Abstract: Improved probing of closely spaced contact pads is provided by an array of guided vertical probes that has a sideways scrub relative to the line of contact pads. With this orientation of scrub motion, the probes can be relatively thin along the contact line, and relatively thick perpendicular to the contact line. The thin dimension of the probes allows for probing closely spaced contact pads, while the thick dimension of the probes provides mechanical robustness and current carrying capacity. The probes have a predetermined curvature in a plane including the contact line, to help determine the amount of scrub motion during contact. In a preferred embodiment, an array of probes is provided for probing two closely spaced and parallel rows of contact pads, offset from each other by half the contact pad pitch.

Abstract: A vertically folded probe is provided that can provide improved scrub performance in cases where the probe height is limited. More specifically, such a probe includes a base and a tip, and an arm extending from the base to the tip as a single continuous member. The probe arm is vertically folded, such that it includes three or more vertical arm portions. The vertical arm portions have substantial vertical overlap, and are laterally displaced from each other. When such a probe is vertically brought down onto a device under test, the probe deforms. During probe deformation, at least two of the vertical arm portions come into contact with each other. Such contact between the arm portions can advantageously increase the lateral scrub motion at the probe tip, and can also advantageously reduce the probe inductance.

Abstract: Improved probing of closely spaced contact pads is provided by an array of vertical probes having all of the probe tips aligned along a single contact line, while the probe bases are arranged in an array having two or more rows parallel to the contact line. With this arrangement of probes, the probe base thickness can be made greater than the contact pad spacing along the contact line, thereby advantageously increasing the lateral stiffness of the probes. The probe tip thickness is less than the contact pad spacing, so probes suitable for practicing the invention have a wide base section and a narrow tip section.

Abstract: Improved probing of closely spaced contact pads is provided by an array of vertical probes having all of the probe tips aligned along a single contact line, while the probe bases are arranged in an array having two or more rows parallel to the contact line. With this arrangement of probes, the probe base thickness can be made greater than the contact pad spacing along the contact line, thereby advantageously increasing the lateral stiffness of the probes. The probe tip thickness is less than the contact pad spacing, so probes suitable for practicing the invention have a wide base section and a narrow tip section.

Abstract: A probe for engaging a conductive pad is provided. The probe includes a probe contact end for receiving a test current, a probe retention portion below the contact end, a block for holding the probe retention portion, a probe arm below the retention portion, a probe contact tip below the arm, and a generally planar self-cleaning skate disposed perpendicular below the contact tip. The self-cleaning skate has a square front, a round back and a flat middle section. The conductive pad is of generally convex shape having a granular non-conductive surface of debris and moves to engage the skate, whereby an overdrive motion is applied to the pad causing the skate to move across and scrub non-conductive debris from the pad displacing the debris along the skate and around the skate round back end to a position on the skate that is away from the pad.

Abstract: Method and apparatus using a retention arrangement with a potting enclosure for holding a plurality of probes by their retention portions, the probes being of the type having contacting tips for establishing electrical contact with pads or bumps of a device under test (DUT) to perform an electrical test. The retention arrangement has a top plate with top openings for the probes, a bottom plate with bottom openings for the probes, the plates being preferably made of ceramic with laser-machined openings, and a potting enclosure between the plates for admitting a potting agent that upon curing pots the retaining portions of the probes. In some embodiments a spacer is positioned between the top and bottom plates for defining the potting enclosure. Alternatively, the retention arrangement has intermediate plates located in the potting enclosure and having probe guiding openings to guide the probes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus using a retention arrangement with a potting enclosure for holding a plurality of probes by their retention portions, the probes being of the type having contacting tips for establishing electrical contact with pads or bumps of a device under test (DUT) to perform an electrical test. The retention arrangement has a top plate with top openings for the probes, a bottom plate with bottom openings for the probes, the plates being preferably made of ceramic with laser-machined openings, and a potting enclosure between the plates for admitting a potting agent that upon curing pots the retaining portions of the probes. In some embodiments a spacer is positioned between the top and bottom plates for defining the potting enclosure. Alternatively, the retention arrangement has intermediate plates located in the potting enclosure and having probe guiding openings to guide the probes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for electrical testing of a device under test (DUT) that employs a connection board with signal contacts for applying test signals and a space transformer that has low pitch contacts arranged on one or more circumferential shelves that define an enclosure in the space transformer. The apparatus has a substrate with fine pitch contacts positioned such that these are within the enclosure. A set of wire bonds is used for pitch reduction by interconnecting the fine pitch contacts with the low pitch contacts arranged on the shelves. The probes are connected to the fine pitch contacts and are used to apply the test signals to a DUT by contacting its pads. In some embodiments, the fine pitch contacts may be embodied by plugs or by blind metal vias.

Abstract: A rigid column and a suspension knee are combined in a probe held in assembly via its column. The suspension knee has a base arm laterally connecting at and propagating away from the column. The base arm extends up to a lateral knee extension where a reverse arm continues from the base arm back in direction towards a central axis of the column. The reverse arm terminates in a contact tip in a tip offset to the column axis that is smaller than the lateral knee extension. During application of a contacting force onto the contact tip, a first deflection of the base arm and a second deflection of the reverse arm counter act in conjunction with base and reverse arms' structural configurations. As a result, scrub motion may be well defined in direction and magnitude without need for additional guidance of the deflecting probe structure.

Abstract: A probe for test connecting an apparatus contact of a probe apparatus with a test contact of a tested electronic device along a contacting axis has a top structure, a bottom structure a spring member and a guide. The guide may be an outer guide face of the spring member or be part of the bottom or top structure in the form of a circumferential recess or a snap finger. The probe may be guided either slide ably in a rigid carrier structure and/or via its circumferential recess in one or two flexible membranes snapped on a rigid support frame. The probes may be simultaneously fabricated in large numbers by micro fabrication techniques with a fixed fabrication pitch and assembled in a probe apparatus with a probe pitch independently of the fabrication pitch.

Abstract: Minor groove binding molecules are covalently bound to oligonucleotides which in their base sequence are complementary to a target sequence of single stranded or double stranded DNA, RNA or hybrids thereof. The covalently bound oligonucleotide minor groove binder conjugates strogly bind to the target sequence of the complementary strand.

Abstract: A covalently linked conjugate of an oligonucleotide (ODN) with a peptide and a carrier or targeting ligand (ODN-peptide-carrier) includes a therapeutic oligonucleotide which is capable of selectively binding to a target sequence of DNA, RNA or protein inside a target cell. The ODN is covalently linked to a peptide which is capable of being cleaved by proteolytic enzymes inside the target cell. The peptide, in turn is covalently linked to a carrier or targeting ligand moiety which facilitates delivery of the entire ODN-peptide-carrier conjugate into the cell, and preferably into a specific target tissue type. Inside the cell, the peptide is cleaved, releasing the ODN which, by binding to the target DNA, RNA or protein sequence, brings about a beneficial result.

Abstract: A solid support for oligonucleotide synthesis has the structure ##STR1## where CPG represents a controlled pore glass matrix, the wavy line represents a carbon chain covalently linking the NH group with the controlled pore glass matrix, X is 2,2'-dimethoxytrityl or H, and R is alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroalkyl, or heteroaryl. The dimethoxytrityl group is removed from the solid support by treatment with acid, and the oligonucleotide is built, step-by-step in a conventional synthesizer after attachment of the 3' end of the first oligonucleotide unit to the hydroxyl function connected to the R group.

Abstract: This invention relates to safe and effective methods for the extraction of nucleic acids. In particular, methods are described for isolating nucleic acid from a sample containing a biological mixture of nucleic acids and other biological compounds wherein the sample is combined with an extraction solution containing at least one organic compound such as benzyl alcohol or a benzyl alcohol derivative to form an aqueous and non-aqueous phase. The nucleic acid is isolated from the aqueous phase. Preferably, the resulting combined solution also contains bentonite, as defined below. Typically, the sample will first be combined with a lysing agent before extraction. The lysing agents preferred are chaotropic salts such as guanidinium hydrochloride and guanidinium isothiocyanate.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions of oligonucleotide probes for use in the detection of bacteria associated with medical disorders of the human mouth, wherein said probes consist essentially of a segment of nucleic acid capable of selectively hybridizing under hybridizing conditions, to the 16S or 23S ribosomal RNA [rRNA] of said bacteria. Methods for detection, as well as diagnostic kits for the assay of these bacterium, are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to novel methods for the release of nucleic acids from cells in complex biological samples or specimens to prepare and make available the nucleic acid material present for a hybridization assay or for extraction. Novel methods for hybridization of nucleic acids are also presented. In particular methods are described for isolating nucleic acid from a sample containing a complex biological mixture of nucleic acid and non-nucleic acids wherein the sample is combined with a hybridization medium comprising a lactam which promotes and enables nucleic acid pairing when complementary nucleic acid is introduced. The lactam is preferably about 5 to about 70% of the hybridization medium and is most preferably 2-pyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-dodecyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-hydroxyethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-piperidone, 2-.epsilon.-caprolactam, N-methyl-2-caprolactam, 2-piperidone or N-(4-hydroxybenzyl)pyrrolidone.

Abstract: This invention provides for a method of quantifying bacteria using a bacterial specific nucleic acid probe which is complementary to a unique and highly conserved region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) of bacteria. This probe permits the rapid detection of 16S rRNA in a sample and by comparison with known standards, one can estimate the total bacterial count in the sample. The method is accurate and reproducible and conducted at temperatures of between about 120.degree. to about 40.degree. C.

Abstract: Novel methods and compositions for detecting a member of a ligand pair on solid supports having intrinsic fluorescence are disclosed. A target member of a ligand pair is contacted with a capture member of a ligand pair, wherein the capture member is immobilized on a solid support having intrinsic fluorescence, and the contacted pair is in association with a colorimetric reporter, then the solid support is irradiated the solid support, and the resultant fluorescence is determined. Preferably, methods include hybridization assays of nucleic acid sequences on such solid supports. The extent of detecting a member of a ligand pair, preferably a nucleic acid sequence, is determined using a method or technique described throughout this document as fluorescent quenching. Methods and compositions pertaining to solid supports having their intrinsic or natural fluorescence quenched or masked are also described herein. The present invention has utility in detection assays for a member of a ligand pair.

Abstract: This invention relates to compositions of oligonucleotide probes for use in the detection of bacteria associated with medical disorders of the human mouth, wherein said probes consist essentially of a segment of nucleic acid capable of selectively hybridizing under hybridizing conditions, to the 16S or 23S ribosomal RNA [rRNA] of said bacteria. Methods for detection, as well as diagnostic kits for the assay of these bacterium, are also disclosed.

Abstract: Novel oligonucleotides formed from .alpha.-D-arabinofuranosyl nucleoside monomers, including oligonucleotides in which one or more of the monomer units is functionalized, are disclosed herein, as well as functionalized monomeric .alpha.-D-arabinofuranosyl nucleosides and nucleotides. A generic formula for the oligomers is: ##STR1## in which B is a nucleotide base which will vary from one monomeric unit to the next in a preselected oligonucleotide sequence; R is phosphate, phsophorothioate, phosphoramidate, or alkanephosphonate; t is 1 for functionalized monomeric units and zero for the others; W is a chemical linker arm; A is a functional group; and n is the number of monomeric units in the oligomer. The oligomers are useful for diagnostic and chemotherapeutic uses. A novel reaction is also disclosed, in which an .alpha.-D-arabinofuranosyl nucleoside with exposed hydroxyls at the 2'- and 3'-positions is selectively protected at the 2'-position in a single reaction.