Abstract: A method and system for economically packaging microarrays into sealed reaction chambers and storage vessels. A pocket strip is manufactured as a linear sequence of pockets, or wells, into which microarrays are positioned. A cover strip is then heat sealed to the upper surface of the pocket strip to create a linear sequence of sealed reaction chambers or storage vessels, each containing a microarray. Mechanical features or optical features are included along the length of the pocket strip to facilitate mechanical translation and positioning of microarrays embedded within the microarray strip. Septa are affixed to, or embedded within, the cover strip to provide resealable ports through which solutions can be introduced into, or extracted from, the reaction chambers. In an alternate embodiment, the microarrays are deposited directly onto the cover strip, eliminating the need for separate microarray substrates.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for synthesizing a plurality of compounds on the surface of supports. Biopolymer features are attached to the surfaces of the supports. The synthesis generally comprises a plurality of steps. In the present invention at least two of the steps are performed by placing a support having a functionalized surface into a chamber of a flow cell and subjecting the surface to a step of the synthesis and placing the support into a chamber of another flow cell and subjecting the surface to another step of the synthesis. An apparatus generally comprises a plurality of flow cells and one or more fluid dispensing stations are mounted on the platform and are in fluid communication with one or more of the plurality of flow cells. A station for monomer addition to the surface of the support is mounted on the platform. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism for moving a support to and from the station for monomer addition and a flow cell and from one flow cell to another flow cell.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for synthesizing compounds on the surface of supports. The devices are flow devices, which include a housing comprising a housing chamber. The housing has an opening adapted for insertion of a support into the housing chamber. A sealing member is movably mounted in the housing chamber and adapted to engage the support to form a reagent chamber between a surface of the support and a surface of the sealing member. A mechanism is included for moving the sealing member within the housing chamber. The device has both an inlet and an outlet, which are both in fluid communication with the reagent chamber. In the methods of the invention a support is placed into a chamber of a device such as described above. The mechanism adapted to engage the support on a surface opposite the surface engaged by the sealing member is activated to urge the support toward the sealing member.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an array of multiple features of different chemical moieties on a substrate surface, and a method of using arrays so fabricated. The fabrication method includes determining an identity of a first direction across the substrate surface (such as a drawn direction) along which the substrate surface has a higher height uniformity than along a second direction across the substrate. Chemical moieties are placed on the substrate so as to provide features thereon along rows more closely aligned with the first direction than the second direction.

Abstract: A method and system for economically packaging microarrays into sealed reaction chambers and storage vessels. A pocket strip is manufactured as a linear sequence of pockets, or wells, into which microarrays are positioned. A cover strip is then heat sealed to the upper surface of the pocket strip to create a linear sequence of sealed reaction chambers or storage vessels each containing a microarray. Mechanical features or optical features are included along the length of the pocket strip to facilitate mechanical translation and positioning of microarrays embedded within the microarray strip. Septa are affixed to, or embedded within, the cover strip to provide resealable ports through which solutions can be introduced into, or extracted from, the reaction chambers.

Abstract: A method and system for circulating sample solution within a reaction chamber containing a microarray. The reaction chamber contains, on each side, a shallow vertical and a deep vertical well at the comers of the microarray. The vertical wells having a gap between the active surface of the microarray and the bottom of the reaction chamber are filled with sample solution. As the reaction chamber is rotated, sample solution from the deep vertical well displaces sample solution in the gap between the active surface of the microarray and the bottom of the reaction vessel, and sample solution from that gap is, in turn, displaced into the shallow vertical well, from which it flows along the inner surface of a cover strip above the microarray back to the deep vertical well.

Abstract: A collapsible structural assembly including first and second flexible sheets disposed in confronting relationship to one another is disclosed herein. The assembly also includes an arrangement of ribs located between and connected with the sheets so as to support the sheets as a single unit for movement between a first collapsed position such that the sheets lie flat and adjacent one another with the ribs therebetween and a second extended position such that sheets have predetermined curved configurations and the ribs serve as structural reinforcements therebetween. In the actual embodiment disclosed, one of the sheets includes an outermost light reflective surface and the predetermined curvature conferred upon the sheets including the light reflective surface is that of a parabola. In this way, the entire assembly may serve as a trough-line parabolic concentrator comprising part of an overall solar collector.