Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Other

Xyratex Technology Limited

John McEntee

Jay K Bass

Maryam Mobed-Miremadi

Alexander S Williamson

Tim J Lazaruk

Joseph A Worrall, Iii

Michel G M Perbost

Joseph Vandenburg

Roy H Kanemoto

Adam Sean Harbison

Brent T Tolosko

David Frost

An apparatus for concentrating solar radiation includes a number of modules. Each module has three receivers for receiving reflected radiation and a reflecting surface. The receivers form a triangle in a plane approximately parallel to the reflecting surface. The reflecting surface has a number of reflectors. Each of the reflectors includes three mirrored facets which are each oriented such that light reflected from the facet is directed to one of the three receivers. Further, each of the reflectors is positioned with respect to the receivers and the other reflectors to reduce facet shading.

Fresnel reflection device for concentration or collimation

Methods and compositions for modifying a substrate surface are provided. In accordance with the subject methods, a substrate surface is contacted with a particulate-containing fluid. The fluid is then ultrasonically or sonically agitated to modify the substrate surface. In certain embodiments, the particulate-containing fluid has a pH above the isoelectric point of the substrate. Also provided are devices capable of providing ultrasonic and/or sonic energy and which include a non-acidic, particulate-containing fluid. The subject invention also provides systems and kits for use in practicing the subject methods.

Methods and devices for modifying a substrate surface

A method and system for economically packaging microarrays into sealed reaction chambers and storage vessels. A pocket strip is manufactured as a linear sequence of pockets, or wells, into which microarrays are positioned. A cover strip is then heat sealed to the upper surface of the pocket strip to create a linear sequence of sealed reaction chambers or storage vessels, each containing a microarray. Mechanical features or optical features are included along the length of the pocket strip to facilitate mechanical translation and positioning of microarrays embedded within the microarray strip. Septa are affixed to, or embedded within, the cover strip to provide resealable ports through which solutions can be introduced into, or extracted from, the reaction chambers. In an alternate embodiment, the microarrays are deposited directly onto the cover strip, eliminating the need for separate microarray substrates.

Automation-optimized microarray package

Multi-disk processing system and method of continuous finishing of memory media disks for digital data storage systems in preparation for magnetic memory coating, comprising four main sub-systems: 1) multiple driven spindles mounted on a chassis, at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o'clock positions; 2) finishing tape head units mounted on a base; 3) a robotic handler for loading and unloading disks onto/off at least one of the spindles; and 4) a programmable system controller that controls the sub-system operations and loading/unloading. The tape head sub-system includes its own programmable controller and sensors for control of the finishing tape advance. The multiple spindles and handler rotate relative to each other. In a preferred embodiment, the spindles are mounted on a rotating turntable that also oscillates. Alternately, the spindles are fixed in position and a rotating handler with multiple grippers for simultaneously loading/unloading disks from all spindles at once is used.

Multi-station disk finishing apparatus and method

A method and system for economically packaging microarrays into sealed reaction chambers and storage vessels. A pocket strip is manufactured as a linear sequence of pockets, or wells, into which microarrays are positioned. A cover strip is then heat sealed to the upper surface of the pocket strip to create a linear sequence of sealed reaction chambers or storage vessels each containing a microarray. Mechanical features or optical features are included along the length of the pocket strip to facilitate mechanical translation and positioning of microarrays embedded within the microarray strip. Septa are affixed to, or embedded within, the cover strip to provide resealable ports through which solutions can be introduced into, or extracted from, the reaction chambers.

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for cutting a sheet of material into single supports where each of the single supports has an array area to which is bound an array of chemical compounds. The sheet comprises a plurality of score lines. The apparatus comprises an input conveyor, an output conveyor, a driver for moving the sheet from the input conveyor to the output conveyor and a breaking mechanism for breaking the sheet into single supports. The input conveyor, the output conveyor and the driver are each adapted to move the sheet without contacting the array area and an area on a surface of the support opposite the array area. Likewise, the breaking mechanism breaks the sheet into the single supports along the score lines without contacting the array area and an area on a surface of the support opposite the array area.

Manufacture of singulated supports comprising arrays

A method and system for circulating sample solution within a reaction chamber containing a microarray. The reaction chamber contains, on each side, a shallow vertical and a deep vertical well at the corners of the microarray. The vertical wells having a gap between the active surface of the microarray and the bottom of the reaction chamber are filled with sample solution. As the reaction chamber is rotated, sample solution from the deep vertical well displaces sample solution in the gap between the active surface of the microarray and the bottom of the reaction vessel, and sample solution from that gap is, in turn, displaced into the shallow vertical well, from which it flows along the inner surface of a cover strip above the microarray back to the deep vertical well.

Reaction chamber roll pump

Methods for producing glass substrates having scribed edges with straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions, and microarray glass substrates produced thereby, are provided. In certain embodiments, at least one scribe line is scribed in glass using reduced laser power at the beginning and end of each scribe line relative to the laser power used to scribe the remaining portions of each respective scribe line. In other embodiments, a heat absorbing laser element is positioned adjacent the beginning and end of each scribe line. In all embodiments, the scribed glass is singulated to produce a plurality of scribed glass pieces, each having straight and smooth ends substantially free of edge protrusions. The scribed glass can be used as substrates for biopolymeric microarrays. Also provided are biopolymeric microarrays produced from the subject methods and kits which include the subject microarrays, as well as methods for using the same.

Methods for producing glass substrates for use in biopolymeric microarrays

A printhead fluid supply system for use in ink-jet or pulse-jet type printers is described. A manometer feature may be used as a pressure gauge to maintain desired pressure at a printhead. Additional features that may be used in the invention including a supply tubing setup configured to avoid introduction of air into a printhead. The system may be configured to allow for replenishing printing fluid supply while the system is running. This may be accomplished using a secondary fluid supply, to replenish a primary, pressure-compensated fluid reservoir. The system may be used in any sort of ink-jet or pulsejet printing system, such as those commonly used in document production or in more specialized applications such as microarray production.

Printhead fluid supply system

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for forming a reaction chamber having relatively small volumes. An apparatus comprises two elements and a mechanism for introducing a gas to form a movable aerodynamic seal between the elements. In this manner a chamber having a controllable interior environment is formed. One of the elements may have at least a portion of a device for dispensing reagents sealingly affixed therein. The other element may be adapted for introduction of a support into the interior of the chamber formed by the top and the bottom element. The apparatus may be used in methods for synthesizing biopolymers on a support.

Small volume chambers

Devices and methods are disclosed for synthesizing compounds on the surface of supports. The devices are flow devices, which include a housing comprising a housing chamber. The housing has an opening adapted for insertion of a support into the housing chamber. A sealing member is movably mounted in the housing chamber and adapted to engage the support to form a reagent chamber between a surface of the support and a surface of the sealing member. A mechanism is included for moving the sealing member within the housing chamber. The device has both an inlet and an outlet, which are both in fluid communication with the reagent chamber. In the methods of the invention a support is placed into a chamber of a device such as described above. The mechanism adapted to engage the support on a surface opposite the surface engaged by the sealing member is activated to urge the support toward the sealing member. The pressure-activated mechanism is activated to urge the support against the aforesaid mechanism and against an interior wall of the housing chamber to form the reagent chamber. A fluid reagent for conducting the reaction step is introduced into the reagent chamber by means of the inlet. Thereafter, the fluid reagent is removed from the reagent chamber. The pressure-activated mechanism is deactivated and the support is removed from the housing chamber. In this way the reagent chamber is formed and un-formed in situ.

Flow cell for chemical reactions

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for synthesizing a plurality of compounds on the surface of supports. Biopolymer features are attached to the surfaces of the supports. The synthesis generally comprises a plurality of steps. In the present invention at least two of the steps are performed by placing a support having a functionalized surface into a chamber of a flow cell and subjecting the surface to a step of the synthesis and placing the support into a chamber of another flow cell and subjecting the surface to another step of the synthesis. An apparatus generally comprises a plurality of flow cells and one or more fluid dispensing stations are mounted on the platform and are in fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of flow cells. A station for monomer addition to the surface of the support is mounted on the platform. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism for moving a support to and from the station for monomer addition and a flow cell and from one flow cell to another flow cell.

Methods for manufacturing arrays

A septum penetrable by a member and which maintains a seal following member penetration in an axial direction and withdrawal. The septum includes a first layer of resilient material having first and second opposed surfaces, and a second layer extending across the first surface of the first layer and which is in radial tension. A third layer under tension may extend across the second surface. Septum assemblies and methods of fabricating the septa are also provided.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder Creek, CA, United States of America

John McEntee