Fludic system and method for processing biological microarrays in personal instrumentation

Abstract

A fluidic system and method for processing biological sensors. The fluidic system includes a fluidic component including at least a first container and a second container. The first container is capable of holding a first volume of a first fluid, and the second container is capable of holding a second volume of a second fluid. Additionally, the fluidic system includes a support component configured to support at least the first container and the second container. The first container and the second container are substantially stationary with respect to the support component. Moreover, the fluidic system includes a transport component configured to move a first sensor, with respect to the support component, into the first container and in contact with the first volume of the first fluid, and move a second sensor, with respect to the support component, into the second container and in contact with the second volume of the second fluid. The first sensor and the second sensor are moved substantially simultaneously.

1 - 55 . (canceled) 
   
   
       56 . A fluidic device for processing a plurality of arrays in a number of sequential process steps, the fluidic device comprising:
 a fluidic component including a container, wherein the container is a disposable device and is a size comparable to a plurality of arrays multiplied by the number of process steps; the container comprising:   a plurality of at least two group of wells, wherein each group of wells contains a plurality of wells with a liquid for the sequential process step;   a support component configured to support the container, the container being substantially stationary with respect to the support component;   a transport component configured to sequentially move the plurality of arrays, with respect to the support component, into the plurality of at least two groups of wells such that the array is submerged in the liquid of each well, wherein the plurality of arrays is processed within the fluidic device.   
   
   
       57 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein the process step comprise of a wash, stain, and a second wash step. 
   
   
       58 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein the fluidic device is configured to process the plurality of arrays so that the processed plurality of arrays are ready for scanning. 
   
   
       59 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein each array is attached to a first support member. 
   
   
       60 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein the first support member is a peg. 
   
   
       61 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein each of the support member is a part of a plate. 
   
   
       62 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein each array is associated with an array length, an array width, and an array thickness; the array length is equal to or shorter than 10 mm; the array width is equal to or narrower than 10 mm; the array thickness is equal to or thinner than 1000 μm. 
   
   
       63 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein the fluid comprises a volume that is equal to or smaller than 5 ml. 
   
   
       64 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein the transport component further comprises a gripper and at least one motor, wherein the gripper is capable of gripping the plurality of arrays substantially simultaneously and of releasing the plurality of arrays substantially simultaneously;
 the at least one motor is configured to move the gripped plurality of arrays into the plurality of at least two group of wells, wherein each well is used for at most a single process for at most a single array.   
   
   
       65 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein the gripper includes an actuator. 
   
   
       66 . The fluidic device of  claim 56 , wherein the container is attached to an object associated with a temperature; the object includes a heater configured to heat up the first volume of the first fluid; the object further includes a thermometer configured to measure the temperature.