Method and device for the manipulation of microcarriers for an identification purpose

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the manipulation for an identification purpose of a microcarrier. The method comprising the steps of: (a) an identification purpose step of the microcarrier; and (b) a positioning and orientation step prior to or during the identification purpose step. The apparatus comprising means for identification purposes such as a microscope or labelling means such as a high spatial resolution light source, and means for the positioning and orientation of the microcarriers.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for manipulation of a microcarrier for the purpose of identifying the microcarrier, said method comprising the steps of:
 a detection step for detecting an encoded microcarrier, wherein the encoded microcarrier includes a code written thereon; and   a positioning and orientation step prior to or during the detection step, wherein said positioning and orientation step comprises:
 distributing a plurality of microcarriers, that includes said encoded microcarrier, in a one-layer system which results in a plane configuration having two dimensions (X, Y), and 
 restricting rotational movement of the plurality of microcarriers, wherein the plurality of microcarriers have an ellipsoidal or cylindrical shape and wherein the positioning and orientation step results from the ellipsoidal or cylindrical shape of the plurality of microcarriers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of distributing the plurality of microcarriers in the one-layer system results in a line configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said encoded microcarrier is encoded by a code written thereon by exposure to a high spatial resolution light source. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (i) encoding said encoded microcarrier by writing a code thereon, and   (ii) allowing a target-analyte reaction on or in said encoded microcarrier.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein step (ii) precedes step (i). 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the step of distributing the plurality of microcarriers in the one-layer system results in a line configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said encoded microcarrier is encoded by a code written thereon by exposure to a high spatial resolution light source. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein said encoded microcarrier is encoded by a process selected from the group comprising: photochroming, chemical etching, material deposition, photobleaching, or exposing said encoded microcarrier to a high spatial resolution light source. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the encoded microcarrier includes one or more ligands bound to a surface thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection step is performed using an optical identification means. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said optical identification mean comprises a laser beam, a transmission microscope, a confocal microscope, or a fluorescence microscope. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method for manipulation is for performing a target analyte assay.