Automated method of manufacturing polymer arrays

Abstract

The present invention provides methods to process multiple sensors by providing a sensor plate and HT plates. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, methods for assembling microarray pegs and microarray plates are described for high throughput microarray processing.

1 - 78 . (canceled)  
     
     
         79 . A method of performing an array assay using a set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier, said method comprising: (a) contacting said set of chemical arrays to a multiwell plate containing samples to provide closed chambers about each array of said set; and (b) maintaining said set of chemical arrays together with said multiwell plate under conditions sufficient to perform said array assay.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said common carrier is a one-piece substrate having a surface on which the arrays are disposed.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80 , further comprising separating said set of chemical arrays into multiple sub-sets of arrays, each carried on separate substrates.  
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein said separation occurs along markings present on said substrate prior to said separating.  
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein said separation occurs subsequent to said array assay.  
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein said common carrier comprises a substrate holder and said multiple sub-sets of arrays are mounted at different locations on said holder, wherein said separating comprises removing said separate substrates from said holder.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein the separate substrates are mounted in a series each adjacent the next.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein multiple array identifiers are present before separating such that after the separating each separated sub-set of arrays is carried on a separate substrate along with at least one of the array identifiers.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , further comprising retrieving array layout information for a separated array sub-set using an array identifier carried on a same separate substrate as that separated array sub-set.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said maintaining comprises providing a housing about said set of chemical arrays and said multiwell plate.  
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein said housing comprises a base and a cover.  
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 89 , wherein said common carrier serves as said base or said cover.  
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 81 , further comprising reading said separated sub-sets of the chemical arrays following said separation  
     
     
         92 . A method of using a set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier in a reaction, said method comprising: (a) contacting said set of chemical arrays to a multiwell plate containing one or more reagents to provide closed chambers about each array of said set; and (b) maintaining said set of chemical arrays together with said multiwell plate under conditions sufficient to perform said reaction.  
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said reaction is an amplification reaction.  
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 92 , wherein said method is a cellular transvection reaction.  
     
     
         95 . An apparatus comprising: (a) a set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier; and (b) a multiwell plate to be used with said set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier to provide closed chambers about each array of said set.  
     
     
         96 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said common carrier is a one-piece substrate having a surface on which arrays are disposed.  
     
     
         97 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said common carrier comprises a substrate holder and said set comprises multiple sub-sets of arrays each carried on separate substrates and each mounted at different locations on said holder.  
     
     
         98 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , wherein said common carrier comprises an indication of locations along which said carrier should be separated so as to separate said set of chemical arrays into multiple sub-sets each with one or more arrays.  
     
     
         99 . The apparatus of  claim 95 , further comprising a housing for maintaining said set of chemical arrays and said plate of wells together in an operative configuration to provide closed chambers about each array.  
     
     
         100 . The apparatus of  claim 99 , wherein said housing comprises a base and a cover.  
     
     
         101 . The apparatus of  claim 100 , wherein said common carrier serves as said base or said cover.  
     
     
         102 . A kit comprising: (a) a set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier; and (b) a multiwell plate to be used with said set of chemical arrays held together by a common carrier to provide closed chambers about each array of said set.  
     
     
         103 . The kit of  claim 102 , further comprising a housing for maintaining said set of chemical arrays and said multiwell plate together in an operative configuration to provide closed chambers about each array.  
     
     
         104 . The kit of  claim 102 , wherein said housing comprises a base and a cover.  
     
     
         105 . The kit of  claim 102 , wherein at least one well of said multiwell plate comprises at least one reagent for use in a chemical reaction.