System and method for single or multiple bead distribution with an adjustable capillary

Abstract

A system for processing a plurality of solid supports comprises a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen terminating at the distal end. A stop is positioned within the lumen at a location spaced about the distal end and is sized to permit fluids to pass through the lumen while preventing the passage of solid supports. A fluid transfer device is configured to transfer fluids through the lumen such that when a fluid containing one or more solid supports is aspirated into the lumen, a solid support may be drawn into the lumen to lodge against the stop.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for processing a plurality of solid supports, the system comprising: 
 a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen terminating at the distal end;    a stop positioned within the lumen at a location spaced above the distal end, wherein the stop is sized to permit fluids to pass through the lumen while preventing passage of solid supports; and    a fluid transfer device that is configured to transfer fluids through the lumen such that when a fluid containing one or more solid supports is aspirated into the lumen, a solid support may be drawn into the lumen to lodge against the stop.    
     
     
         2 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid transfer device is further configured to force liquids out of the distal end to expel any solid supports within the lumen.  
     
     
         3 . A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the fluid transfer device comprises a syringe pump and a length of tubing coupling the syringe pump to the tubular member, wherein the syringe pump is operable to aspirate fluids into the tubular member to capture one or more solid supports into the lumen and to irrigate fluids from the tubular member to expel any captured solid supports.  
     
     
         4 . A system as in  claim 3 , further comprising a source of fluid coupled to the syringe pump.  
     
     
         5 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the stop comprises a wire that is slidable within the lumen to permit the spacing between a distal end of the wire and the distal end of the tubular member to be adjustable.  
     
     
         6 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir having a plurality of solid supports, and a moving mechanism to move the tubular member relative to the reservoir to permit placement of the distal end of the tubular member into the reservoir.  
     
     
         7 . A system as in  claim 6 , further comprising a plate having a plurality of wells, and wherein the moving mechanism is configured to move the tubular member relative to the plate to permit any solid supports to be expelled from the tubular member and into at least one of the wells.  
     
     
         8 . A system as in  claim 7 , wherein the moving mechanism comprises a movable arm to move the tubular member along the Z axis, and movable stage onto which the reservoir and the plate are held, wherein the stage is movable along the X and Y axis.  
     
     
         9 . A system as in  claim 6 , further comprising a controller to control operation of the fluid transfer device and the moving mechanism.  
     
     
         10 . A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tubular members, each having a lumen and a stop disposed in the lumen, and a manifold coupled to each of the tubular members, and wherein the fluid transfer device is coupled to the manifold.  
     
     
         11 . A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the lumen has a diameter in the range from about 190 μm to about 210 μm, and wherein the solid supports have a mean diameter in the range from about 120 μm to about 140 μm.  
     
     
         12 . A device for processing solid supports that are held within a fluid, the device comprising: 
 a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen terminating at the distal end, wherein the lumen has a diameter in the range from about 190 μm to about 210 μm;    a wire positioned within the lumen at a location spaced above the distal end, wherein the wire has an outer diameter in the range from about 125 μm to about 150 μm to permit fluids to pass through the lumen while preventing passage of solid supports when fluids are aspirated into the lumen from the distal end.    
     
     
         13 . A method for processing solid supports having at least one chemical synthesized thereon, the method comprising: 
 providing a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen terminating at the distal end, and a stop that is positioned within the lumen at a location spaced above the distal end;    placing the distal end of the tubular member into a fluid having a plurality of solid supports; and    aspirating at least some of the fluid into the lumen and past the stop to draw at least one of the solid supports into the lumen until lodging against the stop.    
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 13 , further comprising aspirating additional fluid to draw into the lumen multiple solid supports in a linear array until the lumen is filled with solid supports between the stop and the distal end.  
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14 , further comprising capturing 1 to about 10 solid supports within the lumen.  
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 13 , further comprising removing the tubular member from the liquid, and forcing fluid through the lumen and past the stop to expel the solid support from the tubular member.  
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 13 , wherein the fluid and the solid supports are held within a reservoir, and further comprising moving the tubular member relative to the reservoir to place the distal end into the fluid.  
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 17 , further comprising removing the tubular member from the reservoir, positioning the tubular member over a multiwell plate, and expelling the solid support into a well of the multiwell plate.  
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 13 , wherein the lumen has a diameter in the range from about 190 μm to about 210, and wherein the solid supports have a mean diameter in the range from about 120 μm to about 140 μm.  
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 13 , further comprising priming the lumen with a fluid to remove substantially all gas bubbles from the lumen prior to aspirating the fluid.  
     
     
         21 . A method as in  claim 13 , further comprising providing multiple tubular members that each have a lumen and a stop within the lumen, and placing a distal end of each of the tubular members simultaneously into the fluid, and aspirating fluid into each of the lumens to draw at least one solid support into each of the lumens.