초록 ▼

A system and method for analyzing a plurality of liquid samples. The system has a platen having two substantially parallel planar surfaces and a plurality of through-holes dimensioned so as to maintain a liquid sample in each through-hole by means of surface tension. A source of optical radiation il

A system and method for analyzing a plurality of liquid samples. The system has a platen having two substantially parallel planar surfaces and a plurality of through-holes dimensioned so as to maintain a liquid sample in each through-hole by means of surface tension. A source of optical radiation illuminates the through-holes, and an optical arrangement analyzes the light emanating from the through-holes. The through-holes may be individually addressable, and may have volumes less than 100 nanoliters. Samples may be drawn from a planar surface by capillary action and may be accurately dispensed, diluted and mixed in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for analyzing specified properties of a set of samples, the method comprising: a. providing a platen having two substantially parallel planar surfaces, an inner layer of hydrophilic material, two outer layers of hydrophobic material coupled to opposite sides of the inner layer, and a t

1. A method for analyzing specified properties of a set of samples, the method comprising: a. providing a platen having two substantially parallel planar surfaces, an inner layer of hydrophilic material, two outer layers of hydrophobic material coupled to opposite sides of the inner layer, and a two-dimensional array of a plurality of addressable through-holes, the through-holes being disposed substantially perpendicularly to the planar surfaces and the array characterized by an areal density of at least 1.6 through-holes per square millimeter; b. loading a first sample into a first set of through-holes of the two-dimensional array, the first sample being a liquid; c. retaining the first sample in the first set of through-holes by surface tension; d. adding a second sample into a specified subset of through-holes, the specified subset of through-holes having at least one adjacent through-hole containing a sample other than the second sample, the specified subset of through-holes further coinciding with one of the first set of at least one of the though-holes thereby permitting a reaction between the first sample and the second sample, wherein the layers of hydrophobic material prevent capillary outmigration of the samples; and e. characterizing the reaction in the specified subset of through-holes in terms of the specified properties. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each through-hole is dimensioned so as to maintain a liquid sample therein by means of surface tension.3. A method according to claim 1, wherein each through-hole has a volume less than 100 nanoliters.4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of addressable through-holes has a density in excess of 108per square meter.5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first sample in liquid form includes at least one of a target in solution and a target in suspension.6. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a target in solution and a target in suspension includes a biological material.7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of loading a first sample includes drawing the sample from a planar surface by capillary action.8. A method according to claim 1, further including maintaining a humid atmosphere for preventing evaporation of the first sample.9. A method according to claim 1, further including coating the liquid sample with a monolayer for preventing evaporation of the first sample.10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of characterizing the reaction in the through-hole in terms of the specified properties includes optically analyzing the sample.11. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising: f. illuminating a set of more than one of the plurality of through-holes with opitical radiation; and g. seperately analyzing the optical radiation emanating from each through-hole of the set of more through-holes than one using an optical arrangement including a detector array. 12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the step of analyzing includes spectrally characterizing the optical radiation emanating from each through-hole.