Affymetrix, Inc.

General Scanning, Inc.

Courtagen Life Sciences, Inc.

Herman Deweerd

Mark R Jones

Nathan K Weiner

Christopher Miles

Patrick Odoy

Albert Bukys

David A Stura

Eric E McKenzie

Thomas P Regan

David Bradbury

Tim J Woolaver

Roger DiPaolo

Joel M Katz

James T Overbeck

Eric Schultz

Ksenia Oleink-Ovod

Jean I Montagu

Brian Patrick Stokes

Roger Dowd

Hans Bengtsson

Peter Maimonis

Oleinik-Ovod Ksenia

Peter Honkanen

Erik Schultz

Ksenia Oleinik-Ovod

Natalia Rodionova

Nathan Tyburczy

Eric Earl Mckenzie

Patrick J Odoy

Cassette () performs assays, e.g. multiplexed protein biomarker assays. Wide, bubble-free, slow flows are produced from liquids stored on cassette (), flowing over wide array () of ligand receptors on a capture surface. Flows of Reynolds Number less than about 1, preferably 1&#xd7;10to 5&#xd7;10, are heated in region () preceding and including bubble removal system (). Analyte is introduced through compressed septum (). External actuations of displacement pumps () and valves (A, B, and C) produce flows in response to flow-front optical sensors (). Elastic sheet provides pump and valve diaphragms and resilient expansion of mixing volume (). Break-away cover portions are pistons. Heating is by conduction through cassette from external contact heater. Planar cassette body, when tilted from horizontal, enables upward flow from pumped storage () to reaction () to waste (), with buoyancy bubble removal before reaction. Reading of fluorescence is by external reader, employing calibration, control and reference features on capture surface. Extensive set of calibration features of differing intensities enables self-calibration.

Assays based on liquid flow over arrays

An embodiment of a scanning system is described including optical elements that direct an excitation beam at a probe array, detectors that receive reflected intensity data responsive to the excitation beam, where the reflected intensity data is responsive to a focusing distance between an optical element and the probe array, a transport frame that adjusts the focusing distance in a direction with respect to the probe array, an auto-focuser that determines a best plane of focus based upon characteristics of the reflected intensity data of at least two focusing distances where the detectors further receive pixel intensity values based upon detected emissions from a plurality of probe features disposed on the probe array at the best plane of focus, and an image generator that associates each of the pixel intensity values with at least one image pixel position of a probe array based upon one or more position correction values.

System and method for scanning of probe arrays

System, method, and product for scanning of biological materials

A bi-directional optical scanning system includes a spring-stiffened, taut-band mechanical subsystem that translates rotational motion of a servo-controlled actuator to translational (scan line or 'fast axis') motion of a sample relative to a stationary objective lens. A first taut steel band attaches to a first end of a shuttle that moves the sample over the fast axis. The band then wraps partially in one direction around a light-weight wheel that is rotated by the servo-controlled actuator. The second end of the band attaches to a pre-loaded spring that is, in turn, attached to the wheel. A second taut steel band wraps partially around the wheel in the opposite direction, with one end of the band attached to the wheel and the other end attached to a second end of the shuttle. When the wheel rotates in one direction, the first band pulls the shuttle, and thus, the sample, in the forward scan direction. When the wheel rotates in the opposite direction, the second band pulls the shuttle and the sample in the backward scan direction. As the wheel rotates, the first band fits into a slit in the second band where the two bands would otherwise overlap. Each band thus remains tightly wrapped around the wheel. The wrap angle associated with the overlay of the first band on the wheel is carefully chosen to ensure that the band does not slip relative to the wheel in response to forces associated with the acceleration of the sample or differences in thermal expansion of the wheel and the band. There is thus a known relationship between the rotational movement of the wheel and the translational movement of the sample even under varying environmental conditions.

Bi-directional scanning system with a pixel clock system

Growing community of inventors

Bedford, MA, United States of America

Herman Deweerd