Patent · US Expired

Microwell biochip

US7217520B2 · kind B2 · utility

112Cited by
25References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 12, 2004
Grant dateMay 15, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 12, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2021/0346
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Microwell biochips (11) are formed from a thin flat plate (13) of polymeric material having a plurality of regularly spaced holes (15) that extend completely therethrough and create microwells. The lower end of each hole is closed by a microporous, hydrophobic, polymeric membrane (17) laminated to the undersurface of the plate which retains an aqueous test solution in the wells until a vacuum is applied to the undersurface thereof to effect draining of the solution and of any wash solution that might be subsequently added. A spot of polymerizing isocyanate-functional hydrogel is applied generally centrally to the porous membrane surface at the bottom of each well in a manner so as to cover only a minor portion of the surface and out of contact with the well sidewalls, thus leaving substantial surface area through which drainage can be readily effected. Biological capture agents are associated with the polymerizing hydrogel so as to become immobilized as a part thereof.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.