the edge of the source fluid containment structure may also be a problem in this design.

The structure described in this application makes it difficult to replace or change source fluid containment structure without inadvertently spilling or splattering the coupling liquid since the coupling medium is not isolated.

Thus, there is no full isolation of the wave-guide or acoustic propagation path.

Another associated consequence of immersing the acoustic wave generation unit in the source fluid is that the same wave generation and propagation unit can not be used with separate fluid containment structures without the risk of cross contamination.

Existing non-contact liquid transfer systems are limited and do not provide for high-throughput transfer of liquids and their ability to generate high-density arrays in an efficient and reliable manner are also limited.

Automated grippers that are commonly used in the industry to move well plates tend to lack precision repeatability in their ability to hold the well plates within the grippers in the same position every time.

One of the limitations in most of the gene array fabrication devices in the market is the inability to verify the quality of each printed DNA spot after it is printed.

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