Apparatus and process for arraying beads
US6255116A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jul 3, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2575
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A mixture of beads from a combinatorial library is held in suspension in a liquid by movement of the liquid induced by a vertically reciprocating paddle. The tips of needles in an array are immersed in the suspension, a slot being provided in the paddle to avoid collision with the needles. Liquid is drawn into the needles until a bead becomes attached to the tip of each needle. Excess beads adhering to the needles are shaken off by an electromagnetically operated vibrator, and the beads are deposited in wells of a well plate by applying a short burst of pressure to the interiors of the needles. Liquid and any debris within the needles are thereafter discharged to a receptacle by applying a higher pressure burst to the interiors of the needles.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.