Laser machining of micro reservoir pins for gene analysis and high-throughput screening

摘要

Drug Discovery and analysis of the Human Genome sequence require the development of a new set of tools and techniques to acquire and process vast amounts of data. This corresponds to a need for increasing speed and automation in biomedical instrumentation. A new pin-based device on a robotic platform dispenses picolitre volumes to create Gene Chips with thousands of genetic samples for massively parallel testing. This pin contains several micro-features. In particular there is a high precision, laser cut 10 µm wide capillary slot leading to a reservoir 1000 µm long and 100 µm wide. In this paper we report a laser micro-machining method to fabricate this component and make comparison with electro discharge machining (EDM). We conclude that laser micro-machining (cutting and micro-milling) is the preferred technique. The laser method now used in production employs a copper vapour laser (CVL) due to several key advantages. The minimum cut width is 5 microns compared to 25 microns for EDM, the process time is 10 – 20 times faster and the added flexibility allows scope for significant future developments. The pins have been manufactured using a CVL Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA) system and more recently using the new KE-CVL technology.