A rigid mask protects selective portions of a chip including a plurality of wells for biochemical reactions. The rigid mask includes a supporting portion and a plurality of legs, where each leg is provided with a rigid stem and a plate. The plurality of legs are arranged and fixed with respect to the supporting portion in a way aligned to the spatial arrangement of the wells, and are configured in such a way that, when each leg is inserted into the corresponding well, the respective plate covers at least in part the bottom of the well, protecting it during a chemical/physical treatment of side walls of the wells.

The present disclosure relates to a method of depositing a fluid onto a substrate. In some embodiments, the method may be performed by mounting a substrate to a micro-fluidic probe card, so that the substrate abuts a cavity within the micro-fluidic probe card that is in communication with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A first fluidic chemical is selectively introduced into the cavity via the fluid inlet of the micro-fluidic probe card.

A high-throughput combinatorial materials experimental apparatus for in-situ synthesis and real-time characterization includes a composition spread device to prepare continuous or discrete composition distribution as precursor of the high-throughput experimental samples library, a low temperature diffusion mixing device to thoroughly mix the composition spread in the thickness direction through diffusion at a relatively low temperature to form an amorphous precursor, and an integrated synthesis-characterization unit for heat treatment of the material library precursor in either a parallel or point-by-point scanning mode at different thermodynamic conditions for phase formation and to characterize features or properties of the materials of interest in an in-situ and real-time manner. The integrated synthesis-characterization unit includes a chamber maintained at desired vacuum and atmosphere, a micro-heating source, an excitation source, a signal collector, and a sample holder.

A cell patterning material, a method of preparing the cell patterning material, a cell patterning method using the cell patterning material, and a biosensor including patterned cells obtained by using the cell patterning method are provided. According to the present disclosure, cells may be conveniently and efficiently patterned and the time for applying external stimulation for patterning may be controlled. In addition, the patterned cells may have an excellent proliferation rate and excellent differentiation efficiency, and may be re-patterned in a different direction, and High-throughput screening using the patterned cells is possible.

A system for combinatorial deposition of a thin layer on a substrate is described. The system comprises at least one deposition material source holder and a substrate holder. The system also comprises a rotatable positioning system for subsequently positioning the at least one substrate in parallel and in non-parallel configuration with at least one deposition material source. The system comprises at least one mask holder arranged for positioning a mask between at least one of the target holder and the positioning system, for allowing variation of the material flux across the at least one substrate when the combinatorial deposition is performed. The mask holder is in a fixed arrangement with respect to the at least one deposition material source holder during the combinatorial depositing.

The invention features methods of making devices, or platens, having a high-density array of through-holes, as well as methods of cleaning and refurbishing the surfaces of the platens. The invention further features methods of making high-density arrays of chemical, biochemical, and biological compounds, having many advantages over conventional, lower-density arrays. The invention includes methods by which many physical, chemical or biological transformations can be implemented in serial or in parallel within each addressable through-hole of the devices. Additionally, the invention includes methods of analyzing the contents of the array, including assaying of physical properties of the samples.

The present disclosure relates to a micro-fluidic probe card that deposits a fluidic chemical onto a substrate with a minimal amount of fluidic chemical waste, and an associated method of operation. In some embodiments, the micro-fluidic probe card has a probe card body with a first side and a second side. A sealant element, which contacts a substrate, is connected to the second side of the probe card body in a manner that forms a cavity within an interior of the sealant element. A fluid inlet, which provides a fluid from a processing tool to the cavity, is a first conduit extending between the first side and the second side of the probe card body. A fluid outlet, which removes the fluid from the cavity, is a second conduit extending between the first side and the second side of the probe card body.

A microfluidic apparatus and methods for fabrication with a fluidic layer and a pattern layer of spots of concentrated reagents that are disposed in wells of a fluidic layer when the two layers are bonded together. Reagents are stored on the chip prior to use. Because reagents are confined to specific wells, contamination of the channels and other microfluidic structures of the fluidic layer are avoided. The fluidic layer also has a system of vacuum channels and at least one vacuum void to store vacuum potential for controlled micro-fluidic pumping. The top and bottom surfaces of the bonded layers are sealed. The chip can be used for point of care diagnostic assays such as quantitative testing, digital nucleic acid amplification, and biochemical testing such as immunoassays and chemistry testing.

A cell patterning material, a method of preparing the cell patterning material, a cell patterning method using the cell patterning material, and a biosensor including patterned cells obtained by using the cell patterning method are provided. According to the present disclosure, cells may be conveniently and efficiently patterned and the time for applying external stimulation for patterning may be controlled. In addition, the patterned cells may have an excellent proliferation rate and excellent differentiation efficiency, and may be re-patterned in a different direction, and High-throughput screening using the patterned cells is possible.

The present disclosure provides a cover sheet for a microarray reaction device. In one aspect, the present cover sheet or device ensures the reaction units/volumes are stable and/or consistent among assay samples and assay runs, allowing samples (e.g., reaction solutions) to be conveniently added and distributed uniformly.