Patent ID: 7838466

Claim:
A device for selectively converting photogenerated reagent precursors to freely diffusible photogenerated reagents in solution for effecting a chemical reaction comprising: a) a substrate comprising at least one solid surface containing a plurality of fluidly isolatable reaction sites, wherein said fluidly isolatable reaction sites spatially isolate individual reaction sites and prevent diffusion of reagents between adjacent reaction sites, wherein said reaction sites comprise one or more reagents and contain a solution of at least one photogenerated reagent precursor; and b) an optical system operably linked to the substrate comprising a light source and a computer-controlled spatial optical modulator comprising a digital micromirror device comprising a plurality of micromirrors to form an irradiation pattern, wherein said irradiation pattern selectively irradiates a plurality of reaction sites without use of a photolithographic mask thereby converting the photogenerated reagent precursors in said solution to freely diffusible photogenerated reagents thereby effecting a chemical reaction.