Abstract: An irradiation target for the production of radioisotopes, comprising at least one plate defining a central opening and an elongated central member passing through the central opening of the at least one plate so that the at least one plate is retained thereon, wherein the at least one plate and the elongated central member are both formed of materials that produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) by way of neutron capture.

Abstract: A stand-on floor scrubber is provided to clean floor surfaces and includes a housing, a scrubber head, and drive wheels. The scrubber head may be positioned against a floor to provide scrubbing action during a floor cleaning operation. The housing includes an upright forward housing section and an upright rear housing section that are spaced apart by an operator platform with each of the forward housing section and rear housing section containing operational components of the stand-on floor scrubber, such as batteries and fluid tanks. The operator platform is sloped between the forward and rear housing and provides adjustable support for an operator of the stand-on floor scrubber.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for producing an image of a global surface of an ion source sample plate that is exterior to an ion source. In general terms, the apparatus contains a sample plate for an ion source, an imaging device (e.g., a CCD or CMOS camera) and an illumination device that is configured to produce a light beam that contacts the sample plate surface to define a grazing angle between the light beam and the sample plate surface. The apparatus may be present at a location that is remote to the ion source.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention include systems for producing microarray assay devices. Further aspects of the invention include assembled microarray assay devices, as well as methods of assembling the devices and methods of using the assembled devices.

Abstract: The invention provides a mass spectrometry system ion source containing a sample plate and an illumination device that is configured to produce a light beam that contacts the sample plate surface to define a grazing angle between the light beam and the sample plate surface. The ion source may also contain an imaging device, e.g., a CCD or CMOS camera or the like, for viewing the area. In one embodiment, the imaging device may be connected to a display, e.g., a video monitor. Methods and mass spectrometry systems empliying the ion source are also provided.

Abstract: A lens-placement system in accordance with the invention includes an imaging system having an imaging camera to capture an image of at least a portion of an image sensor module that is located in a fixed-focus camera. The captured image is used for placement of a lens in the fixed-focus camera.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program products for fabricating multiple chemical arrays on a substrate, each array having multiple rows of feature locations with arrays of different sets being arranged in a sideways orientation with respect to the rows. The method includes dispensing drops from a drop dispensing head onto the substrate while maintaining a gap between the head and substrate and moving them relative to one another along a path so as to fabricate the arrays. The path for the relative moving includes moving the head in a direction along the rows of a first array set then moving the head in an opposite direction along the rows of a second array set. This pattern is repeated with the second array set of an earlier cycle being the first array set of a later cycle.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an addressable array of chemical probes at respective feature locations on a substrate surface. The method may use a deposition apparatus with a substrate unit which includes the substrate and with a drop deposition unit which includes a drop deposition head. Such an apparatus when operated according to a target drive pattern based on nominal operating parameters of the apparatus provides the probes on the substrate surface in the target array pattern. The method may include depositing at least one drop from the head unit onto the substrate surface. A fiducial on the substrate unit is optionally viewed from a sensor. A deposited drop on the substrate surface is viewed from a sensor. An actual position of the viewed deposited drop may be determined relative to a fiducial on the substrate unit, based on the views of the fiducial and deposited drop. An error is determined based on any difference between the actual and target positions.

Abstract: A drop deposition apparatus, and a method and computer program products using the drop deposition apparatus, for fabricating at least one addressable array of biopolymers on a substrate. The drop deposition apparatus has a drop dispenser unit and a sensing element. The method comprises includes for each of multiple addresses, dispensing droplets carrying the biopolymers or biopolymer precursors from a drop dispenser unit onto the sensing element, and onto the substrate so as to fabricate the array. Electrical signals resulting from dispensed droplets striking the sensing element are detected. A performance characteristic of the deposition apparatus is evaluated based on the detected signals.

Abstract: Liquids are transferred from a plurality of wells or depots having openings arranged in a selected format to one or more receptacles, by displacing liquid contained in each well so that a convex meniscus swells from the opening, and contacting the receptacle with the swollen meniscus to draw a portion of the liquid into the receptacle. An apparatus for carrying out the method includes a depot member having a plurality of wells having openings supported in a selected format, and a receiving member defining at least one receptacle and usually a plurality of receptacles in a corresponding or complementary format; means for displacing liquid contained within the wells toward and through the openings; and means for bringing at least one selected well opening into proximity with at least one selected receptacle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for producing and inspecting a plurality of deposited features in a pattern on a portion of a substrate surface, as in an oligonucleotide array. The apparatus comprises a printhead for depositing a fluid to form the array of features on the substrate surface and a camera for imaging the deposited features. The apparatus also comprises a printhead controller for positioning and activating the inkjet printhead to deposit the array features. The camera, e.g., a digital line scan camera, is controlled by a camera controller such that the camera acquires images corresponding to substantially only the portion of the surface on which features should have been deposited. The camera and printhead are preferably situated such that an induced movement of the printhead relative to the substrate results in a substantially identical corresponding movement of the camera.

Abstract: Liquids are transferred from a plurality of wells or depots having openings arranged in a selected format to one or more receptacles, by displacing liquid contained in each well so that a convex meniscus swells from the opening, and contacting the receptacle with the swollen meniscus to draw a portion of the liquid into the receptacle. According to the invention, the liquid transfer is effected directly from the depot to the corresponding receptacle without contact between depots and receptacles, and without interposition of any transfer device between depots and receptacles.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an addressable array of chemical probes at respective feature locations on a substrate surface. The method may use a deposition apparatus with a substrate unit which includes the substrate and with a drop deposition unit which includes a drop deposition head. Such an apparatus when operated according to a target drive pattern based on nominal operating parameters of the apparatus provides the probes on the substrate surface in the target array pattern. The method may include depositing at least one drop from the head unit onto the substrate surface. A fiducial on the substrate unit is optionally viewed from a sensor. A deposited drop on the substrate surface is viewed from a sensor. An actual position of the viewed deposited drop may be determined relative to a fiducial on the substrate unit, based on the views of the fiducial and deposited drop. An error is determined based on any difference between the actual and target positions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an array of different chemical moieties. The method may include ejecting drops containing the different moieties or precursors thereof from an orifice in an ejector head onto a substrate surface spaced from the orifice so as to form the array. The substrate surface may have structures adjacent each of multiple feature locations so as to assist in confining drops ejected onto the surface to the feature locations, which structures comprise channels or deposited raised members adhering to the surface and extending above adjacent feature locations. An array of different chemical moieties is also provided which has features at respective locations on a planar substrate surface having structures comprising channels or deposited raised barriers adhering to the surface, and which structures are adjacent each of multiple feature locations.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program products for fabricating multiple chemical arrays on a substrate, each array having multiple rows of feature locations with arrays of different sets being arranged in a sideways orientation with respect to the rows. The method includes dispensing drops from a drop dispensing head onto the substrate while maintaining a gap between the head and substrate and moving them relative to one another along a path so as to fabricate the arrays. The path for the relative moving includes moving the head in a direction along the rows of a first array set then moving the head in an opposite direction along the rows of a second array set. This pattern is repeated with the second array set of an earlier cycle being the first array set of a later cycle.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program products useful in fabricating a chemical array. The apparatus may include a head system, transport system, and a processor. The head system has multiple groups of drop dispensers. The transport system moves the head system with respect to a substrate. The processor dispenses drops from dispensers during operation of the transport system, in a pattern along a selected path for each group. The method, apparatus, and computer program products provide a means by which error dispensers can readily be replaced by redundant non-error dispensers loaded with the same fluid.

Abstract: Liquids are transferred from a plurality of wells or depots having openings arranged in a selected format to one or more receptacles, by displacing liquid contained in each well so that a convex meniscus swells from the opening, and contacting the receptacle with the swollen meniscus to draw a portion of the liquid into the receptacle. According to the invention, the liquid transfer is effected directly from the depot to the corresponding receptacle without contact between depots and receptacles, and without interposition of any transfer device between depots and receptacles.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a biopolymer array, and an apparatus which can execute the method, droplets of fluid carrying the biopolymer or a biomonomer are deposited onto a front side of a transparent substrate. Light is directed through the substrate from the front side, back through a substrate back side and a first set of deposited droplets on the first side to an image sensor. The substrate may be mounted by means of a chuck with parallel channels, and a scanning operation of a droplet dispensing head, light source, and sensor conducted in unison in the direction of the channels.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a biopolymer array, and an apparatus which can execute the method, droplets of fluid carrying the biopolymer or a biomonomer are deposited onto a front side of a transparent substrate. Light is directed through the substrate from the front side, back through a substrate back side and a first set of deposited droplets on the first side to an image sensor. The substrate may be mounted by means of a chuck with parallel channels, and a scanning operation of a droplet dispensing head, light source, and sensor conducted in unison in the direction of the channels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in which a pulse jet (such as a thermoelectric or piezoelectric pulse jet) deposit drops and the pulse jet is struck at least once. A housing of the pulse jet may particularly be struck in a same direction in which drops are ejected from the pulse jet and, for example, a rate of 0.2 to 10 strikes/second with each strike delivering between 10 mJ to 150 mJ. The method and apparatus may particularly be applied application to the fabrication of biopolymer (such as DNA) arrays, and in the striking may for example particularly be applied after loading of the pulse jet through a drop dispensing orifice.