Patent ID: 7749448

Claim:
A microarraying system for simultaneously analyzing a plurality of fluid samples, the microarraying system comprising: an analytical integrated circuit (IC) comprising a plurality of testing locations arranged in a first pattern; a dispensing assembly comprising a plurality of channel spring probes, each of the plurality of channel spring probes having an anchor portion attached to a substrate and a cantilever portion having a fixed end attached to the anchor portion and having a curvature such that a free end of the cantilever portion is disposed away from the substrate, wherein the cantilever portion of said each channel spring probe includes a first channel structure and a second channel structure extending between the fixed and free ends and defining a first channel therebetween for carrying fluid along the cantilever portion of said each channel spring probe, the first channel running substantially parallel to the curvature of the cantilever portion and extending from the fixed end to the free end, wherein the anchor portion comprises a single-piece construction, wherein the anchor portion of said each channel spring probe includes an internal stress gradient normal to the substrate, wherein said each channel spring probe comprises one or more of molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), and nickel (Ni), and wherein the free end has a curvature away from the substrate and ending in a dispensing tip for dispensing liquid from the first channel, the dispensing tips of the plurality of channel spring probes being arranged in a second pattern, the second pattern substantially matching the first pattern; a positioning system for placing the dispensing tip of each of the plurality of channel spring probes in contact with one of the plurality of testing locations on the analytical IC; and a computer/workstation for controlling the positioning system and for processing data provided by the analytical IC.