JP2004020239A - Multiple-solutions spotting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multiple-solutions spotting apparatus that eliminates the need for the replacement of solution tanks, the cleaning of nozzles, or the like by integrating the nozzles, a discharge mechanism, and the solution tanks and at the same time by preparing the integrated injection equipment by the number of solutions. <P>SOLUTION: In the multiple-solutions spotting apparatus, the injection equipment is formed in one piece by the nozzle, a solution hausing section, and the discharge mechanism, and a plurality of pieces of injection equipment are detachably fitted to a carrier member. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for spotting a multi-species solution on a solid phase, which can be used for, for example, determination of a base sequence of a nucleic acid in a biotechnology field or detection of a target nucleic acid in a sample using an ink jet technique.
[0002]
[Prior art]
One of the techniques that can rapidly and accurately determine the base sequence of a nucleic acid, detect a target nucleic acid in a sample, and identify various bacteria includes, for example, a substance capable of specifically binding to the target nucleic acid, a so-called probe. The use of a large number of probe arrays arranged above has been proposed. In producing such a probe array, it is preferable to arrange as many kinds of probes as possible on a solid phase. For this reason, a technique of spotting a probe using an ink jet ejection technique has been proposed.
However, in the conventional ink jet ejection technology, the nozzle portion 10 and the ejection mechanism portion 11 have a fixed relationship as shown in FIG. 2, and the solution tank 12 is shared by a plurality of nozzles. Often.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For this reason, when about 10,000 different solutions are spotted on the substrate 13 as in the case of a probe array, there is a problem that the solution tank needs to be replaced, and cleaning of the nozzles takes a lot of trouble. Was.
[0004]
The present invention provides a multi-solution spotting device that integrates a nozzle, a discharge mechanism, and a solution tank, and prepares the integrated spraying device by the number of solutions, thereby eliminating the need for replacing the solution tank and cleaning the nozzle. The purpose is to provide.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a multi-solution spotting apparatus of the present invention is configured such that an injection device is integrally formed with a nozzle, a solution storage section, and a discharge mechanism, and a plurality of the injection devices are detachably mounted on a transport member. It is characterized by the following.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment according to the present invention.
The injection device 1 includes a nozzle 2, a solution storage unit 3, and a discharge mechanism 4.
As the discharge mechanism 4, a drop-on-demand method in which a solution is made to fly as a droplet at a suitable time by a known piezo method, heat conversion method, electrostatic force method, or the like is used.
The ejection mechanism 4 includes an electrode 8, and receives power supply from an electrode 9 on the power supply side to which power is supplied from a power supply 10.
The ejection device 1 is configured to be detachably mounted in a cartridge manner on a transport member 5 such as a carrier sheet. Then, a required number of injection devices 1 are prepared in accordance with the type of the solution, and the solution storage units 3 of the individual injection devices are filled with the solution in advance by a solution filling device (not shown).
[0007]
On the other hand, a substrate 6 on which a solution is to be spotted is placed on a stage unit 7 that can be moved in the x, y, and z-axis directions by a movable mechanism. The transfer member 5 and the stage unit 7 are arranged to face each other, and the transfer member 5 is equipped with a large number of ejection devices 1 with the nozzles 2 facing the substrate 6 as shown in FIG.
[0008]
When the solution is spotted on the upper surface of the substrate 6, for example, the stage unit 7 is driven to align the jetting device 1 filled with the solution a with the substrate 6 in the x, y, and z directions. At that time, the ejection mechanism 4 of the ejection device 1 filled with the solution a is driven to spot the solution a from the nozzle 2 toward the substrate 6. Next, the transporting member 5 is operated as shown by the arrow to move the ejection device 1 filled with the solution b to a predetermined position on the upper surface of the substrate 6, and the ejection mechanism 4 of the ejection device is operated to transfer the solution b. Spotting. Thus, by sequentially performing this operation, a desired solution can be spotted at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the substrate 6.
FIG. 1 shows a state in which the solution is injected from the injection device 1 filled with the solution d.
[0009]
In the above, by operating the transport member 5 and the stage unit 7 in conjunction with each other, the alignment between the ejection device 1 and the substrate 6 is facilitated.
In addition, if the transport member 5 is formed of a flexible member such as a carrier sheet and is formed in an endless shape, for example, in an arc shape, and the stage unit 7 is arranged along the arc-shaped transport member, the production is improved. The efficiency of the process can be improved.
[0010]
Furthermore, if the pitch of the attachment for detachably mounting the ejection device 1 in the form of a cartridge on the transport member 5 is set to the same pitch as the pitch of the solution spotting, for example, the solution can be ejected from a plurality of ejection devices 1 at the same time. Work efficiency is improved.
In addition, if the pitch of the fixture is configured to be variable, it is possible to flexibly cope with various operations.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, for example, spotting of as many as 10,000 kinds of solutions can be made possible.
Further, at this time, a great effect is exhibited such that the replacement of the solution tank and the cleaning of the nozzle are not required.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram for describing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a conventional technique.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Injection device 2 Nozzle 3 Solution storage part 4 Discharge mechanism 5 Transport member 6 Substrate 7 Stage unit 8 Electrode on injection device side 9 Electrode on power supply side 10 Power supply

Claims (1)

A multi-type solution spotting apparatus characterized in that an injection device is integrally formed with a nozzle, a solution storage section, and a discharge mechanism, and a plurality of the injection devices are detachably mounted on a transport member.

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