Abstract: The inventions disclosed herein provide a novel 3-dimensional arrangement of probes on a probe carrier with concomitant increases in the economy of reagents, compactness and readability of the probe carriers. Novel methods of fabricating probe carriers are also disclosed. Techniques for hybridization assays and reading results of such assays are also presented.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microarray printing system and methods of printing probe microarrays. The system has a print head formed of one or more bundles of individual capillaries, such as light-guiding capillaries. The bundles may especially be random bundles of capillaries that provide a large number of probes on the surface of a substrate. Methods of registering or correlating the distal and proximal ends of the capillaries are also provided. Further, the invention provides methods and equipment for identifying defective microarrays that are missing one or more probes from the surface of the microarray.

Abstract: The disclosed scanning structure includes an apparatus for light delivery and light receiving from a light-excitable area on a substrate to be measured by the scanning structure. The light delivery and receiving apparatus may include an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end which transmits light having a certain wavelength or light with several varying wavelengths to excite the substrate samples. This optical fiber may also simultaneously receive light which may be emitted by fluorescing samples on the substrate. The scanning structure also may further include a holder for the optical fiber that is able to transverse variable distances over the substrate to be measured or examined. Holders may include galvano scanners as well as resonating suspension beams. A light source, e.g., a laser, may be optically coupled to the optic fiber's proximal end.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods involved in ultra high throughput screening of chemical compounds which have an affinity for or interact with a biological target. The invention utilizes an apparatus for ultra high throughput screening of chemical compounds for a biological target. The system is based on a capillary bundle that has two distinguishable ends. Capillaries on one end are connected to chemical compounds stored in discrete reservoirs such as micro titer plate wells; capillaries on the other end are tightly bound and then processed to form a two dimensional array that enable the parallel reactions of a target and many different compounds.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor flatpack capable of extremely sensitive strain measurements, without the complexity, high installation costs, and sensitivity to extraneous effects associated with conventional strain gage technologies, such as resistance foil strain gages. The “flatpack” strain sensor houses two individual sensors to allow for accurate temperature compensated strain measurements. The packaging method incorporates plastic materials and laminate manufacturing techniques, which results in a fully hermetic package that is resistant to harsh environmental conditions. Multiple flatpacks can be connected in series and interrogated along a single optical fiber cable when the flatpacks are constructed with fiber optic sensors that can be serially multiplexed, such as with Bragg grating sensors.

Abstract: A capillary bundle having reaction wells in one end of the capillaries is disclosed. The reaction wells serve as sites for hybridization, compound reaction, and drug identification for instance. The capillaries may be light-conducting capillaries. Also disclosed are various methods of identifying a target compound in a liquid carrier using this capillary bundle as well as methods of fabricating the bundle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microarray printing system and methods of printing probe microarrays. The system has a print-head formed of one or more capillary bundle, such as light-guiding capillaries. The bundles may especially be bundles of capillaries that provide a large number of probes on the surface of a substrate. Methods of registering or correlating the distal and proximal ends of the capillaries are also provided. Further, the invention provides methods and equipment for identifying defective microarrays that are missing one or more probes from the surface of the microarray.

Abstract: The invention relates to a probe carrier in which a flexible substrate carries a one-dimensional configuration of probes wherein each different type of probe is attached to its own discrete portion of the substrate. The invention also relates to a probe carrier in which a flexible substrate such as a tape or fiber carries a two-dimensional configuration of probes. Furthermore, systems for fabricating and packaging flexible probe carrier threads are presented. Flexible probe carrier threads are packaged in forms of pins, rods, coils and spools to increase efficiency of hybridization and generate compact formats for transportation and use of probe carriers. Novel methods for hybridization of packaged probe carriers are disclosed. Methods for reading results of hybridization to packaged probe carriers are also disclosed.