Array fabrication with drop detection

US6998230B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Christopher A. Schantz · Redwood City, US
• Kyle Schleifer · Sunnyvale, US
• William D. Fisher · San Jose, US
• Richard P. Tella · Sunnyvale, US
• Michael P. Caren · Palo Alto, US
• Peter Webb · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 26, 2000
• Grant date: Feb 14, 2006
• Expiry date: Nov 19, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01L3/0268
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A drop deposition apparatus, and a method and computer program products using the drop deposition apparatus, for fabricating at least one addressable array of biopolymers on a substrate. The drop deposition apparatus has a drop dispenser unit and a sensing element. The method comprises includes for each of multiple addresses, dispensing droplets carrying the biopolymers or biopolymer precursors from a drop dispenser unit onto the sensing element, and onto the substrate so as to fabricate the array. Electrical signals resulting from dispensed droplets striking the sensing element are detected. A performance characteristic of the deposition apparatus is evaluated based on the detected signals.