AUTOMATIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDE SYNTHESIZER UTILIZING THE CONCEPT OF PARALLEL PROCESSING
Described is a system synthesizing DNA in an array of 36 384-well microtiterplates with filters. The plates are placed in holders on a perimeter of a rotating table and positioned under arrays of nozzles delivering individual reagents. Delivery of reagents is verified by cameras as well as the progress of the synthesis is monitored by camera inspection of the plates after delivery of deblocking reagent. As every plate on the table is in a different stage of the synthesis cycle (one cycle of the synthesis equals one turn of the table), the synthesizer is performing all synthetic operations simultaneously and all stations are utilized to the maximum capacity. Since every plate can be taken out independently of the other plates, the synthesizer can be called a “continuous synthesizer”.