Bioarray chip reaction apparatus and its manufacture

Abstract

A body 300 having a cavity 310 for mounting a substrate 120 fabricated with probe sequences at known locations according to the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,854 and PCT WO 92/10092 or others, is provided. The cavity includes inlets 350 and 360 for introducing selected fluids into the cavity to contact the probes. Accordingly, a commercially feasible device for use in high throughput assay systems is provided.

1 . A method of making probe chips comprising the steps of: 
 forming a plurality of probe arrays on a wafer;    separating said wafer into a plurality of chips, each of said chips comprising at least one probe array thereon; and    mating at least one of said chips to a package, said package comprising a reaction chamber, said reaction chamber comprising inlets for flowing fluid therein, said at least one probe array in fluid communication with said reaction chamber.    
     
     
         2 - 92 . (canceled)  
     
     
         93 . A septum penetrable by a member and which maintains a seal following member penetration in an axial direction and withdrawal, comprising: a first layer of resilient material having first and second opposed surfaces; and a second continuous layer extending across, and bonded to, the first surface of the first layer and which is in radial tension to hold the first layer in radial compression.  
     
     
         94 . A septum according to  claim 93  additionally comprising a third layer extending across the second surface of the first layer, which third layer is in radial tension.  
     
     
         95 . A septum according to  claim 94  wherein the third layer is continuous.  
     
     
         96 . A septum according to  claim 94  wherein each of the second and third layers are under a tension of between 10 2  to 10 6  newton/m 2 .  
     
     
         97 . A septum according to  claim 94  wherein each of the second and third layers comprise a resilient material.  
     
     
         98 . A septum according to  claim 97  wherein each of the first, second and third layers comprise a resilient polymer.  
     
     
         99 . A septum according to  claim 97  wherein each of the first, second and third layers has a thickness of less 10 mm.  
     
     
         100 . A septum according to  claim 94  wherein the first layer is held in compression by the second and third layers.  
     
     
         101 . A septum according to  claim 100  wherein the first layer is held in a compression of between 5 to 1000 newton/m.  
     
     
         102 . A septum assembly comprising a chamber having a rigid periphery defining an opening into the chamber, and a septum of  claim 93  extended across, and supported by, the periphery.  
     
     
         103 . A septum assembly comprising a chamber having a rigid periphery defining an opening into the chamber, and a septum assembly of  claim 94  extended across, and supported by, the periphery.  
     
     
         104 . A septum assembly of  claim 103  wherein the opening has an area of 0.001 to 100 cm 2 .  
     
     
         105 . A septum assembly of  claim 103  wherein the opening has an area of 0.01 cm 2  to 50 cm 2 .