Systems and methods for preparing and analyzing low volume analyte array elements
US7285422B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 23, 1997 |
| Grant date | Oct 23, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T436/2575
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides methods for dispensing tools that can be employed to generate multi-element arrays of sample material on a substrate surface. The substrates surfaces can be flat or geometrically altered to include wells of receiving material. The tool can dispense a spot of fluid to a substrate surface by spraying the fluid from the pin, contacting the substrate surface or forming a drop that touches against the substrate surface. The tool can form an array of sample material by dispensing sample material in a series of steps, while moving the pin to different locations above the substrate surface to form the sample array. The invention then passes the prepared sample arrays to a plate assembly that disposes the sample arrays for analysis by mass spectrometry. To this end, a mass spectrometer is provided that generates a set of spectra signal which can be understood as indicative of the composition of the sample material under analysis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.