New Techniques for Microarray Fabrication and Analysis

描述（由申请人提供）：当前的微阵列技术受制于固有的可变性，这与阵列沉积系统无法准确识别和记录阵列材料的位置以及将此信息传达给后续系统以用于沉积后阵列处理，读出和分析直接相关。无法轻松识别、记录和传达阵列材料的准确位置以及在沉积后加工过程中阵列材料中引入的任何空间扭曲都是阵列生产、加工和分析自动化和集成的障碍。在SBIR第一阶段提案中，Biomachines提出了创新技术，将几何特征作为微阵列和生物芯片衬底上的“基准标记”，为制造，加工和分析的所有步骤提供共同的可测量点。使用基准标记作为固定参考点将使设备（例如阵列，成像仪）能够自动，准确和重复地：对齐和定向基板，在预先确定的位置（即“瞄准”）沉积基板上的材料，并识别先前沉积在基板上的材料的位置和方向。BioMachines的目标是自动化整个微阵列数据提取过程，简化分析软件，加速数据生成，并显着减少微阵列研究遇到的可变性。在第一阶段的融资下，BioMachines将修改我们现有的视觉引导精确放置平台，包括软件，以使用我们提议的基准标记技术，并将展示其功能。BioMachines基准标记技术将广泛应用于基因组学，蛋白质组学，生物信息学，生物芯片，生物传感器，细胞学和其他需要在小于几百微米的特征上重复定位或执行操作的应用。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Current microarray techniques are subject to inherent variability directly related to the inability of array deposition systems to accurately identify and record the location of arrayed materials and to communicate this information to follow-on systems for use in post-deposition array processing, readout and analysis. The inability to easily identify, record and communicate the accurate location of arrayed materials and any spatial distortions introduced in arrayed materials during post-deposition processing are barriers to automation and integration of array production, processing and analysis. In this SBIR Phase I proposal, Biomachines proposes innovative techniques to incorporate geometric features as "fiducial marks" on microarray and biochip substrates to provide common measurable points for all steps in fabrication, processing and analysis. The use of fiducial marks as fixed reference points will enable a device (e.g., arrayer, imager) to automatically, accurately and repeatedly: align and orient substrates, deposit materials on substrates at pre-determined locations (i.e., "targeting") and identify the location and orientation of materials previously deposited on substrates. BioMachines goal is to automate the entire microarray data extraction process, simplifying analysis software, speeding data production and significantly reducing the variability encountered microarray studies. Under Phase I funding, BioMachines will modify our existing vision guided precision placement platform, including software, to use our proposed fiducial mark technology and will demonstrate the capabilities. BioMachines fiducial mark technology will have broad applications in genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, biochips, biosensors, cytology and other applications where there is a requirement for repeatedly locating or performing actions on features sized below a few hundred microns.