Apparatus and method for polymer synthesis using arrays

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:870190

Brennan, Thomas M ^[1]

---

1. San Francisco, CA

A polymer synthesis apparatus (20) for building a polymer chain including a head assembly (21) having an array of nozzles (22) with each nozzle coupled to a reservoir (23) of liquid reagent (24) , and a base assembly (25) having an array of reaction wells (26). A transport mechanism (27) aligns the reaction wells (26) and selected nozzles (22) for deposition of the liquid reagent (24) into selected reaction wells (26). A sliding seal (30) is positioned between the head assembly (21) and the base assembly (25) to form a common chamber (31) enclosing both the reaction well (26) and the nozzles (22) therein. A gas inlet (70) into the common chamber (31), upstream from the nozzles (22), and a gas outlet (71) out of the common chamber (31) , downstream from the nozzles (22) , sweeps the common chamber ( 31 ) of toxic fumes emitted by the reagents. Each reaction well (26) includes an orifice (74) extending into the well (26) which is of a size and dimension to form a capillary liquid seal to retain the reagent solution (76) in the well (26) for polymer chain growth therein. A pressure regulating device (82) is provided for controlling a pressure differential, between a first gas pressure exerted on the reaction well (26) and a second gas pressure exerted on an exit (80) of the orifice, such that upon the pressure differential exceeding a predetermined amount, the reagent solution (76) is expelled from the well (26) through the orifice (74). A method of synthesis of a polymer chain in a synthesis apparatus (20) is also included.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: DOE LBL 4437-10
• Assignee: Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5472672
• OSTI ID: 870190
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

apparatus
method
polymer
synthesis
arrays
20
building
chain
including
head
assembly
21
array
nozzles
22
nozzle
coupled
reservoir
23
liquid
reagent
24
base
25
reaction
26
transport
mechanism
27
aligns
selected
deposition
sliding
seal
30
positioned
form
common
chamber
31
enclosing
therein
gas
inlet
70
upstream
outlet
71
downstream
sweeps
toxic
fumes
emitted
reagents
orifice
74
extending
size
dimension
capillary
retain
solution
76
growth
pressure
regulating
device
82
provided
controlling
differential
exerted
exit
80
exceeding
predetermined
amount
expelled
included
selected reaction
transport mechanism
liquid seal
polymer synthesis
pressure regulating
liquid reagent
regulating device
synthesis apparatus
head assembly
gas outlet
gas inlet
pressure differential
gas pressure
reagent solution
common chamber
polymer chain
predetermined amount
pressure exerted
chain growth
capillary liquid
nozzle coupled
chain including
growth therein
/422/