Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Tim J Lazaruk

Jay K Bass

John McEntee

Maryam Mobed-Miremadi

Brent T Tolosko

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.

Growing community of inventors

Redwood City, CA, United States of America

Tim J Lazaruk