Microspotting Device

Abstract

Devices and methods are provided for spotting an array with fluid. Arrays produced by such methods are also provided. In one aspect of the invention, a spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array is described, the spotter device comprising a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid, a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration, a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.

1 . A spotter device for spotting a plurality of fluids into an array comprising:
 a plurality of reservoirs provided in a first configuration, each reservoir holding its respective fluid,   a print head having a plurality of positions provided in a second configuration, the second configuration being different from the first configuration,   a plurality of tubes, each tube configured to provide fluid communication from a reservoir at a first end of the tube to a position in the print head at the second end of the tube, and   a pump for pumping fluid through the tubes from the reservoir to the print head.   
     
     
         2 . The spotter device of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a support provided above the reservoirs,   a plurality of straws, each straw connected to a first end of its respective tube, each straw extending from the first end of its respective tube and through the support and into a reservoir, each straw having a weight positioned above the support to bias the straw to a bottom of the straw's respective reservoir.   
     
     
         3 . The spotter device of  claim 2 , wherein upon removal of the reservoirs, the weights rest on the support. 
     
     
         4 . The spotter device of  claim 2 , wherein the straws are rigid or semi-rigid, and the tubes are elastomeric. 
     
     
         5 . The spotter device of  claim 1 , wherein the pump further comprises:
 a pump configured for simultaneous pumping of all tubes.   
     
     
         6 . The spotter device of  claim 5 , wherein the pump is a peristaltic pump provided with an offset pump head. 
     
     
         7 . The spotter device of  claim 5 , wherein the second end of each tube comprises an orifice, and activation of the pump moves fluid from the reservoirs resulting in a drop of fluid at each orifice. 
     
     
         8 . The spotter device of  claim 7 , wherein the array is provided with a plurality of wells provided in the second configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The spotter device of  claim 8 , further comprising a placement arm for receiving the array and moving the array to the print head, such that each drop is transferred to its respective array well. 
     
     
         10 . The spotter device of  claim 7 , further comprising a camera positioned in visual contact with the print head, the camera further operable to provide an image of the drops. 
     
     
         11 . The spotter device of  claim 10 , further comprising a CPU, the CPU having software configured to analyze the image, the software operable to determine whether each drop meets a predetermined standard. 
     
     
         12 . The spotter device of  claim 10 , further comprising a light source to illuminate the drops. 
     
     
         13 . The spotter device of  claim 12 , wherein the light source is a high-incident light source. 
     
     
         14 . The spotter device of  claim 12 , wherein each orifice has an end polished to a flat, smooth surface, the end configured for reflecting light from the light source back into its respective drop. 
     
     
         15 . The spotter device of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid in each of the reservoirs contains a fluorescent dye to aid in imaging the drops. 
     
     
         16 . The spotter device of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes are removably connected to the print head so that any preselected reservoir in fluid communication with a tube may be set to provide fluid from the preselected reservoir to any position on the print head. 
     
     
         17 . The spotter device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reservoirs are wells in a 96-well plate. 
     
     
         18 . A method for printing an array having a plurality of wells in a configuration, comprising
 simultaneously pumping fluid from a plurality of reservoirs to a plurality of positions on a print head to form a plurality of drops on the print head having the same configuration as the array,   moving the array into contact with the drops, and   simultaneously transferring each respective drop into its respective well.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising
 imaging the drops and determining whether all of the plurality of drops are sufficient prior to moving the array into contact with the drops.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein if one or more drops are determined not to be sufficient, the array is discarded. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein if one or more of the drops are determined not to be sufficient, a blotting material is moved into contact with the drops, and the pumping and imaging steps are repeated. 
     
     
         22 . An array produced by the method of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         23 . A system for delivering one or more liquids into a preselected array of a plurality of wells comprising:
 a plurality of tubes, each tube having a first end in fluid communication with a reservoir, and a second end terminating in an orifice;   a plurality of the reservoirs, the reservoirs provided in a predetermined configuration relative to one another;   a print head operable to movably hold each orifice in a predetermined position such that the position of each orifice corresponds to a well in the preselected array of wells;   a plurality of straws, each straw having a hollow opening connecting a first end to a second end, the first end fluidly connected to the first end of a corresponding tube and the second end removably in contact with a bottom portion of a corresponding reservoir;   and a metering device operable to urge a preselected amount of fluid from the second end of each straw through its corresponding tube, and out its corresponding orifice.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the metering device is located between the first end and the second end of the plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising an array of a plurality of wells, each well operable to receive the preselected amount of liquid from a corresponding orifice. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the number of wells exceeds the number of reservoirs. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein each reservoir comprises a bottom portion operable to hold a preselected amount of liquid, and further comprising a top portion operable to receive one or more straws. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , further comprising one or more valves in fluid communication with each tube, said one or more valve operable to stop fluid travel through each tube. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein each orifice comprises an inner lumen and an outer surface, and wherein the orifice is sized and shaped to retain a droplet of a preselected volume of the liquid adjacent to its outer surface until surface tension is released. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein preselected array of a plurality of wells is removably held upon a movable platform, the movable platform having a first position and a second position relative to the print head;
 the first position being within close proximity of the print head such that each of the plurality of wells is in contact with the droplet retained by the corresponding orifice; and   the second position being distal from the print head such that no contact is made between any well and any droplet retained by the corresponding orifice.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first position does not bring any well in contact with any orifice. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the metering device is a peristaltic pump. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein that the position of two or more orifices correspond to a single well in the preselected array of wells. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising
 an imaging system, and   a computing device,   wherein the computing device interfaces with the imaging system to accept or reject an array of drops at the print head, either prior to or subsequent to transfer to the array of wells.   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the imaging system determines a size for each drop and each drop is accepted or rejected by comparing the size to a standard. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the size is a radius. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 23 , further comprising a deionizer configured to aid in transfer of the fluid from print head to the array of wells.