Seiko Epson of Tokyo has received US Patent No. 7,175,254, “Liquid ejecting apparatus and method for cleaning the same.” The patent claims a liquid-ejecting apparatus that can be used in the fabrication of biochips. According to the patent’s abstract, the apparatus includes a liquid-ejecting head having nozzles for ejecting a liquid, a wiping member wiping an opening portion of the nozzle, a carriage mounted with the liquid-ejecting head, and an inclined plate mounted on the carriage at a predetermined space from the liquid ejecting head.
Edgelight Biosciences of Sudbury, Mass., has received US Patent No. 7,175,811, “Microarray evanescent wave fluorescence detection device.” The patent describes nanowell microarrays that work when fluid samples are conveyed to the nanowells by means of microfluidics. The presence of the target substances in fluid samples is then detected by sensing fluorescent radiation generated by fluorescent tag bound to the target substances. The fluorescent tags generate fluorescent radiation as a result of their excitation by the evanescent field. Fluorescent radiation is then detected due to its coupling with the waveguide or its emission through the waveguide.
Affymetrix has received US Patent No. 7,176,297, “Photoactivatable silane compounds and methods for their synthesis and use.” The patent claims photoactivatable silane compounds and methods for their synthesis. According to the patent’s abstract, the photoactivatable silane compounds synthesized are represented by a formula: PG-LS-SN, wherein PG is a photoactivatable group, LS is a linkage and spacer group, and SN is a silane group. The silanes allow the photoactivatable silane compounds to be covalently bound to the surface of a substrate such as silica. The photoactivatable group forms a hydrophobic layer that can be photochemically cross-linked with a layer of hydrophilic functional polymers. A method is also disclosed to synthesize a substrate of hydrophobic layers and hydrophilic functional polymer layers onto glass surfaces. An array of biopolymers such as nucleic acids and peptides may then be covalently attached to the substrate using photolithography and biopolymer synthesis.