The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 25, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 02, 1997
Haim Kedar, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Jeffrey H Sugarman, Los Altos, CA (US);
Alastair A Binnie, London, GB;
Ronald W Barrett, Saratoga, CA (US);
Glaxo Wellcom Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Abstract
The invention provides exemplary systems, methods, and apparatus for distinctly allocating liquids containing chemical compositions or compounds to known locations in an organized manner so that assays may be performed on the compositions, or so that the chemical compositions may be combined with other distinct chemical compositions or reagents prior to evaluation. In one exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a fluid transfer system which comprises a donor member having a plurality of separate regions. At least some of the regions contain at least one chemical composition, with each chemical composition being distinct from any other chemical composition in the donor member. An acceptor member is also provided and includes a plurality of defined locations which are each adapted to receive a liquid medium. A transfer mechanism is provided to systematically transfer at least some of the chemical compositions from the donor member regions to at least some of the acceptor member locations such that the locale of each transferred chemical composition within the acceptor member is known. Further, each of the acceptor member locations has a volume that is less than about 500 .mu.l. In this way, a large number of acceptor member locations may be provided within a single system to efficiently transfer, in parallel fashion, large numbers of chemical compositions from the donor member to the acceptor member where evaluation or further processing of the chemical compositions may proceed.