JP2009047613A - Bio-printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bio-printer capable of easily setting shape data for the shape of an object to be printed and position data for the position of a spot on the object to be printed, and of displaying images indicating the object to be printed and the position of the spot on the object in the display of a controller based on this data. <P>SOLUTION: The controller 1 includes a function section for reading data files described with data description language and forms image information based on the shape data for the shape of the object described in the data files by an image forming function and the position data for the spot on the object. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bioprinter apparatus, and relates to a technique for producing a biochip (microarray) such as a DNA chip, a protein chip, or a cell chip by spotting a plurality of samples on each spot portion of a microarray by a spotter, an arrayer, or the like. is there.

A conventional microarray is obtained by spotting (dropping) a sample such as DNA on a substrate such as a slide glass at about 1500 to 15000 places on the nanoliter order.
As a prior art related to this type of microarray fabrication apparatus, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. In this method, different samples are stored in each of a plurality of wells of a microtiter plate, and each sample is spotted on each spot on the substrate by a dispensing device. A combination is formed to produce a microarray.

  The principle of this type of microarray fabrication apparatus is illustrated in FIG. Here, different samples 103 are stored in the respective wells 102 of the microtiter plate 101, and the dispensing head 104 includes a plurality of nozzles 105.

  The sample 103 in each well 102 is simultaneously sucked by the dispensing head 104 and spotted on each spot 107 while moving the dispensing head 104 on a substrate 106 such as a slide glass.

  The spot portion 107 is set in a matrix on the substrate 106, and the dispensing head 104 moves between the microtiter plate 101 and the substrate 106, and moves in the vertical Z direction. It moves in the X and Y directions along the arrangement direction.

  By the way, in the control of such a bioprinter device (spotter, arrayer), for example, when controlling a spotter to execute a spot at a predetermined spot position, a control command is displayed on the screen for each spot operation. Some input line by line.

  This control command needs to be specified by inputting numerical values of three-dimensional coordinates (X, Y, Z) for the sample collection operation from each well of the microtiter plate and the spot operation on the substrate.

  However, the creation of a program for designating a spot pattern in this way is very difficult and complicated. For this reason, it is difficult for an operator of the apparatus to manufacture a microarray by programming an original spot pattern from the beginning, and it is common to use a spot pattern prepared in advance by an apparatus developer.

  For example, in Patent Document 2, a well position designation image indicating the position of a well of a microtiter plate and a spot position designation image indicating a spot position on the surface of the substrate are displayed, and the designated well position and spot are displayed. An index display image in which the well position index and the spot position index representing the positions are associated with each other is displayed.

  This index display image displays well position indices in a row and displays spot position indices in a row next to the well position indices. For example, in the case of a 96-well microtiter plate, the well position designation image is composed of an array (a total of 96) in which 8 squares and 12 circles are arranged vertically and 12 horizontally. The spot position designation image shows an array of 96 spot positions on the substrate.

For each image described above, the CPU reads out drawing data (image data, CG data, etc.) recorded in advance in the recording unit, performs processing on the memory, and transmits it to a video memory (not shown) in the video unit. The video part converts it into a video signal corresponding to the display part and outputs it, so that it is displayed on the display part.
JP-A-2005-134166 JP 2006-71571 A

  By the way, as a substrate of a printing object, there are a slide glass, a silicon substrate, a plastic plate, and the like, and there are a slide glass having no depression and a microwell slide in which wells are formed. There are various types of microwell slides with 12, 24, 50, 570, 1040, 1512, etc., and drawing data (image data, CG data, etc.) of position designation images for all of them is prepared in advance. It was difficult to store in the recording unit of the CPU.

  In addition, spotters, arrayers, and the like perform spot operations on the assumption that spot positions and well positions are arranged in a grid. For this reason, the spot positions cannot be arranged in a non-grid shape, for example, a triangle shape or a circular shape, and a plurality of spot positions cannot be set on the bottom surface of one well. Furthermore, the spot position cannot be set in an arbitrary pattern on a flat glass slide whose well position has not been determined in advance, and cannot be directly spotted on a print object that is not assumed in advance, such as a petri dish. It was. For this reason, in the field of cell arrays, after spotting a reagent on a slide glass, the slide glass is placed in a petri dish and cells are seeded and cultured from there, but this is a laborious operation.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and shape data related to the shape of the print object and position data related to the position of the spot portion on the print object can be easily set. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bioprinter apparatus that can display a print object and an image indicating the position of a spot on the print object on the display unit of the control device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the bioprinter device of the present invention includes a spotter device that spots a sample on a spot portion set on a print object, and a control device that controls the spotter device. A functional circuit installed as a program has a file reading function unit and an operation function unit, and the file reading function unit reads a data file described in a data description language, and shapes data related to the shape of a print target and a print target. The position data relating to the position of the spot part on the object is taken in, and the operation function part operates the spotter device based on the shape data of the print object and the position data of the spot part.

  In addition, the control device has an image display device, and in a functional circuit mounted as a control program, has an image generation function unit and a print operation setting function unit, and the image generation function unit is a print object described in the data file. The image of the print object corresponding to the print object and the image of the spot mark corresponding to the spot part are generated based on the shape data and the position data of the spot part and displayed on the image display device. The spot portion corresponding to the target spot mark arbitrarily selected from the spot marks displayed on the image display device is set as the target spot portion, and the operation function unit operates the spotter device to spot the sample on the target spot portion. Features.

  The file reading function unit reads a data file described in a data description language, and obtains shape data related to a microtiter plate to be aspirated with a sample and position data related to the position of a well on the microtiter plate. The capture and print operation setting function unit sets a well selected arbitrarily from the wells of the microtiter plate as the target well, and the operation function unit sets the spotter device based on the shape data of the microtiter plate and the position data of the wells. Operate and aspirate the reagent from the target well.

  The print operation setting function unit writes the position data of the target spot part and the position data of the target well in a command file that describes the operation procedure related to the print operation in the data description language, and the file read function part is in the data description language. It is characterized in that the described command file is read to generate a sequence related to the print operation.

  With the configuration described above, the control device has a file reading function unit that reads the data file described in the data description language, so even if the print object is not recorded in the control device in advance, the shape related to the shape of the print object. The data and position data related to the position of the spot on the print object can be easily described as a data file using a data description language. By reading this data file, the shape of the print object and the print The absolute position of the spot portion on the object can be easily set.

  For this reason, it is no longer necessary to previously create a spot pattern that defines the positions of all spot portions in the control program as a program, and the operator of the apparatus can be placed on a print object having an arbitrary shape as long as the shape falls within a predetermined range. However, it is possible to easily set a unique spot pattern simply by describing data without complicated operations.

  As a result, the print target is not limited to a plate-like object such as a slide glass, but can also be used for a culture well plate or a petri dish with the number of wells of 2, 6, 24, and a plurality of spot portions are formed on the bottom surface of each well. Can be set.

This also applies to the microtiter plate, and the sample can be sucked from a microtiter plate that is not recorded in advance in the control device.
In addition, by recording the position data related to the position of the target spot portion corresponding to the spot mark on the print object and the position data of the target well on the microtiter plate in a command file in a data description language, the bioprinter The operation procedure relating to the print operation once created by the apparatus can be easily output as a command file recorded in a data description language. For this reason, it is possible to easily reuse the command file, change it by directly editing the file, or use it in another bioprinter apparatus. At this time, commands related to printing operations such as sample suction, printing, and washing can also be recorded in the command file in a data description language.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The bioprinter device according to the present embodiment is a spotter or arrayer, and is a spotting device for biomicroarray that spots a sample on each spot portion of the microarray, and a biochip (microarray) such as a DNA chip, protein chip, cell chip, etc. Is produced. However, it can be used for applications other than those described below.
[overall structure]
As shown in FIG. 1, the bioprinter device according to the present embodiment supplies a control device 1 composed of a control personal computer (PC), a spotter device 2 constituting the device body, and a driving air pressure to the spotter device 2. It consists of a compressor 3, the control device 1 is connected to the spotter device 2 via a signal cable 4, and the compressor 3 is connected to the spotter device 2 via an air tube 5.
[Configuration of spotter device]
Inside the spotter device 2, an XYZ drive robot 7, a drain tank 8, and a washing water tank 9 are arranged around a stage portion 6 that forms a microarray manufacturing chamber.

  In the present embodiment, the first print area 6a and the second print area 6b of the stage unit 6 are portions on which the slide glass 10 and the culture well plate 11 to be printed are placed, and the slide glass 10 is a holding plate. In FIG. 12, a plurality of sheets are arranged. A microtiter plate 13 for storing a sample is installed in the sample plate area 6c of the stage unit 6.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the holding plate 12 has the same external shape as the microtiter plate whose shape is defined as a standard, and here, the four glass slides 10 are detachably held in place, A plurality of spot portions 10 a are set on the slide glass 10.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the culture well plate 11 has a plurality of wells 11a forming spot portions, has a shape defined as a standard, and the position of each well 11a in the culture well plate 11 is determined as a standard. Yes. As shown in FIG. 5, the microtiter plate 13 has a plurality of wells 13a, has a shape defined as a standard, and the position of each well 13a in the microtiter plate 13 is determined as a standard.

  In the present embodiment, a slide glass 10 and a culture well plate 11 are installed in the first print area 6a and the second print area 6b of the stage unit 6 as print objects. However, in the present invention, it is also possible to use a petri dish or the like as the print object and spot directly on the petri dish. In this case, a jig for installing the petri dish at a predetermined position of the stage unit 6 is used. When a non-standard petri dish or the like is used as such a print target, its shape data and spot portion position data are described in a data file (XML file) as described later.

A cleaning tank 15 is disposed on the stage unit 6, and the cleaning tank 15 includes a cleaning unit, a drainage unit, and a drying unit.
The XYZ drive robot 7 is composed of an XYZ three-axis motion robot, and moves the print head 18 to each position of the slide glass 10, culture well plate 11, microtiter plate 13, etc. installed on the stage unit 6. The print head 18 is provided with nozzles 19.

The washing water tank 9 stores distilled water for nozzle cleaning, and the drainage tank 8 stores the wastewater after washing.
As shown in the piping path of FIG. 2, the bioprinter device of the present embodiment includes a pressure bottle 22 that uses the compressor 3 as an air source. The pressure bottle 22 is disposed on the outer upper portion of the spotter device 2, and distilled water is stored in the pressure bottle 22. The pressure bottle 22 has a gas layer portion communicating with an air source and a liquid layer portion communicating with a switching valve 25. A pressurizing bottle 22 and a suction pump 26 are connected to the switching valve 25, and the switching valve 25 is connected to the nozzle 19 via the micro electromagnetic valve 21.
[Operation of spotter device]
In the spotter device 2, the print head 18 moves three-dimensionally within the operation area by driving the XYZ drive robot 7. The print head 18 sucks the sample from the well 13 a of the microtiter plate 13 of the stage unit 6 through the nozzle 19, spots the sample on the spot part of the slide glass 10 or the culture well plate 11, and the slide glass 10 or the culture well plate 11. A sample is printed in a predetermined pattern on top.
(Normal suction operation)
When a sample is aspirated, the aspiration pump 26 is connected to the nozzle 19 by switching the switching valve 25, the nozzle 19 is inserted into the well 13a of the microtiter plate 13, and the sample stored in the well 13a is aspirated. The pump 26 is driven to suck into the nozzle 19.
(Normal discharge operation)
When the sample is discharged (spotted), the switching valve 25 is switched to connect the pressurized bottle 22 storing distilled water and the nozzle 19. The compressor 3 is used as an air source to pressurize the air layer portion of the pressure bottle 22, and the pressure applied in the pressure bottle 22 is converted to a water pressure to obtain a driving pressure for discharging the sample. The sample is ejected (spotted) through 19 and printed.
(Nozzle cleaning operation)
The print head 18 is moved to the washing tank 15 by driving the XYZ driving robot 7 and the outside of the nozzle 19 is washed with distilled water supplied from the washing water tank 9. Further, in a state where the first pressure bottle 22 storing distilled water and the nozzle 19 are connected, the distilled water is passed to wash the inside of the nozzle 19, and the washing waste water is transferred from the washing tank 15 to the washing water tank 9. Drain.
[Configuration of control device]
The control device 1 has an image display device 31, and a control program is installed in the main body. The control program forms a functional circuit on an electronic circuit such as a CPU and a memory of the control device 1. The functional circuit includes various functional units. Here, an outline of the function of each functional unit will be described, and details of each functional unit will be described later.

  The functional circuit of the control device 1 has a file reading function unit for reading a data file (XML file) described in a data description language, and there are various data description languages, but here, conforming to the XML format. is doing.

  The image generation function unit generates an image of the print object corresponding to the slide glass 10 and the culture well plate 11 as the print object, and an image of a spot mark corresponding to the spot part on the slide glass 10 and the culture well plate 11. Then, image information for displaying on the image display device 31 and displaying character data or the like on the image display device 31 is formed. Further, image information for displaying an image of the microtiter plate corresponding to the microtiter plate 13 and character data on the image display device 31 is formed.

  These pieces of image information are data file (XML file) data registered in advance in a storage device such as a memory, that is, shape data relating to a print object such as the slide glass 10 and the culture well plate 11, and the print object. These are formed based on position data relating to the position of the spot portion, shape data relating to the microtiter plate 13, position data relating to the position of the well on the microtiter plate 13, and the like.

  The pre-registered data file (XML file) includes a plurality of types of slide glass 10 having different numbers of wells, shape data of the culture well plate 11, position data relating to the position of the spot portion, and a plurality of types of micros having different numbers of wells. The shape data of the titer plate 13 and the position data relating to the position of the well 13a are described.

  However, even a print target that has not been registered in the data file (XML file) in advance can be easily input and registered from outside by describing and reading the data in the data file (XML file). A data file (XML file) can be created in the personal computer of the control device 1 or in another personal computer by describing it in a data description language (XML format). At this time, by describing in the data description language, even if the print object is not recorded in the control device 1 in advance, the shape data relating to the shape of the print object and the position of the spot portion on the print object It is possible to easily describe the position data according to the above, and it is possible to easily set the shape of the print object and the position of the spot portion on the print object in the control device 1 by reading this data file (XML file). it can.

  For this reason, even if a spot pattern that defines the positions of all spot portions on the print object is not created in advance as a program in the control program, any shape on the print object can be used as long as it is within a predetermined range. In addition, the operator of the apparatus can easily set a unique spot pattern by describing simple data without complicated operations. The data file (XML file) can be read by online downloading or can be read from a recording medium.

  The print operation setting function unit sets a spot portion corresponding to a target spot mark arbitrarily selected from the spot marks in the image information such as the image of the print target displayed on the image display device 31 as a target spot portion, and performs a print operation. The position data of the target spot portion is written in a command file (XML file) describing the operation procedure according to the above in a data description language. In addition, the well 13a to be selected in the microtiter plate 13 is set as a target well, and the position data of the target well is written in a command file (XML file). The file reading function unit reads a command file (XML file) and generates a sequence related to the printing operation.

  The operation function unit for operating the spotter device 2 includes shape data such as the slide glass 10, the culture well plate 11 and the microtiter plate 13 described in the data file (XML file), each position data of the spot portion, and each position of the well 13a. Based on the data, the XYZ driving robot 7 of the spotter device 2 is operated to suck the sample from the well 13a that forms the target well of the microtiter plate 13, and the print object corresponding to the spot mark of the print pattern, for example, the slide glass 10 Spot the sample on the target spot above.

Here, a data file (XML file) and a command file (XML file) are exemplified below.
(Example 1. Data file (XML file))
This is an example in which the spot position is described as an absolute position, and shows a case where a spot portion of 8 circular points is set on a spot object having a horizontal width of 1400 and a vertical length of 1400 installed at a left position = 300 and an upper position = 300.
<Stage>
<Shapes>
<Rectangle name = "" leftx = "300" topy = "300" width = "1400" height = "1400"/>
</ Shapes>
<Grids>
<Grid name = "1" x = "1000" y = "500">
<Grid name = "2" x = "646" y = "646">
<Grid name = "3" x = "1353" y = "646">
<Grid name = "4" x = "500" y = "1000">
<Grid name = "5" x = "1000" y = "1500">
<Grid name = "6" x = "646" y = "1353">
<Grid name = "7" x = "1353" y = "1353">
<Grid name = "8" x = "1000" y = "1500">
</ Grids>
</ Stage>
(Example 2. Data file (XML file))
Two spot objects having a width of 25500 and a height of 76200 are installed, and the absolute positions of the four corners (top, left, right, bottom) of the array spot area of each spot object and the spot portions are arrayed in the area (20 , 52).
<Stage>
<Shapes>
<Rectangle name = "" leftx = "5500" topy = "4900" width = "25500" height = "76200"/>
<Rectangle name = “” leftx = ”36300” topy = “4900” width = “25500” height = “76200” />
</ Shapes>
<Grids>
<Grid name = """gridwidth=" 20 "gridweight =" 52 "leftx =" 7500 "topy =" 6600 "rightx =" 28400 "
bottom = “62700”>
<Grid name = “” gridwidth = “20” gridweight = “52” leftx = “38300” topy = “6600” rightx = “59200” bottom = “62700”>
</ Grids>
</ Stage>
(Example 3. Command file (XML file))
An example describing a cleaning operation, a suction operation, and a three-point spot operation will be shown.
<Commands>
<Wash time = "10"/>
<Sip locationx = "30000" location = "35000"/>
<Printabs absx = "1090" absy = "10080"/>
<Printabs absx = "2190" absy = "10080"/>
<Printabs absx = "1090" absy = "11180"/>
</ Commands>
[Operation of control device]
When the control device 1 is turned on and the control program is started, an operation screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the image display device 31. The operation screen is composed of a main screen and a sub screen.

The main screen includes an automatic print screen, a manual print screen, and a stage configuration screen. As shown in FIG. 7, an automatic print tag 51, a manual print tag 52, and a stage configuration tag 55 are set for each.
(Automatic printing)
The automatic print screen for selecting and displaying the automatic print tag 51 indicates the current state of the unit. The buttons for executing the initialization, cleaning and printing commands are the initialization button 56, the cleaning button 58, and the start. / Resume button 59 is set.

When the initialization button 56 is selected and an initialization command is executed, all commands and screens are initialized as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the file is selected from the menu bar, and the command file (XML file) selected from the previously registered command file (XML file) is opened, as shown in FIG. The file name is displayed in the execution file name column 61, the selected command file (XML file) is read to generate a sequence, and the details are displayed in the execution range column 62 and the execution progress column 63.

When the start / resume button 59 is selected and a print command is executed, the sequence displayed in the execution progress column 63 is sequentially executed. At this time, when the interrupt button 64 is selected, the execution process is temporarily interrupted, and when the start / resume button 59 is selected, the interrupted sequence is resumed.
(Stage structure)
On the stage configuration screen for selecting and displaying the stage configuration tag 55, the configuration of the stage unit 6 is displayed as an image as shown in FIG. A data file (XML file) in which the reference button 65 in the print area 1 is selected and shape data relating to a plurality of types of culture well plates 11 and slide glasses 10 having different numbers of wells and position data relating to the position of the spot portion are described. Specifies the data file (XML file) of the print object to be set in the first print area 6a. The data file (XML file) displayed on the selection screen includes a data file (XML file) input by the operator.

Next, the reference button 66 of the print area 2 is selected, and the data file (XML file) of the print object to be installed in the second print area 6b is designated in the same manner.
Next, the reference button 67 in the MTP arrangement area is selected, and a data file (XML file) in which shape data relating to a plurality of types of microtiter plates 13 having different numbers of wells and position data relating to the position of the well 13a are described. The data file (XML file) of the microtiter plate 13 to be installed in the sample plate area 6c is designated from the inside.

  The file reading function unit reads the specified data file (XML file), and the image generation function unit reads the shape data related to the print object described in the specified data file (XML file) and the print object. Based on the position data relating to the position of the spot portion, the shape data relating to the microtiter plate 13, the position data relating to the position of the well on the microtiter plate 13, etc. Image information for displaying the image of the print object corresponding to the plate 11 and the like, the image of the spot mark corresponding to the spot portion on the slide glass 10 and the culture well plate 11, character data, and the like on the image display device 31 is formed. In addition, microtiter plate 1 Images of the corresponding microtiter plate, to form an image information for displaying the character data or the like to the image display device 31, and displays the image.

Here, the case where the slide glass 10 is installed in both the 1st print area 6a and the 2nd print area 6b is illustrated.
(Manual print)
On the manual print screen for selecting and displaying the manual print tag 52, images of the slide glass 10, culture well plate 11, and microtiter plate 13 arranged on the stage unit 6 are displayed as shown in FIG. Here, the case where the slide glass 10 is installed in both the 1st print area 6a and the 2nd print area 6b is illustrated.

When the screen enlargement button 68 is selected, the screen is zoomed up as shown in FIG. When the screen enlargement button 68 is further selected, the screen is zoomed up as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, in the image information displayed on the image display device 31, the target well on the microtiter plate 13 is selected and designated as a target well from among the wells 13 a of the microtiter plate 13. Is set as XY coordinates on the suction position setting screen 73 of the sub screen, the print operation setting function unit writes the position data of the target well into a command file (XML file) in a data description language and displays it on the print coordinate screen 74. To do.

  Next, when the pointer is moved on the image of the print object 70 corresponding to the slide glass 10 and the target spot mark 72 is arbitrarily selected from the spot marks 71 corresponding to the spot portion 10a, the print operation setting function unit The position data of the XYZ coordinates of the spot portion 10a that forms the target spot portion corresponding to the selected target spot mark 72 is written in the command file (XML file) in the data description language and displayed on the print coordinate screen 74.

  The above-described operation is repeated to set a desired print pattern. At this time, for example, by selecting a target well that is different from that at the time of the first operation at the time of the second operation and selecting the same spot mark 71 as the target spot mark 72 at the time of the first operation, the same spot portion 10a is selected. It is possible to set a print pattern in which a plurality of samples are spotted on top of each other.

  The operation function unit for operating the spotter device 2 operates the spotter device based on the shape data of the slide glass 10, the culture well plate 11, and the microtiter plate 13, and aspirates the sample from the target well of the microtiter plate 13. A sample is spotted on a spot portion 10 a that forms a target spot portion corresponding to the spot mark 72.

  By the way, in the present invention, a plurality of spot portions 11b can be set on the bottom surface of the same well 11a of the culture well plate 11 as illustrated as a 6-well culture well plate in FIG.

  In the previous embodiment, the data file (XML file) describes the positions of the print object and the microtiter plate in the print area and the sample plate area. The absolute position within the operating range of the XYZ drive robot 7 of the apparatus may be described.

  In the previous embodiment, the shape of the spot object and the position of the spot portion are set in the data file (XML file), but in addition to this, a movement prohibited area (such as a convex wall on the print object) Area with obstacles) and operation-related conditions (ejection conditions such as ejection pressure and time for each print object or spot portion, nozzle height) may be described.

  The operation function unit operates the spot device based on the shape data of the print object and the position data of the spot part, but if there is movement prohibited area data, the nozzle is raised so that the nozzle does not hit the obstacle in that area. In order to avoid obstacles three-dimensionally, if there is motion-related condition data, an operation is performed to spot under individual conditions.

  Furthermore, by setting the shape data of parts on spot devices such as washing tanks and drainage tanks in a data file (XML file), by making the parts arrangement on the spotter device recognized from these data, the spotter operation is performed. Even when the arrangement of the print area and parts is changed in accordance with the scale of the apparatus and the operation environment, it is possible to flexibly cope with it.

  In the previous embodiment, the spotter device is configured to spot without contact with the spot object. However, the spotter device may be a contact type in which the nozzle contacts the spot object and spots.

Schematic diagram showing a bioprinter device in an embodiment of the present invention Schematic showing the main part of the bioprinter device Schematic showing the slide glass in the same embodiment Schematic diagram showing the culture well plate in the same embodiment Schematic showing the microtiter plate in the same embodiment Operation screen displayed on the image display device of the control device Operation screen displayed on the image display device of the control device Operation screen displayed on the image display device of the control device Operation screen displayed on the image display device of the control device Operation screen displayed on the image display device of the control device Operation screen displayed on the image display device of the control device The schematic diagram which shows the culture well plate in other embodiment Schematic diagram showing another conventional spot procedure

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control apparatus 2 Spotter apparatus 3 Compressor 4 Signal cable 5 Air tube 6 Stage part 6a 1st print area 6b 2nd print area 6c Sample plate area 7 XYZ drive robot 8 Drain tank 9 Washing water tank 10 Slide glass 10a Spot part 11 Culture Well plate 11a Well 11b Spot portion 12 Holding plate 13 Microtiter plate 13a Well 15 Washing tank 18 Print head 19 Nozzle 21 Micro solenoid valve 22 Pressure bottle 25 Switching valve 26 Suction pump 31 Image display device 51 Automatic print tag 52 Manual print Tag 55 Stage configuration tag 56 Initialization button 58 Cleaning button 59 Start / Resume button 61 Execution file name column 62 Execution range column 63 Execution progress column 64 Stop button 65, 66, 67 Reference button 68 Screen enlargement button 70 Virtual print object 71 Virtual spot part 72 Spot mark 73 Suction position setting screen 74 Print coordinate screen

Claims (4)

A spotter device for spotting a sample on a spot portion set on a print object, and a control device for controlling the spotter device,
The control device has a file reading function unit and an operation function unit in a functional circuit mounted as a control program,
The file reading function unit reads a data file described in a data description language, takes in shape data related to the shape of the print object and position data related to the position of the spot portion on the print object,
An operation function unit operates a spotter device based on shape data of an object to be printed and position data of a spot part. The control device has an image display device, and in a functional circuit mounted as a control program, has an image generation function unit and a print operation setting function unit,
The image generation function unit generates a print object image corresponding to the print object and a spot mark image corresponding to the spot part based on the shape data of the print object described in the data file and the position data of the spot part. Displayed on the image display device,
The print operation setting function unit sets a spot part corresponding to a target spot mark arbitrarily selected from spot marks displayed on the image display device as a target spot part,
2. The bioprinter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation function unit operates the spotter device to spot the sample on the target spot portion. The file reading function unit reads a data file described in a data description language, takes in shape data related to a microtiter plate to be aspirated with a sample, and position data related to the position of a well on the microtiter plate,
The print operation setting function unit sets a well arbitrarily selected from the wells of the microtiter plate as a target well,
3. The bioprinter apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operation function unit operates the spotter device based on the shape data of the microtiter plate and the position data of the well, and sucks the reagent from the target well.   The print operation setting function unit writes the position data of the target spot part and the position data of the target well in a command file that describes the operation procedure related to the print operation in the data description language, and the file read function part is described in the data description language. The bioprinter apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a sequence related to a printing operation is generated by reading a command file.

Images