APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FROZEN BEADS

摘要

An apparatus (10) and method for producing dry beads of a liquid reagent for use in various methods of analysis. The beads are formed by use of an x-y table (18) that can be translated along both the x and the y axis. An insulated tray (20) containing liquid cryogen is positioned atop the x-y table. A metal grid (24) forms a plurality of cells (22) in the tray so that the cryogen is free to enter the cells (22) up to the level of the cryogen i n the tray (20). The frozen drops form into beads and freely amass on the bott om of the tray (20). A drop forming device (34) dispenses individual drops to fall by gravity into an individual, discrete cell (22). The table (18) then translates to position another discrete cell (22) for receiving the subseque nt drop of reagent. The movement of the x-y table (18) causes agitation of the cryogen to enhance the freezing process.