APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PROBE CARRIER
First Claim
1. An apparatus for producing a probe carrier comprising:
- a plurality of chambers, including at least a probe imparting chamber, the probe imparting chamber comprising;
a support device for supporting a carrier;
a liquid ejection head for imparting a plurality of solutions to predetermined positions on the carrier, the plurality of solutions containing probes capable of specifically binding to target substances;
a scan device for scanning the liquid ejection head relative to the support device; and
a chamber for maintaining an environment containing the liquid ejection head at a humidity of 60% or more,wherein the liquid ejection head comprises a plurality of reservoirs and a plurality of liquid ejection nozzles,wherein the plurality of reservoirs accommodate a plurality of probe solutions containing probes specifically binding to the target substances,wherein the plurality of liquid ejection nozzles are those for receiving a supply of the probe solutions from the plurality of reservoirs and imparting droplets of the probe solutions onto the predetermined positions on the carrier,wherein at least the support device and the liquid ejection head are installed in the environment where the humidity can be maintained at 60% or more before imparting the droplets of the probe solutions and the humidity is maintained at 60% or more while imparting the droplets, andwherein the chamber has an opening for inserting the carrier into the chamber; and
means for transporting the carrier,wherein the chambers are arranged around the transport means, andwherein the transport means transports the carrier for insertion into and removal from the chambers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for producing a probe carrier in which ambient humidity for a plurality of nozzles of a liquid ejection device for ejecting droplets of solutions containing probes to the surface of a carrier is controlled to 50% or more, preferably 60% or more. A part of solution supply passages to the plurality of nozzles is constructed from gas permeable membranes permitting gas-liquid separation under reduced pressure. These gas permeable membrane portions are gathered and altogether placed under reduced pressure to remove air bubbles from the respective solutions supplied to the plural nozzles and decrease the amount of a dissolved gas, which causes air bubbles to be generated.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An apparatus for producing a probe carrier comprising:
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a plurality of chambers, including at least a probe imparting chamber, the probe imparting chamber comprising; a support device for supporting a carrier; a liquid ejection head for imparting a plurality of solutions to predetermined positions on the carrier, the plurality of solutions containing probes capable of specifically binding to target substances; a scan device for scanning the liquid ejection head relative to the support device; and a chamber for maintaining an environment containing the liquid ejection head at a humidity of 60% or more, wherein the liquid ejection head comprises a plurality of reservoirs and a plurality of liquid ejection nozzles, wherein the plurality of reservoirs accommodate a plurality of probe solutions containing probes specifically binding to the target substances, wherein the plurality of liquid ejection nozzles are those for receiving a supply of the probe solutions from the plurality of reservoirs and imparting droplets of the probe solutions onto the predetermined positions on the carrier, wherein at least the support device and the liquid ejection head are installed in the environment where the humidity can be maintained at 60% or more before imparting the droplets of the probe solutions and the humidity is maintained at 60% or more while imparting the droplets, and wherein the chamber has an opening for inserting the carrier into the chamber; and means for transporting the carrier, wherein the chambers are arranged around the transport means, and wherein the transport means transports the carrier for insertion into and removal from the chambers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification