Method and apparatus for incubation of a liquid reagent and target spots on a microarray substrate

Abstract

A method and apparatus for incubating a liquid reagent with target spots on a microarray substrate. A deformable cover is placed over the surface of the microarray substrate having the target spots with the liquid reagent between the microarray substrate and the deformable cover, and a device is used to apply a force to the deformable cover.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for incubating reagents, comprising: 
 placing a deformable cover upside-down on a support surface;    placing probe fluid in the deformable cover;    placing a first side of a substrate having target spots over the deformable cover such that the deformable cover surrounds the target spots, wherein a reaction chamber with the probe fluid and target spots forms between the substrate and the deformable cover; and    agitating the probe fluid in the reaction chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recovering the probe fluid after a reaction has occurred.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein agitating the probe fluid includes applying at least one force to the deformable cover.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein applying at least one force to the deformable cover includes applying the force to the deformable cover in different locations along the deformable cover with a roller that is disposed generally below the deformable cover.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable cover includes a gasket, and wherein agitating the probe fluid includes applying at least first and second forces to the deformable cover, wherein the first and second forces compress the gasket to seal the probe fluid in the reaction chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein agitating the probe fluid further includes altering the magnitude of the first and second forces to agitate the probe fluid while maintaining as substantially constant a value equal to the sum of the first force and the second force so that the gasket maintains the seal of the probe fluid in the reaction chamber.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the probe fluid in the deformable cover includes manually dispensing the probe fluid.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the probe fluid in the deformable cover includes automatically dispensing the probe fluid.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the first side of the substrate over the deformable cover includes manually placing the substrate.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein placing the first side of the substrate over the deformable cover includes automatically placing the substrate.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling the temperature of the substrate.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein controlling the temperature includes placing a temperature control block over the substrate.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising introducing an air bubble within the reaction chamber.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing at least one reaction between one of the target spots on the substrate and the probe fluid to occur.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the reaction is selected from the group consisting of hybridization, protein binding, immunoassays, and chemical binding.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising at least partially removing the deformable cover from the substrate.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising washing from the substrate the probe fluid that has not reacted with the target spots.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising drying the substrate.  
     
     
         19 . A system for incubating reagents, comprising: 
 a deformable cover to be placed upside-down on a support surface, the deformable cover adapted to receive probe fluid and a substrate having a first side with target spots such that the deformable cover surrounds the target spots with the deformable cover generally below the substrate, wherein a reaction chamber with the probe fluid and target spots forms between the substrate and the deformable cover; and    an agitator to agitate the probe fluid in the reaction chamber, wherein the agitator is disposed generally below the deformable cover.    
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the support surface includes a recess adapted to fit the deformable cover and to provide access to the deformable cover by the agitator.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the agitator includes a roller to apply a force to the deformable cover in different locations along the deformable cover.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the roller applies a constant force to the deformable cover.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a temperature control block to be placed over the substrate.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein at least one spring holds the temperature control block over the substrate.