Abstract: A needle assembly has at least one guide member supported by a first body for sliding movement between an extended position and a retracted position. A second body is attached to the guide member. A biasing member biases the guide member to the extended position. A liquid handling needle is coupled to the first body so sliding movement of the guide member toward the retracted position retracts the second body relative to the liquid handling needle. The second body is adapted to contact a sealed receptacle. The biasing member urges the guide member toward said extended position during insertion and during said removal of the needle from the receptacle whereby the second body remains in contact with the sealed receptacle as the guide member moves from its extended position to its retracted position during said insertion and from its retracted position to its extended position during said removal.

Abstract: A needle assembly has a first body and a guide rod supported for sliding movement between an extended position and a retracted position. A second body is attached to the guide rod. The second body is relatively farther from the first body when the guide rod is in the extended position and relatively closer to the first body when the guide rod is in the retracted position. The guide rod is biased to the extended position. The second body supports a venting needle that extends beyond the second body by a fixed length. A liquid handling needle is coupled to the first body. Sliding movement of the guide rod toward the retracted position retracts the second body and the venting needle relative to the liquid handling needle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reacting a plurality of different mixtures in parallel in a semi-batch or continuous mode is provided. Each reaction is contained within a reactor vessel, the reactor vessels combined into a reactor block. Reactant(s) to be added during the reaction are kept in a header barrel, which has a plunger to feed reactant(s) from the header barrel through a transfer line into the reactor vessel. The plunger is moved using a drive system. The header barrels are optionally combined in a header block. The header block is sealed to a plate containing the transfer lines, which in turn is sealed to the reactor block. A latch mechanism is provided for easy sealing of the reactor and header blocks to the plate. The entire apparatus may be placed on a rocker or rotating plate for mixture as the reaction is proceeding.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems for performing high-throughput preparation and screening of salts and polymorphs of drug candidates. The invention is directed towards enhancing the pre-formulation discovery process used for drug development. In particular, processes that determine suitable salts and processes that discover substantially every polymorph that can form from a particular drug candidate are provided. The processes are performed using several apparatuses that are specifically configured to carry-out various steps in a high-throughput characterization process. One such apparatus is configured for synthesizing a plurality of library members based on, for example, a library model generated by a computer system. Another apparatus may filter the synthesized solution to provide a substantially pure mixture that can be subjected to salt or polymorph testing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for screening combinatorial libraries of materials by measuring the response of individual library members to mechanical perturbations is described. The apparatus generally includes a sample holder for containing the library members, an array of probes for mechanically perturbing individual library members, and an array of sensors for measuring the response of each of the library members to the mechanical perturbations. Library members undergoing screening make up a sample array, and individual library members constitute elements of the sample array that are confined to specific locations on the sample holder. During screening, the apparatus mechanically perturbs individual library members by displacing the sample array (sample holder) and the array of probes. Typically, all of the elements of the sample array are perturbed simultaneously, but the apparatus also can also perturb individual or groups of sample array elements sequentially.

Abstract: A cannula for use in transferring small volumes of fluid materials, such as in a parallel reaction process. The cannula comprises a long thin needle having various end (port) configurations, and an adapter for connecting the needle to a fluid line. The adapter may include the combination of a reservoir and transition, or simply a transition.

Abstract: A parallel reactor system including a reactor and vessels in the reactor for holding reaction mixtures, and a cannula for introducing fluid reaction material into the vessels. A robot system is operable to insert the cannula into cannula passages in the reactor for delivery of reaction materials, including slurries, to respective vessels, and to withdraw the cannula from the cannula passages after delivery. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for high throughput mechanical property testing of materials libraries using capacitance. The method monitors the responses of a plurality of samples on a substrate to a force induced by a capacitor.

Abstract: A method for high throughput mechanical property and bulge testing of materials libraries. A plurality of samples on a substrate are monitored for their response to a force from a fluid.

Abstract: A parallel reactor system including a reactor and vessels in the reactor for holding reaction mixtures, and a cannula for introducing fluid reaction material into the vessels. A robot system is operable to insert the cannula into cannula passages in the reactor for delivery of reaction materials, including slurries, to respective vessels, and to withdraw the cannula from the cannula passages after delivery. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides instruments and methods for screening combinatorial libraries that addresses many of the problems encountered when using conventional instruments. For example, the disclosed instruments can measure mechanical properties of library members in rapid serial or parallel test format, and can perform tests on small amounts of material, which are easily prepared or dispensed using art-disclosed liquid or solid handling techniques. Compared to conventional instruments, the disclosed instruments afford faster sample loading and unloading, for example, through the use of disposable libraries of material samples.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides instruments for measuring mechanical properties of a combinatorial library of materials. The instruments include at least one capacitor to which a member of a library of material samples is removably secured for testing; at least one voltage source for delivering one or more forces to each library member; and at least one sensing device for monitoring the response each library member to the one or more forces. Another aspect of the present invention provides methods of screening a combinatorial library of materials where the method monitors the responses of a plurality of samples on a substrate to a force induced by a capacitor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for screening combinatorial libraries of materials by measuring the response of individual library members to mechanical perturbations is described. The apparatus generally includes a sample holder for containing the library members, an array of probes for mechanically perturbing individual library members, and an array of sensors for measuring the response of each of the library members to the mechanical perturbations. Library members undergoing screening make up a sample array, and individual library members constitute elements of the sample array that are confined to specific locations on the sample holder. During screening, the apparatus mechanically perturbs individual library members by displacing the sample array (sample holder) and the array of probes. Typically, all of the elements of the sample array are perturbed simultaneously, but the apparatus also can also perturb individual or groups of sample array elements sequentially.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for screening combinatorial libraries of materials by measuring the response of individual library members to mechanical perturbations is described. The apparatus generally includes a sample holder for containing the library members, an array of probes for mechanically perturbing individual library members, and an array of sensors for measuring the response of each of the library members to the mechanical perturbations. Library members undergoing screening make up a sample array, and individual library members constitute elements of the sample array that are confined to specific locations on the sample holder. During screening, the apparatus mechanically perturbs individual library members by displacing the sample array (sample holder) and the array of probes. Typically, all of the elements of the sample array are perturbed simultaneously, but the apparatus also can also perturb individual or groups of sample array elements sequentially.

Abstract: The present invention provides instruments and methods for screening combinatorial libraries that addresses many of the problems encountered when using conventional instruments. For example, the disclosed instruments can measure mechanical properties of library members in rapid serial or parallel test format, and can perform tests on small amounts of material, which are easily prepared or dispensed using art-disclosed liquid or solid handling techniques. Compared to conventional instruments, the disclosed instruments afford faster sample loading and unloading, for example, through the use of disposable libraries of material samples.

Abstract: An apparatus for parallel processing of multiple reaction mixtures comprises a plurality of reactor vessels for holding reaction mixtures at pressures of at least about 15 psig. Cannula passages communicate with respective vessels, and a cannula is adapted to be inserted into each cannula passage. A sealing mechanism, comprising a valve and a seal, in each cannula passage maintains a respective vessel sealed when the cannula is inserted into and withdrawn from the cannula passage. A robot system is operable to insert the cannula to a location where a distal end and port of the cannula are past the open valve and seal, and to withdraw the cannula. Methods for transferring fluid reaction material to and from a series of pressurized vessels, establishing fluid communication between a cannula and a vessel of a combinatorial chemistry reactor and establishing fluid communication between a cannula and a series of pressurized vessels of a combinatorial chemistry reactor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A sample injector valve capable of introducing multiple samples of material into multiple liquid or gas streams is provided. Such a valve is particularly useful for injecting multiple samples under pressure into a combinatorial chemistry system with moving streams of fluid, such as a parallel pressure reactor or a rapid flow analysis system using multi-channel or parallel chromatography and related techniques. The valve is further capable of functioning on a small scale with automatic sampling equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reacting a plurality of different mixtures in parallel in a semi-batch or continuous mode is provided. Each reaction is contained within a reactor vessel, the reactor vessels combined into a reactor block. Reactant(s) to be added during the reaction are kept in a header barrel, which has a plunger to feed reactant(s) from the header barrel through a transfer line into the reactor vessel. The plunger is moved using a drive system. The header barrels are optionally combined in a header block. The header block is sealed to a plate containing the transfer lines, which in turn is sealed to the reactor block. A latch mechanism is provided for easy sealing of the reactor and header blocks to the plate. The entire apparatus may be placed on a rocker or rotating plate for mixture as the reaction is proceeding.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems for performing high-throughput preparation and screening of salts and polymorphs of drug candidates. The invention is directed towards enhancing the pre-formulation discovery process used for drug development. In particular, processes that determine suitable salts and processes that discover substantially every polymorph that can form from a particular drug candidate are provided. The processes are performed using several apparatuses that are specifically configured to carry-out various steps in a high-throughput characterization process. One such apparatus is configured for synthesizing a plurality of library members based on, for example, a library model generated by a computer system. Another apparatus may filter the synthesized solution to provide a substantially pure mixture that can be subjected to salt or polymorph testing.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems for performing high-throughput preparation and screening of salts and polymorphs of drug candidates. The invention is directed towards enhancing the pre-formulation discovery process used for drug development. In particular, processes that determine suitable salts and processes that discover substantially every polymorph that can form from a particular drug candidate are provided. The processes are performed using several apparatuses that are specifically configured to carry-out various steps in a high-throughput characterization process. One such apparatus is configured for synthesizing a plurality of library members based on, for example, a library model generated by a computer system. Another apparatus may filter the synthesized solution to provide a substantially pure mixture that can be subjected to salt or polymorph testing.