Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the acoustic ejection of fluid droplets from each of a plurality of fluid-containing reservoirs to prepare combinatorial libraries in the form of microarrays. An acoustic ejection device is used comprised of a plurality of fluid reservoirs, an ejector for generating acoustic radiation and focusing the acoustic radiation generated at a focal point sufficiently near the fluid surface in each of the reservoirs such that a fluid droplet is ejected therefrom toward a site on a substrate surface, and a means for positioning the ejector in acoustically coupled relationship to each of the reservoirs. The combinatorial libraries may comprise biological or nonbiological moieties.

Abstract: The invention provides a device comprising a substrate having a plurality of different molecular probes attached to a surface thereof and an integrated indicator that exhibits a response when exposed to a condition to which the substrate may be exposed. Each different molecular probe is selected to interact with a different corresponding target, and the indicator response is detectable after removing the indicator from the condition. Alternatively, a substrate is provided having a plurality of molecular probes attached to a surface thereof and a plurality of different integrated indicators. Each indicator is selected to exhibit a response when exposed to one of a plurality of conditions to which the substrate may be exposed. The inventive devices are typically used for biomolecular, or more specifically, nucleotidic assays. The invention also provides for various apparatuses and methods for assaying a sample using the inventive devices.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the use of focused acoustic energy in the spatially directed ejection of cells suspended in a carrier fluid, for printing and patterning cells onto a substrate surface, for example to pattern an array of cells onto a substrate. An array of cells on a substrate surface comprising an array of substantially planar sites, with each site containing a single cell, is consequently also provided. Also disclosed are methods for the systematic generation and screening of arrays of living cells on a substrate from fluids containing one or more living cells. A method of attaching cells displaying a specific marker moiety on their surface, through specific recognition of the marker moiety by a cognate moiety that is linked to the surface is provided. Cells may be transformed to display a specific marker recognized by a corresponding cognate moiety, or the marker moiety may appear on untransformed cells.

Abstract: A method is provided for acoustically ejecting from a container that is preferably a channel, a plurality of particles or localized volumes that can be single living cells contained in fluid droplets toward sites on a substrate surface or alternatively or in addition thereto into containers or channels for deposition at a target array site or a container or channel by acoustic ejection. An integrated cell sorting and arraying system also is provided that is capable of selective sorting, into channels or other containers substantially transected by a common plane, parallel to a surface of the fluid, transecting the container from which cells are ejected by selective ejection of cells with adjustable velocity parallel to the fluid surface, and simultaneously selectively forming an array of cells on a substrate surface comprising an array of substantially planar sites is provided, wherein each site contains a single cell.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the acoustic ejection of fluid droplets from each of a plurality of fluid-containing reservoirs to prepare combinatorial libraries in the form of microarrays. An acoustic ejection device is used comprised of a plurality of fluid reservoirs, an ejector for generating acoustic radiation and focusing the acoustic radiation generated at a focal point sufficiently near the fluid surface in each of the reservoirs such that a fluid droplet is ejected therefrom toward a site on a substrate surface, and a means for positioning the ejector in acoustically coupled relationship to each of the reservoirs. The combinatorial libraries may comprise biological or nonbiological moieties.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for the acoustic ejection of fluid droplets from each of a plurality of fluid-containing reservoirs to prepare combinatorial libraries in the form of microarrays. An acoustic ejection device is used comprised of a plurality of fluid reservoirs, an ejector for generating acoustic radiation and the acoustic radiation at a focal point near the fluid surface in each of the reservoirs, and a means for positioning the ejector in acoustically coupled relationship to each of the reservoirs. The combinatorial libraries may comprise biological or nonbiological moieties.

Abstract: Partially nonhybridizing oligonucleotides are provided that contain two or more hybridizing segments, with any two hybridizing segments separated by a nonhybridizing spacer segment, i.e., a nucleotidic or nonnucleotidic segment that has little or no likelihood of binding to an oligonucleotide sequence found in nature. Oligonucleotide arrays are also provided in which at least one of the oligonucleotides of the array is a partially nonhybridizing oligonucleotide. The partially nonhybridizing oligonucleotides serve as multifunctional probes wherein each hybridizing segment of a single partially nonhybridizing oligonucleotide serves as an individual probe. Also provided are methods for preparing and using the partially nonhybridizing oligonucleotides and arrays formed therewith. A particularly preferred method of array fabrication involves the use of focused acoustic energy.

Abstract: A method and device for generating droplets of immiscible fluids are provided. Extremely fine droplets may be generated, on the order of 1 picoliter or less, using focused acoustic energy to eject the droplets from a reservoir containing two or more immiscible fluids. Optionally, the droplets may be ejected onto discrete sites on a substrate surface so as to form an array thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for the acoustic ejection of fluid droplets from each of a plurality of fluid-containing reservoirs. The droplets are ejected toward sites on a substrate surface for deposition thereon. The device is comprised of: a plurality of reservoirs each adapted to contain a fluid; an ejector comprising a means for generating acoustic radiation and a means for focusing the generated acoustic radiation so as to eject fluid droplets from the reservoir fluids; and a means for positioning the ejector in acoustically coupled relationship to each of the reservoirs. The invention is useful in a number of contexts, particularly in the preparation of biomolecular arrays.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique and highly accurate method for generating molecular arrays of very high density on porous surfaces. The method involves the application of focused acoustic energy to each of a plurality of fluid-containing reservoirs to eject a small fluid droplet—on the order of 1 picoliter or less—from each reservoir to a site on a porous substrate surface. High density molecular arrays are provided as well, in which greater than about 62,500 molecular moieties, serving as array elements, are present on a porous surface. Biomolecular arrays that can be generated using focused acoustic ejection include oligonucleotide arrays and peptidic arrays.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arrays of peptidic molecules and the preparation of peptide arrays using focused acoustic energy. The arrays are prepared by acoustically ejecting peptide-containing fluid droplets from individual reservoirs towards designated sites on a substrate for attachment thereto.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for stitching print swaths in an image-rendering device such as an acoustic ink printer. More particularly, the invention is directed to a method implemented in an apparatus to reduce the visual artifact caused by inaccurate paper advance between neighboring swaths of an ink emitter printhead. The method includes the provision of a “puzzle cut” or “zipper” edge between swaths. In this regard, the image is divided into swaths and the edges thereof are dithered to vary the depth of the cut in accordance with the expected paper advance accuracy and other printing characteristics such as noise and variations in the width of print swaths for different printheads.

Abstract: A method and device are provided in an acoustic ink printhead for masking temperature-induced artifacts by shifting the artifacts to a high spatial frequency beyond the visual acuity of humans. A cooling device is provided in the printhead for reducing the temperature of ink in a high speed acoustic ink printhead that ejects ink drops from an array of ink drop ejectors as the printhead moves along a longitudinal path. The cooling device includes first and second heat sinks formed on the printhead to develop first and second temperature gradients in the ink held within the printhead. The first and second temperature gradients are oppositely oriented along the face of the printhead so that the first and second sets of ink drops ejected onto a paper sheet adjacent the printhead produce rows of printed spots having a substantially uniform average spot size in a direction transverse the longitudinal path of the moving printhead.

Abstract: In an acoustic ink printing system, the time between droplet ejection in predetermined cases is increased where full optical density is not required. This is accomplished by choosing an order in which drops are ejected to be strictly alternate whenever possible. In a system which has a 10 maximum ink droplet per pixel only requires, for example, five drops for a particular situation, twice as much time is available for settling of an ink surface than would be available for sequential bursts of droplets. The longer ink surface settling time allows for high ink droplet directionality control. When more than five drops per area are needed, less time exists between droplet ejection, increasing droplet misdirectionality. This drop misdirectionality will occur within shadow or dark regions where it has been shown in many cases to be helpful in providing coverage of the substrate.

Abstract: A system for printing an image includes a computing device, a first memory device, a second memory device, and a printing device. The memory devices communicate with the computing device. The first memory device stores original image data in a first color space. The second memory device stores data representing colors from the first color space in a second color space including a black color and three primary colors. The data represents colors within a dark region of the second color space as including at least the black color and at least one of the primary colors. The data represents colors within an intermediate region of the second color space as including at least any one of the colors in the second color space. The data represents neutral colors within a highlight region of the second color space as only including the black color.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mapping a first color space into a second color space which allows a user to specify or constrain the mapping for a subset of the points within the first color space and determine the remaining unconstrained points according to a preexisting or default mapping.

Abstract: An apparatus for ink-jet printing on a recording medium is provided which includes the steps of jetting aqueous ink drops on paper in the form of an image. The aqueous ink used is a slow-drying (high-surface tension) ink which does not penetrate the paper/paper fibers for a relatively long time. Prior to penetration of the paper/paper fibers, the water in the droplet is quickly evaporated from the ink while still resident on the paper surface. The evaporation process is substantially completed prior to an additional liquid ink being jetted onto the same or adjoining location of the recording medium. The evaporation is rapid enough to prevent the resident ink from substantially migrating/wicking to any adjacent location or into the recording medium. Further the drying energy is transferred to the resident ink spots from the same direction as the printheads ensuring less energy requirement.

Abstract: A system and method for creating three-dimensional or depth image font text characters using graphic three-dimensional object creation techniques and graphics processors. The text characters can be represented as set descriptions of the characters. The text characters can also be represented as a three-dimensional geometric model including polygons constructed from vertices defined by three-dimensional coordinates. The representations are stored in a font storage and when a user specifies the text characters to be used in a depth image along with the font to be used for the text characters, the geometric representations of the characters are retrieved. If stored as a set, the set is converted into a geometric plot. Appropriate scaling and surface texturing operations are performed as designated by the user to create three-dimensional text character graphic objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a geometric graphic image of an object to be rendered as a depth image is created. The viewpoint of the viewer of the depth image is determined by the user. Once the viewpoint is determined the number of views is automatically determined along with the spacing between or positions of the views. The system adjusts the aspect ratio of each view and rotates the object prior to rendering. The rendered views are then stored as electronic interleaved images which are used to produce a depth image, such as a lenticular print.

Abstract: The disclosed method for compressing an image to be stored on a transaction card at one of a plurality of quality levels performs the steps of: a. providing a number of compression codebooks each corresponding to a quality level of the to be compressed image data; b. determining the quality level of the compressed image to be stored on the transaction card; c. determining the compression codebook that best corresponds to the determined quality level of step b; and d. compressing the image with the determined compression codebook. A decompression system is disclosed for processing, the transaction cards having the compressed image data stored thereon at one of a plurality of quality levels by, determining the maximum quality level common to the transaction card and the decompression system; and decompressing the compressed image data at the above maximum quality level. At each quality level of compression/decompression that represented image is of equal size.