Biochemical deposition device with high deposition rate

Abstract

A biochemical deposition device for contactless deposition of biochemicals on a surface, the biochemical deposition device having a supporting substrate, an array of reservoirs on one side of the substrate, the reservoirs being configured for containing a plurality of biochemicals, and, an array of ejectors on the other side of the supporting substrate, each of the ejectors being configured for fluid communication with the reservoirs, wherein during use, the array of ejectors eject droplets containing the biochemicals onto the surface at a rate greater than 100 droplets per second.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to diagnostic devices that use microsystems technologies (MST). In particular, the invention relates to microfluidic and biochemical processing and analysis for molecular diagnostics.CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS[0002]The following applications have been filed by the Applicant which relate to the present application:GBS001USGBS002USGBS003USGBS005USGBS006USGSR001USGSR002USGAS001USGAS002USGAS003USGAS004USGAS006USGAS007USGAS008USGAS009USGAS010USGAS012USGAS013USGAS014USGAS015USGAS016USGAS017USGAS018USGAS019USGAS020USGAS021USGAS022USGAS023USGAS024USGAS025USGAS026USGAS027USGAS028USGAS030USGAS031USGAS032USGAS033USGAS034USGAS035USGAS036USGAS037USGAS038USGAS039USGAS040USGAS041USGAS042USGAS043USGAS044USGAS045USGAS046USGAS047USGAS048USGAS049USGAS050USGAS054USGAS055USGAS056USGAS057USGAS058USGAS059USGAS060USGAS061USGAS062USGAS063USGAS065USGAS066USGAS067USGAS068USGAS069USGAS070USGAS080USGAS081USGAS082USGAS083USGAS084USGAS085USGAS086USGAS087USGAS...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0090]The biochemical deposition device provides for an automated, volumetrically and positionally precise, fast, and high-density biochemical deposition technique, simplifying the complexity, increasing the reliability, increasing the security, increasing the safety, and reducing the cost of the automated manufacturing environment. The high deposition rate of the device, in turn, provides a high deposition throughput and reduces the overall product costs. The device also functions as the intermediate fluidic manipulation mechanism that is required for transferring fluids from a macroscopic level of volume and positioning accuracy to a microscopic level of volume and positioning accuracy.

[0091]The data automation provided by the biochemical deposition device provides for an automated, safe, secure, and inexpensive technique of data monitoring and management in the automated manufacturing environment.

Problems solved by technology

Insufficient stringency can result in a high degree of nonspecific binding.

Excessive stringency can lead to a failure of appropriate binding, which results in diminished sensitivity.

Despite the advantages that molecular diagnostic tests offer, the growth of this type of testing in the clinical laboratory has been slower than expected and remains a minor part of the practice of laboratory medicine.

This is primarily due to the complexity and costs associated with nucleic acid testing compared with tests based on methods not involving nucleic acids.

However, controlling fluid flow through the LOC device, adding reagents, controlling reaction conditions and so on necessitate bulky external plumbing and electronics.

Connecting a LOC device to these external devices effectively restricts the use of LOC devices for molecular diagnostics to the laboratory setting.

The cost of the external equipment and complexity of its operation precludes LOC-based molecular diagnostics as a practical option for point-of-care settings.

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