JP2001215222A - Spotting head - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate handling of a device, and to efficiently carry out spotting work to reduce remarkably a working time for spotting, in a spotting head. SOLUTION: This spotting head is provided with an upper head part 10 arranged at the first prescribed pitch P1 and provided with plural injection parts 11a-11y injected with different kinds of test solutions, a lower head part 30 arranged in a position lower than the upper head part 10 and having plural opening parts 31a-31y arrayed at the second pitch P2 smaller than the first pitch P1, and an intermediate head part 20 provided with plural intermediate passages 21a-21y for communicating the injection parts 11a-11y of the upper head part 10 with the opening parts 31a-31y of the lower head part 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spotting head for attaching different types of test solutions distributed at a predetermined first pitch to a test plate at a second pitch smaller than the first pitch, and more particularly to a DNA chip. (D
NA array).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the base sequence of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) constituting a gene has been analyzed.
An example of such an analysis method is a hybridization method. DNA is composed of four types of bases,
Each of these bases has a fixed base,
The hybridization method utilizes this principle,
The analysis of such a base sequence is performed. In other words, the DNA to be inspected whose base sequence is unknown is mixed with a plurality of types of DNA whose base sequence is known to be compared, and whether or not the DNA to be tested and the DNA to be compared are bonded. To determine DNA that can bind to the DNA to be tested. Since the nucleotide sequence of the identified DNA is known, the sequence corresponding to the nucleotide sequence is compared with the DN to be tested.
It can be determined as the base sequence of A or a part of the base sequence of the DNA to be tested.

[0003] More specifically, a plurality of types of comparison target D
NA (probe DNA) is attached in a dot shape on a slide glass (this is referred to as spotting, and the probe DNA attached to the slide glass is also referred to as a dot). Under a predetermined condition under which a DNA binding reaction can occur, A slide glass (generally referred to as a DNA chip or a DNA array, hereinafter referred to as a DNA chip) to which the probe DNA is attached is once immersed in a solution (DNA solution) containing the DNA to be tested. I do. The unknown DNA to be tested is fluorescently labeled in advance, and if the DNA to be tested is bound to the probe DNA to be compared, the probe DNA is also fluorescently labeled. The DNA chip is then washed, and the DNA solution that has not bound to the probe DNA is washed away.

Therefore, by scanning the DNA chip with a laser beam and measuring the amount of fluorescence of each probe DNA, it can be quickly determined whether or not each probe DNA has bound to the DNA to be tested. The base sequence of the DNA to be tested can be analyzed based on the result of this determination. A DNA chip used in such a hybridization method spots tens to tens of thousands of probe DNAs on a slide glass of a predetermined size (for example, 26 mm × 75 mm) at a pitch of, for example, 100 μm to 200 μm. Such spotting is performed by, for example, a spotting head as shown in FIG.

This spotting head is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Multiple arranged at a pitch P ₁ equivalent to (4 here)
And the pin 102 of FIG. These pins 102 are arranged at a pitch P ₁ in correspondence with the recesses (accommodating portion) 105a for keeping pooled probe DNA provided in microtiter plates 105 to be described later with reference to FIG. 5 (b) Each pin 102 has a tapered tip as shown in FIG. The plate 101 is fixed to one end of the arm 103,
A moving device (not shown) is attached to the other end of the arm 103, and the moving device can move the spotting head in each of up, down, left, right, and front and rear directions.

As shown in FIG. 4 (c), there is also a pin having a slit 102a at the tip to allow probe DNA to enter / hold the slit 102a.
When performing spotting, first, the spotting head is moved onto the microtiter plate 105 as shown in FIG. Micro the microtiter plate 105 are a plurality of recesses 105a at a predetermined pitch P ₁ is formed, the recesses 1
05a, different types of probe DNAs 1a,
1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h,... (Hereinafter also referred to as “probe DNA 1” unless otherwise specified). As described above, the pin 102 of the spotting head is disposed corresponding to the concave portion 105a of the microtiter plate 105. At a predetermined position on the microtiter plate 105, the spotting head is lowered to a predetermined level by a moving mechanism. The tip of each pin 102 is connected to the microtiter plate 1
05 is immersed in the concave portion 105a of FIG.
(Here, probe DNAs 1a to 1d) are attached.

Next, the spotting head is raised to a predetermined level and then moved onto a slide glass. Then, the spotting head is lowered to a predetermined level to bring the tip of each pin 102 into contact with the surface of the slide glass. FIG. 5A is a schematic plan view showing the arrangement of the dots 1 on the DNA chip in a completed state.
At this point, first, of a number of dots provided on the slide glass 104 (probe DNA) 1, 1a (dots indicated by filled circles) dots arranged at a pitch P ₁
１1d is spotted.

[0008] Then, after the spotting head is moved and the tip of the pin 102 is immersed in a cleaning bath (not shown) for cleaning, the microtiter plate 105 is moved to the microtiter plate 105 as shown in FIG. A probe DN of a different type from the previous one among the arranged probe DNAs 1
The tip of the pin 102 is immersed in A1e to 1h, and FIG.
Slide predetermined pitch P ₂ on the right side in FIG. 5, for example than 1 a to 1 d (dots indicated by filled circles) dots previously spotted as shown in dot 1e~1h indicated by a double circle is spotted. Then, since, by performing shifting the spotting by a predetermined pitch P ₂ in the lateral direction and the vertical direction in FIG. 5 (a), the can be manufactured DNA chips arranged a large number of probes DNA1 at a predetermined pitch P ₂ .

[0009]

However, in the above-described technique, the number of dots that can be attached to the slide glass 104 by a single spotting is small, so that the production of a DNA chip becomes inefficient. is there. That is, (capable of performing spotting) spot area and capable of contacting the single spotting in the spot area of the slide glass 104 (spotting extent possible) number of pins is uniquely by the pitch P ₁ of course the pin 102 It will be decided. For example, assuming that the spot area has a size of (20 mm × 48 mm) and the pitch P ₁ is 4 mm, the maximum number of pins abutting on the slide glass 104 by one spotting is 78 {= [(20/4) +1] × [(48
/ 4) +1]}.

As described above, since the pitch P ₁ of the pins 102 is larger than the fine pitch P ₂ of the probe DNA ₁ to be arranged on the slide glass 104, the number of pieces that can contact the spot area by one spotting is relatively small. The number is limited to a predetermined number (for example, tens of thousands)
In order to attach the probe DNA 1, the number of times of spotting becomes extremely large, and the production of the DNA chip becomes inefficient.

As described above, the pitch P _{1 of the} pins 102 is equal to the pitch of the accommodating portion (recess) 105 a of the microtiter plate 105, and the pitch P ₁ of the accommodating portion 105 a must be narrowed. By
Although it is conceivable to increase the number of pins that can contact the spot area by one spotting, the pitch P ₁
Narrowing the probe DNA to each accommodation section 105a
Dispensing one would be very difficult and not realistic.

In the above spotting head,
For Although fabricating DNA chips by repeated spotting spotting head by shifting small pitch P ₂ with respect to the previous spotting, fine feed of such a spotting head positioning is very difficult, this point Therefore, the work efficiency becomes poor.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B,
Since the sequence of the probe DNAs 1a ... in the microtiter 105 is different from the sequence of the probe DNAs (dots) 1a ... in the slide glass 104, the microtiter 1
05 on the slide glass 10
4, the position on the slide glass 104
It is necessary to analyze how the probe DNAs 1a are arranged on the top.

The probe DN attached to the pin 102
A1 slide glass 1 from microtiter 105
In order not to dry before handing over to 04,
There is also a problem that the surrounding atmosphere needs to be adjusted, and handling is troublesome. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and can facilitate the handling of the device, and can efficiently perform the spotting operation to greatly reduce the time required for the spotting operation. It is an object of the present invention to provide a spotting head.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, a spotting head according to the present invention (claim 1) is provided with a plurality of injection portions arranged at a predetermined first pitch and into which different types of test solutions are injected. An upper head portion having a plurality of openings disposed below the upper head portion and arranged at a second pitch smaller than the first pitch; and It is characterized by comprising an intermediate head portion having a plurality of intermediate passages for communicating the plurality of injection portions with the plurality of openings of the lower head portion, respectively.

It is preferable that a test solution adhering mechanism for adhering the test solution to the test plate be provided while regulating the outflow of the test solution from the plurality of openings. Furthermore, it is preferable that the test solution attaching mechanism is constituted by a pad attached to each of the plurality of openings to absorb and hold the test solution (claim 3).

The test solution adhering mechanism may include an inclination angle of each intermediate passage, a sectional area of each intermediate passage, an inner wall surface roughness of each intermediate passage, a material forming an inner wall surface of each intermediate passage, and the like. The plurality of openings may be minutely formed so that the outflow of the test solution can be regulated by utilizing the above-mentioned method. Also, it is preferable that the arrangement of the plurality of injection portions and the arrangement of the plurality of openings match.

Preferably, a resin member for absorbing the test solution is provided in each of the plurality of intermediate passages. It is preferable that each material of the upper head portion, the intermediate head portion, and the lower head portion is a photo-curable resin.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 are views showing a spotting head as one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, an example in which the spotting head of the present invention is applied to the production of a DNA chip will be described.

In this embodiment, a plurality of spotting heads as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C are provided.
A slide glass (test plate) 104, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 1B, is sequentially sent to each spotting head and spotted.
04 is attached with a predetermined number of probe DNAs 1 to form a DNA chip.

A description will be given of each spotting head. As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c), a plurality of spotting heads (here, 25 pieces of 5 rows × 5 columns) are provided at the upper portion.
Head portion 10 having cylindrical injection portions 11a to 11y, and a plurality of (here, 25, 5 rows × 5 columns) openings 31a to 31 disposed below the upper head portion 10
y, the lower head portion 30 and the injection portions 11a
Head part 20 provided with a plurality of intermediate passages 21a to 21y for communicating the opening parts 31a to 31y with the opening parts 31a to 31y.
And the spotting head can be moved up and down by moving means (not shown). In addition, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish each injection part, each intermediate passage, and each opening, they are referred to as an injection part 11, an intermediate passage 21, and an opening 31, respectively.

Each injection section 11 has a relatively large inner diameter and a pitch P equal to the pitch of the accommodating section of a commercially available microtiter plate used in a conventional spotting head (see reference numeral 105a in FIG. 5B). It is lined with ₁ . Furthermore, each opening 31 is arranged in a narrow small pitch P ₂ than the pitch P _1, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), of course the internal diameter is in a small diameter.

Thus, a dispensing device (or hand) (not shown)
Work), a relatively wide pitch P ₁Each note ordered by
Different kinds of probe DNAs 1 are inserted into the
By dispensing, place below the spotting head
The probe DN is placed on the slide glass 104 that has been placed.
A1 is pitch P from each opening 31_TwoCan be supplied by
You can do it.

As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c),
Vertical and horizontal arrangement of the injection parts 11a to 11y, each intermediate passage 21a to
The vertical and horizontal arrangement of the openings 21a and the vertical and horizontal arrangement of the openings 31a to 31y are configured to coincide with each other. For example, the injection section 11a at the left end and the upper end in FIG.
FIG. 1 is a view taken in the same direction as FIG.
In (c), it communicates with the opening 31a at the left end and the upper end. That is, each of the injection portions 11a to 11y and each of the intermediate passages 2
In the openings 1a to 21y and the openings 31a to 31y, objects having the same alphabet in the reference numerals are formed in a communicating state.

As a test solution attaching mechanism for attaching the injected probe DNA 1 to the slide glass 104 while controlling the outflow, pads 32 are inserted into the respective openings 31 so as to protrude downward. Pad 3
2 is such that it can absorb and retain the probe DNA 1;
For example, when the spotting head is set to a spotting position where the spotting head comes into contact with the slide glass 104 by a moving means (not shown) and the lower end of the pad 32 is pressed against the slide glass 104, the probe DNA1 is formed. The liquid penetrates from the pad 32 and adheres to the slide glass 104.

Although the injection part 11 and the opening 31 are formed to have a circular cross section, the injection part 11 has a pitch P ₁ and the opening 31 has a pitch P _2.
Any shape may be used as long as they can be arranged, and may have a polygonal cross section such as a square or a triangle. Needless to say, the same spotting head may have a mixture of openings 11 and 31 having a plurality of cross-sections of different shapes, or the injection part 11 and the opening 31 which communicate with each other have cross-sections of different shapes. But it is good.

Here, the passage formed by the injection portion 11, the intermediate passage portion 21, and the opening portion 31 is configured such that the diameter thereof gradually decreases from the injection portion 11 toward the opening portion 31. Alternatively, such a passage may be configured such that the passage is rapidly reduced to the same minute diameter as the opening 31 immediately in the vicinity of the injection portion 11 and then communicates with the opening 31 through an intermediate passage formed with a minute diameter. good.

In order to prevent the probe DNA 1 injected from each injection part 11 from being clogged in the intermediate passage 21, a resin having an absorbent property is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the injection part 11, the intermediate passage 21 and the opening 31. The member may be coated so that the injected probe DNA 1 is guided to the opening 31. Alternatively, a string-shaped absorbent resin member may be inserted from each injection part 11 to the opening 31. Alternatively, without providing such a resin member, a pressure may be applied to each injection portion 11 after the injection of the probe DNA 1 so that the probe DNA 1 can surely reach the opening 31.

The spotting head is made of, for example, a photo-curing resin (for example, a UV-curing resin that cures when irradiated with UV (ultraviolet)) when irradiated with a specific light, Produced by the method. Since the spotting head as one embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, a DNA chip is manufactured as follows. That is, in each spotting head, first, a different probe DNA is applied to each of the injection portions 11 by a dispenser (not shown).
1 is dispensed, and each spotting head is filled with a predetermined probe DNA1. Then slide glass 1
1 is placed below a predetermined spotting head as shown in FIG. 1B, and then the spotting head is lowered to a predetermined position by a moving mechanism (not shown) so that each of the pads 32 at the tip end is brought into contact with the slide glass 104. by contact, a plurality (here 25 pieces) is attached to slide 104 DNA1 at a predetermined pitch P _2. Thus, for example, of the dot (probe DNA) 1 arranged at a pitch P ₂ shown in FIG. 2, those shown by filled circles it is first spotted.

Thereafter, when a different kind of probe DNA 1 is spotted than the first spotting, the slide glass 104 is moved below another spotting head, and the dot 1 (FIG. The dot 1 indicated by a double circle is spotted so as to be adjacent to the dot 1) indicated by a solid circle in FIG. Then, since a large number of probes DNA1 as shown in FIG. 2 by repeating such operations it is possible to manufacture a DNA chip arranged at a predetermined pitch P _2.

[0031] In this spotting head in a single spotting, so can be attached to the slide 104 the probe DNA1 a minute pitch P _2, pins conventional lined with a large pitch P ₁ than the pitch P ₂ The number of dots that can be spotted in a unit area can be increased as compared with the spotting head. This makes it possible to increase the number of dots 1 that can be attached to the slide glass 104 by one spotting operation.
When a chip is manufactured, it is a matter of course that there is an advantage that a DNA chip can be manufactured with a smaller number of times of spotting and a manufacturing time can be reduced as compared with a conventional spotting head.

Further, since the spotting pin is not used, the step of cleaning the pin is not required, which also has the advantage that the spotting operation can be performed efficiently. Furthermore, since the cleaning step is eliminated, there is an advantage that the operation failure in this step can be eliminated as a matter of course. In addition, since the probe DNA 1 is absorbed and held by the pad 32 and the outflow of the probe DNA 1 from the spotting head is regulated, there is an advantage that the probe DNA 1 can be stably spotted on the slide glass.

As described above, in the conventional spotting head, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the sequence of the probe DNA 1 housed in the injection portion 105a of the microtiter plate 105 and the slide glass 104 Is different from the probe DNA (dot) 1 at
A system for analyzing how the probe DNAs 1 are arranged on the slide glass 104 and a time were required. In this spotting head, a new spotting is repeated adjacent to the previous spotting area to produce a DNA chip. That is,
In the past, spotting was repeated with spotting areas crossed, whereas spotting with the present spotting head was repeated without crossing spotting areas. Probe DN
A1 can be sequentially deposited.

Further, in the present spotting head, since the arrangement of the injection part 11 and the arrangement of the opening 31 coincide as described above, the arrangement of the probe DNA (dot) 1 on the slide glass 104 is particularly analyzed. Can be easily confirmed without the need. Therefore, in the present spotting head, since a system and time for analyzing the arrangement of the probe DNA 1 are not required, there is an advantage that the system can be simplified and the work time required for manufacturing can be shortened. .

Furthermore, in the prior art, by spotting head shifting fine pitch P ₂ with respect to the previous spotting (spotting head fine feed with) fabricating the DNA chip is repeatedly to spotting. In contrast, with this spotting head, a new probe DNA is located adjacent to the previous spotting area.
The slide glass 104 may be positioned with respect to the spotting head so that 1 is spotted. That is, since the slide glass 104 may be shifted by a relatively large feed length according to the number of rows or columns of the openings 31 provided in the spotting head, the positioning becomes easier than before, and Therefore, there is an advantage that the work time required for spotting can be reduced.

Further, in contrast to the conventional method in which the pitch of the dots 1 is determined by moving the pins, in the present spotting head, the pitch of the dots 1 deposited on the slide glass 104 by one spotting is structurally different. , The dot 1 can be attached at an accurate pitch. In addition, since a pin for spotting is not used unlike the related art, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to adjust the atmosphere around the spotting head so that the probe DNA attached to the pin does not dry.

Further, the injection unit 11 is arranged at the same pitch P ₁ and the pitch of the accommodating portion 105a of the microtiter plate 105 shown in FIG. 5 (b) which is commonly used conventionally, thereby, The probe D is prepared by using a commercially available dispenser for a microtiter plate.
There is an advantage that NA1 can be dispensed into the injection part 11.

The spotting head is manufactured by a photolithography method using a photocurable resin as described above. The stereolithography method uses a U
V is scanned on the UV curable resin to form a layer of a predetermined shape, and the layers are laminated to form a solid of a predetermined shape. As in the present spotting head, it is very difficult to manufacture a molded article having irregularly shaped holes in which the shape of the inlet (injection portion) 11 and the shape of the outlet (opening) 31 are different by machining such as drilling. However, there is an advantage that it can be easily manufactured by manufacturing by using an optical molding method using a photocurable resin as a material.

Further, with a simple configuration in which the pad 32 is simply inserted into each of the openings 31, the probe DNA 1 is not unnecessarily dropped onto the slide glass 104 when the spotting head is separated from the slide glass 104. In a state where the spotting head is in contact with the slide glass 104, there is an advantage that the probe DNA 1 penetrating the pad 32 can be attached to the slide glass 104.

The spotting head according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the test solution attachment mechanism that regulates the outflow of the probe DNA 1 injected into the spotting head is configured by inserting the pad 32 into each opening 31. Probe D injected
The test solution adhering mechanism may be configured by setting the opening area of each opening 31 very small so that the outflow of NA1 can be regulated. In this case, the liquid surface of the probe DNA 1 projecting downward from the horizontal plane of each opening 31 (that is, the lower surface of the lower head portion 30) abuts on the slide glass 104 at the spotting height, and thereby the probe DNA
1 can be attached to the slide glass 104.

The outflow of the probe DNA 1 by the small opening area of each opening 31 is controlled by the inclination angle of each intermediate passage 21 and the cross-sectional area of each intermediate passage 21 (= cutting of the flow path through which the probe DNA 1 flows). Area) and each intermediate passage 21
The opening area of each opening 31 is appropriately determined in consideration of such factors as the inner wall surface roughness and the properties (for example, absorptivity) of the material forming the inner wall surface of each intermediate passage 21.

In this case, since the pad 32 is not required, there is an advantage that the mechanism for applying the test solution can be configured more easily. In the above-described embodiment, each of the spotting heads is provided with a relatively small number of sets of the injection unit 11, the intermediate passage 21, and the opening 31, and a plurality of such spotting heads are used. (One time each) to complete one DNA chip by performing spotting. However, a large number (for example, thousands to tens of thousands) of injection units 11, intermediate passages 21, and openings 31 are provided. One DNA chip may be completed by one spotting of one spotting head.

In the above embodiment, the injection section 11
The intermediate passage 21 and the opening 31 are respectively
Although arranged in an eye shape, for example, the concentric
You may arrange so that it may provide several steps. Also, the above embodiment
In the state, the pitch (first pitch) of the injection part 11
Pitch P₁However, the first pitch is a uniform pitch
You don't have to. Similarly, the pitch of the opening 31 (the second pitch)
H) equal pitch P _TwoHowever, the second pitch is
The pitch need not be equal.

In any case, the injection part 11 and the intermediate passage 2
1, the arrangement and number of the openings 31 are appropriately determined according to design conditions. Further, spotting head of the invention, a relatively wide pitch probe DNA injected from a plurality of injection portion 11 disposed in P ₁ (test solution) 1
And as long as the structure of attaching a pitch P ₂ glass slides (test plates) 104 through an opening 31 arranged at a small pitch P ₂ than the pitch P ₁ communicates with each of these injection part 11 well, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the head 50 substantially the same shape platelike the microtiter plate 105 has a plurality of recesses (injection portion) 51 arranged at a pitch P _1, communicates with the recesses 51 together it may be composed of the plate-shaped lower head portion 60 and having a plurality of openings 61 arranged at a pitch P _2.

Further, the spotting head of the present invention
Not only for the production of DNA chips, but also
The present invention is applicable as long as it spots a test plate at a pitch.

[0046]

As described in detail above, according to the spotting head of the present invention (claim 1), the test solution injected from the plurality of injection portions arranged at the first pitch in the upper head portion can be used. Since the test plate is supplied to the test plate from the plurality of openings arranged in the lower head portion at a second pitch smaller than one pitch, a small second
Since a large number of test solutions can be attached to the test plate at the pitch, there is an advantage that the spotting operation can be performed efficiently and the operation time for spotting can be greatly reduced.

As described above, by repeating spotting adjacent to the area spotted in the previous step (spotting area), the positional relationship between the spotting head and the test plate can be relatively set for each spotting. There is also an advantage that the positioning between the spotting head and the test plate is facilitated because the displacement can be made with a large feed amount.

Further, compared with the case where the pitch of the spotting is defined by moving the pin as in the related art,
In the present spotting head, since the pitch of the test solution deposited on the test plate by one spotting is structurally fixed, there is also an advantage that the test solution can be deposited on the test plate at a precise pitch.

Further, since no pin for spotting is used, it is not necessary to adjust the atmosphere around the spotting head so that the pin to which the test liquid is adhered does not dry as in the prior art. There is also the advantage that it can be made easier. In addition, there is no need to clean the pins for each spotting, which also has the advantage that the spotting operation can be performed efficiently.

Further, since the test solution can be adhered to the test plate by controlling the outflow of the test solution from the opening by the test solution attaching mechanism, there is an advantage that spotting can be stably performed ( Claim 2). Further, by forming the test solution attaching mechanism with a pad attached to each of the plurality of openings and absorbing and holding the test solution, a simple configuration similar to the spotting head according to the above-described claim 2 is provided. There is an advantage that an effect can be obtained (claim 3).

The test solution deposition mechanism is tested by using the inclination angle of each intermediate passage, the sectional area of each intermediate passage, the roughness of the inner wall surface of each intermediate passage, the material forming the inner wall surface of each intermediate passage, and the like. By forming the opening with a minute size so that the outflow of the solution can be regulated, there is an advantage that the same effect as that of the spotting head according to the above-described claim 2 can be obtained with a simpler configuration. Item 4).

By repeating spotting adjacent to the spotting area in the previous process,
Since the spotting areas of different processes do not overlap, by aligning the arrangement of the plurality of injection parts and the arrangement of the plurality of openings, the arrangement of the test solution on the test plate can be easily confirmed, As a result, there is an advantage that time for analyzing the sequence of the test solution on the test plate becomes unnecessary, and the operation time can be shortened (claim 5).

Further, by providing a resin member for absorbing the test solution in each of the intermediate passages, there is an advantage that the test solution can reliably reach the opening. . Further, there is an advantage that the production can be easily performed by using a photocurable resin for each material of the upper head portion, the intermediate head portion, and the lower head portion (claim 7).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a spotting head as one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) is a schematic plan view,
(B) is a schematic longitudinal sectional view according to a side view [X in (a).
-X sectional view], (c) is a schematic YY sectional view of (b) [however, the pad (test solution attaching mechanism) 32 is not shown).

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a spotting method using a spotting head as one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a probe D on a slide glass (test plate).
It is a schematic plan view which shows a part of arrangement | sequence of NA.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing a configuration of a modified example of the spotting head as one embodiment of the present invention, partially cut away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a configuration of a conventional spotting head, where (a) is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the entire spotting head, and (b) and (c) are further than (a). It is a typical perspective view of the pin tip shown enlarged.

5A and 5B are views for explaining a spotting method using a conventional spotting head, wherein FIG. 5A is a schematic plan view showing a part of a probe DNA sequence on a slide glass, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a part of the sequence of a probe DNA on a plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Probe DNA (test solution) 10 Upper head part 11,11a-11y Injection part 20 Intermediate head part 21,21a-21y Intermediate passage 30 Lower head part 31,31a-31y Opening part 32 Pad (test solution adhesion mechanism) 51 Concave part (injection portion) 61 opening P ₁ pin pitch (first pitch) P _2-pin pitch (second pitch)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G01N 33/566 C12N 15/00 A F-term (Reference) 2G042 AA01 BD19 CA10 CB03 EA20 FA20 2G058 AA09 CC02 CC09 EA03 EA11 EB19 4B024 AA19 CA01 CA09 CA11 HA14 4B029 AA07 AA23 BB15 BB20 FA01 FA11 FA12

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An upper head portion provided with a plurality of injection portions which are arranged at a predetermined first pitch and into which different types of test solutions are injected, and disposed below the upper head portion, wherein the first pitch portion is provided below the upper head portion. A lower head portion having a plurality of openings arranged at a smaller second pitch, and a plurality of the plurality of injection portions of the upper head portion communicating with the plurality of the opening portions of the lower head portion, respectively. A spotting head comprising an intermediate head having an intermediate passage. 2. A test solution adhering mechanism for adhering said test solution to a test plate while restricting outflow of said test solution from said plurality of openings. The spotting head according to 1. 3. The spotting head according to claim 2, wherein said test solution applying mechanism is constituted by a pad attached to each of said plurality of openings to absorb and hold said test solution. 4. The test solution adhering mechanism includes an inclination angle of each intermediate passage, a cross-sectional area of each intermediate passage, an inner wall surface roughness of each intermediate passage, a material forming an inner wall surface of each intermediate passage, and the like. 3. The spotting head according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings are minutely formed so that outflow of the test solution can be regulated by utilizing the plurality of openings. 5. The arrangement of the plurality of injection portions and the arrangement of the plurality of openings coincide with each other.
The spotting head according to any one of Items 4 to 4. 6. The spotting head according to claim 1, wherein a resin member for absorbing the test solution is provided in each of the plurality of intermediate passages. 7. The spotting head according to claim 1, wherein each material of said upper head portion, said intermediate head portion and said lower head portion is a photocurable resin.