Microarraying process and apparatus
US7208124B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 19, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2575
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A high throughput microarraying or colony picking robot with an automatic mechanism for exchanging pin heads and an automated washing and drying apparatus. The robot allows a dirty pin head to be deposited on the automated washing and drying apparatus for cleaning without use of the xyz-positioner, while spotting or picking can continue by picking up a clean pin head without having to wait for the dirty pin head to be cleaned. In this way, the speed of operation can be increased without any increase in the acceleration or speed of the x-, y- and z-drives. The dead time normally associated with the washing and drying cycle, which is usually several minutes, is therefore eliminated, and replaced with the much shorter dead time, of only a few tens of seconds, needed for changing between heads.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.