A microarrayer for spotting solution onto a receiving surface in an automated
microarray
dispensing device. Elements of the present invention include: at least one dispense
head for spotting the receiving surface, at least one light source capable of illuminating
the receiving surface, at least one camera operating in conjunction with the at
least one light source. The at least one camera is capable of acquiring and transmitting
surface image data to a computer. The computer is programmed to receive the surface
image data and analyze it. The computer will then generate post analysis data based
on the analysis of the surface image data. The post analysis data is available
for improving the spotting of the solution onto the receiving surface. In a preferred
embodiment, the surface image data includes information relating to receiving surface
alignment, information relating to spot quality, and receiving surface identification
information. In a preferred embodiment, the analysis of the information relating
to receiving surface alignment enables the computer to make automatic adjustments
to the relative positions of the at least one dispense head and the receiving surface
to increase the accuracy of the spotting. In a preferred embodiment, the analysis
of the information relating to spot quality identifies a spot as pass or fail.
An operator is then able to rework the spot. In a preferred embodiment, the analysis
of the receiving surface identification information enables the computer to track
each receiving surface. In a preferred embodiment the receiving surface is a plurality
of slides.