Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for synthesizing various compounds on solid support. According to one exemplary method, a synthesizer is provided having at least one reaction vessel block with a plurality of reaction vessels therein. At least one solid support is introduced into a least some of the reaction vessels, and a reagent is introduced into the reaction vessels having the solid supports. The reaction vessel block is then vibrated while heat is supplied to the reaction vessel block to heat the reaction vessels. Optionally, the synthesized compounds may be cleaved from the solid supports following synthesis while they remain within the reaction vessels.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for synthesizing chemicals onto supports in a parallel manner to produce a combinatorial collection of compounds. The system includes a plurality of middle plates, with each middle plate defining a plurality of reaction zones arranged in a two dimensional array. The reaction zones are adapted to receive a solid support, such as a sheet of membrane, and the middle plates are stackable on each other to form a three dimensional array of reaction zones. The system also includes a pair of end plates, where the middle plates are located between the end plates, and where the end plates include an array of fluid guides corresponding to the array of reaction zones, to allow for selective routing of reagents through the reaction zones.

Abstract: A device and method for efficiently synthesizing diverse molecular products on substrates. A parent vessel 200 contains a suspension of substrates. The suspension is pressurized with argon and transferred to a plurality of reaction vessels 201-209 in one or more reaction vessel banks where monomer addition reactions take place. Optionally, the substrates may be tagged with a tag monomer. A vortexing motor 300 vortexes the contents of reaction vessels 201-209 during monomer addition reactions to enhance synthesis. After the desired monomer and/or tag monomer addition reaction, the suspension is pressurized with argon and transferred back to parent vessel 200 for mixing. Thereafter, the suspension may be pressurized with argon and reallocated among reaction vessels 201-209 for further synthesis.

Abstract: The invention provides improved chemical synthesizers and methods for their use. In one exemplary embodiment, a chemical synthesizer system has a reaction vessel block having a plurality of reaction vessels which are adapted to hold solid supports. A wash plate is removably attachable to a top end of the reaction vessel block. The wash plate has a plurality of fluid delivery orifices which are aligned with the reaction vessels when the wash plate is attached to the top end of the reaction vessel block. In this way, fluids may be supplied to each of the reaction vessels through the orifices. The system can include a vortex mixer that is held stationary by evacuation a cavity formed between the mixer base and a gasket.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, devices and methods for synthesizing various chemicals onto solid supports, cleaving the synthesized compounds and preparing samples for analysis. In one exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a device comprising a housing which defines an enclosure. A plate having a plurality of wells is received into the enclosure. Each of the wells has a bottom end and at least some of the wells have a hole in the bottom end. A pressure source is in fluid communication with the holes in the bottom ends of the wells. In this manner, a fluid may be maintained within the wells by application of pressure from the pressure source.

Abstract: The invention provides exemplary systems, methods, and apparatus for distinctly allocating liquids containing chemical compositions or compounds to known locations in an organized manner so that assays may be performed on the compositions, or so that the chemical compositions may be combined with other distinct chemical compositions or reagents prior to evaluation. In an exemplary embodiment, the invention includes a multiwell plate for handling articles such as resin beads suspended in a liquid. The plate comprises a plurality of wells. The wells in turn have a capillary hole that is adapted to (i) retain articles in the well, and (ii) retain liquid in the well while the liquid is not subjected to extrinsic forces, such as centrifugation or vacuum.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for synthesizing chemicals onto supports in a parallel manner to produce a combinatorial collection of compounds. The system includes a plurality of middle plates, with each middle plate defining a plurality of reaction zones arranged in a two dimensional array. The reaction zones are adapted to receive a solid support, such as a sheet of membrane, and the middle plates are stackable on each other to form a three dimensional array of reaction zones. The system also includes a pair of end plates, where the middle plates are located between the end plates, and where the end plates include an array of fluid guides corresponding to the array of reaction zones, to allow for selective routing of reagents through the reaction zones.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for processing a plurality of solid supports which preferably have chemical compounds synthesized thereon. According to one exemplary method, the solid supports (12) are held in a common storage location (10). At least some of the solid supports (24) are attracted from the storage location to selected areas within a defined receiving region (20) so that the solid supports which are attracted to the selected areas within the receiving region are separated and spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: The invention provides exemplary systems, methods, and apparatus for distinctly allocating liquids containing chemical compositions or compounds to known locations in an organized manner so that assays may be performed on the compositions, or so that the chemical compositions may be combined with other distinct chemical compositions or reagents prior to evaluation. In one exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a fluid transfer system which comprises a donor member having a plurality of separate regions. At least some of the regions contain at least one chemical composition, with each chemical composition being distinct from any other chemical composition in the donor member. An acceptor member is also provided and includes a plurality of defined locations which are each adapted to receive a liquid medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for synthesizing various chemicals onto solid supports, cleaving the synthesized compounds and preparing samples for analysis. In one exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a device comprising a housing which defines an enclosure. A plate having a plurality of wells is received into the enclosure. Each of the wells has a bottom end and at least some of the wells have a hole in the bottom end. A pressure source is in fluid communication with the holes in the bottom ends of the wells. In this manner, a fluid may be maintained within the wells by application of pressure from the pressure source.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, devices and methods for synthesizing various chemicals onto solid supports, cleaving the synthesized compounds and preparing samples for analysis. In one exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a device comprising a housing which defines an enclosure. A plate having a plurality of wells is received into the enclosure. Each of the wells has a bottom end and at least some of the wells have a hole in the bottom end. A pressure source is in fluid communication with the holes in the bottom ends of the wells. In this manner, a fluid may be maintained within the wells by application of pressure from the pressure source.

Abstract: The invention provides exemplary testing devices, systems, and methods for evaluating the permeation of various chemicals through different types of cells. In one exemplary embodiment, a testing device is provided which comprises a base member and a top member having a plurality of wells which are aligned when the top member is secured to the base member. A membrane sheet which includes at least one layer of cells grown on the sheet is placed between the base member and the top member prior to assembly. Test samples are placed into the wells in the top member and samples are removed from the top and bottom wells at a later time and tested to determine the amount of test sample which permeated through the cells.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and apparatus for dispensing liquids. According to one method, a plate is provided having a plurality of wells. At least one marker is also provided and is associated with at least some of the wells. The plate and marker are moved relative to a plurality of liquid dispensing elements, and the presence of the marker is sensed with a sensor that is disposed at a known location relative to the dispensing elements. The sensing of the marker indicates that at least some of the wells are aligned with the dispensing elements. As such, liquid is dispensed from the dispensing elements and into the aligned wells after sensing the presence of the marker.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for synthesizing various compounds on solid support. According to one exemplary method, a synthesizer is provided having at least one reaction vessel block with a plurality of reaction vessels therein. At least one solid support is introduced into a least some of the reaction vessels, and a reagent is introduced into the reaction vessels having the solid supports. The reaction vessel block is then vibrated while heat is supplied to the reaction vessel block to heat the reaction vessels. Optionally, the synthesized compounds may be cleaved from the solid supports following synthesis while they remain within the reaction vessels.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatus for transporting articles held within a liquid medium from one location to another. Apparatus according to the invention comprise a hopper having a top end, a bottom end, and at least one side wall extending therebetween. The bottom end includes an opening therein, and the hopper is adapted to receive the articles and the liquid medium. A means is provided for injecting an amount of the liquid medium into the hopper to fluidize the articles while held within the liquid medium. The apparatus further includes a container which may be aligned with the opening at the bottom end of the hopper. The container is sized to receive a known quantity of at least one of the articles.