Method of transferring material from microfabricated device

Inventors

Hallock, Alexander • Christey, Peter • Dunne, Jude • Glazer, Marc • Lane, Benjamin • Gomes, Joshua • Ashok, Shreyas • Pei, Shao Ning

Assignees

Isolation Bio Inc

Abstract

Methods of transferring material from a first device having an array of microwells to a second device is provided. In some examples, the first device and the second device are moved together toward a stopper plate and impinge on the stopper plate. In other examples, the first device and the second device are kept stationary and an impinging device is impacted on a mounting structure enclosing the first and second devices, causing material transfer from the microwells of the first device to the second device. Apparatus for carrying out the transfer of material is also disclosed.

Core Innovation

The disclosed invention provides a method for transferring material from a first device to a second device, where the first device includes an upper surface with a first array of microwells containing at least one cell. The method secures an assembly comprising the first device and the second device in a mounting structure such that the upper surfaces are opposite each other and the relative positions are fixed. The approach preserves the relative positioning between the microwell arrays while transferring well content onto the upper surface of the second device.

Transfer is achieved by moving the mounting structure carrying the first device and the second device toward a stopper plate, where the stopper plate has an initial position apart from the mounting structure, until the assembly or a part of the mounting structure contacts the stopper plate. The speed of the mounting structure immediately before contact is sufficient to cause transfer of at least a portion of the well content of the first array of microwells onto the upper surface of the second device. In a separate approach, a method secures the assembly similarly and moves an impinging device toward the assembly until the impinging device contacts the assembly or a part of the mounting structure, where momentum at contact is sufficient to cause transfer.

The transferred content is mapped between donor and receiver arrays by arranging the first array of microwells and the second device so that the microwells are positioned for transfer. In disclosed implementations, the upper surface of the second device may include a conducting substrate with a MALDI matrix material, and the receiver may be configured to receive transferred well contents while reducing unwanted transfer.

Claims Coverage

The two independent claims cover two impact/impingement transfer modes for moving at least a portion of well content from an array of microwells on a first device to an upper surface on a second device, with fixed positioning in a mounting structure and transfer driven by sufficient speed or momentum at contact. The claim set further refines the transfer by specifying alignment between microwells, constrained microwell geometry/density, and optional second-device surface composition including a conducting substrate and a MALDI matrix material.

Across the independent claims, transfer of cell-containing well content is driven by impact-related contact, with fixed opposing positioning in a mounting structure. Dependent claim features refine the approach by requiring microwell-to-microwell alignment, allowing the second device to include a conducting substrate with MALDI matrix material, and constraining microwell surface density and microwell diameter ranges.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications