Light Transmitted Assay Beads

Abstract

A micro bead having a digitally coded structure that is partially transmissive and opaque to light. The pattern of transmitted light is determined by to decode the bead. The coded bead may be structured a series of alternating light transmissive and opaque sections, with relative positions, widths and spacing resembling a 1D or 2D bar code image. To decode the image, the alternating transmissive and opaque sections of the body are scanned in analogous fashion to bar code scanning. The coded bead may be coated or immobilized with a capture or probe to effect a desired bioassay. The coded bead may include a paramagnetic material. A bioanalysis system conducts high throughput bioanalysis using the coded bead, including a reaction detection zone and a decoding zone.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A bioanalysis system, comprising: one or more rectangular beads having an encoded pattern thereon wherein said bead is functionalized with a biological material; and a microflow apparatus comprising a flow channel supporting a core flow sized to confine a single rectangular bead to advance at a time, wherein a reaction takes place on the bead; a reaction detection system at a first section of said flow channel configured to detect the reaction that took place on the bead; a decoding system at a second section of said flow channel configured to decode the encoded pattern on the bead, wherein the decoding system operates in coordination with the reaction detection system. 
     
     
         40 . The system of claim  38 , wherein the flow channel further supports a sheath flow about the core flow. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the size of the core flow is controlled by adjusting relative flow rate of the core flow and the sheath flow. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the beads are paramagnetic. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 39  wherein said biological material is selected from the group consisting of proteins, nucleic acids, and small biological molecules. 
     
     
         44 . An apparatus for sorting biological particles comprising
 (1) rectangular barcoded beads functionalized with a biological material;   (2) at least one sample loading well configured to provide rectangular barcoded magnetic beads binding with biological particles to be sorted;   (3) one micro flow channel sized and configured to allow passage of the rectangular barcoded magnetic beads, the micro flow channel having a substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein the rectangular barcoded magnetic beads are supported by a first solution in a core flow along the micro flow channel;   (4) a set of sheath flow channels in flow communication with the micro flow channel, providing a flow of a second solution into a sheath flow section of the micro flow channel, to create a first set of sheath flows on first two opposite sides of the core flow of the first solution in a sheath flow section of the micro flow channel, wherein the first set of sheath flows maintain the rectangular barcoded magnetic beads in a specific orientation with respect to the micro flow channel as the rectangular barcoded magnetic heads flow through said sheath flow section, wherein said first set of sheath flows provide lateral alignment of each rectangular bead;   (5) barcode detector; and   (6) a sorting system whereby the barcoded beads are flow-sorted into different microwells.   
     
     
         45 . The biological particles of  claim 44  are cells or nucleic acids. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 44  wherein the barcode detector comprises
 (a) an optical barcode reader; and   (b) a readout electronics.   
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46  wherein the optical barcode reader comprises
 (i) a microscope;   (ii) a light source;   (iii) an objective lens; and   (iv) a line scan CCD camera or a photon detector.   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 46  wherein the readout electronics comprises
 (i) a microcontroller; or   (ii) a digital signal processor.