Micro array manufacturing apparatus

• US 6,605,257 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Riken, THK Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Riken, THK Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakazawa, Touji, Hayashizaki, Yoshihide, Tashiro, Hideo, Iimura, Akihiro, Kitsunai, Tokuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gordon, Brian R
• Application Number:
  US09/634,875
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 422/100, 422/63, 422/68.1, 422/102, 422/104, 422/99, 436/180, 436/54, 738/633.2, 738/64, 738/640.1, 738/640.2, 738/641.1, 738/641.2, 738/641.4, 738/641.8, 738/642.4, 738/642.5, 738/643.1, 738/649.1, 141/21
• US Class Current: 506/40
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00364 Pipettes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00369 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00376 in multiple or parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00387 Applications using probes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00533 essentially rectangular
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0059 Sequential processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00605 the compounds being directly bound or immobilised to solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00608 DNA chips
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00677 Ex-situ synthesis followed by deposition on the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00686 Automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00689 using computers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00691 using robots
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0244 using pins
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0251 Pin and ring type or pin in tube type dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0255 : characterized by the form or material of the pin tip
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1037 : Using surface tension, e.g. pins or wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A present micro array manufacturing apparatus includes a substrate placement portion 11 on which a plurality of substrates can be arranged, a tighter plate 12 for storing a solution including a living body sample, a solution storing member 52 for taking in the solution from the tighter plate 12 and storing the solution therein, and a needle 51 which can be inserted into the solution storing member 52 to allow the solution stored in the solution storing member 52 to adhere onto each of the substrates by a given quantity, wherein the solution storing member 52 and needle 51 are moved in directions where they approach and part away from the substrates to thereby form spots on the substrates. And, the individual operations of the solution storing member 52 and needle 51 are carried out by single drive means 32.

Claims

1. A micro array manufacturing apparatus, comprising:

a working table on which a plurality of substrates can be arranged;

a first solution storing portion for storing a solution including a living body sample;

hold means for taking in said solution from said first solution storing portion to form the spot of said solution on each of said substrates;

moving means for supporting said hold means and moving said hold means in directions where said hold means approaches and goes away from said substrates; and

delivery means for supporting said moving means and delivering it in an area including said working table and said first solution storing portion to thereby give it two-dimensional coordinates;

wherein said hold means is made up of a second solution storing portion for storing said solution and a needle insertable into said second solution storing portion to allow said solution stored in said second solution storing portion to adhere onto the needle, thereby allowing said hold means to form said solution spot on each of said substrates in a given quantity;

wherein said moving means includes a support portion to be delivered by said delivery means, a first movable member capable of mounting said second solution storing portion thereon and said second solution storing portion mounted in such a manner that it can be moved with respect to said support portion in given directions where it approaches and parts away from said substrates, a second movable member capable of mounting said needle thereon and mounted so as to be movable in said given directions with respect to said first movable member, and drive means for driving said second movable member; and

;

wherein said first movable member is driven in linking with said second movable member to be driven by said drive means.

2. A micro array manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a deformation of a leading end of said needle is minimized or restricted as it comes into contact with said substrate.

3. A micro array manufacturing apparatus, comprising:

a working table on which a plurality of substrates are arranged;

a first solution storing portion for storing a solution including a living body sample;

hold means for taking in said solution from said first solution storing portion to form the spot of said solution on each of said substrates;

moving means for supporting said hold means and moving said hold means in directions where it approaches and goes away from said substrates; and

delivery means for supporting said moving means and delivering said moving means in an area including said working table and first said solution storing portion to provide two-dimension coordinates;

wherein said hold means includes a second solution storing portion for storing said solution and a needle insertable into said second solution storing portion to allow said solution stored in said second solution storing portion to adhere onto the needle thereby allowing said hold means to form said solution spot on each of said substrates by a given quantity; and

wherein said moving means includes a base portion to be delivered by said delivery means, a first movable member capable of mounting said second solution storing portion thereon and said second solution storing portion mounted so as to be movable with respect to said base portion in given directions where it approaches and goes away from said substrates, a first restrict member for restricting the movement of said first movable member in one direction with respect to said base portion, a second movable member capable of mounting said needle thereon and mounted so as to be movable in said given directions with respect to said first movable member, a second restrict member for restricting the movement of said first movable member in the other direction opposite to said one direction with respect to said first movable member, and drive means for driving said second movable member.

4. A micro array manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein a deformation of a leading end of said needle is minimized or restricted as it comes into contact with said substrate.

9. A micro array manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said needle includes a slit for holding said solution therein.

5. A micro array manufacturing apparatus, comprising:

a working table on which a plurality of substrates are arranged;

a first solution storing portion for storing a solution including a living body sample;

hold means for taking in said solution from said first solution storing portion to form a spot of said solution on each of said substrates;

moving means for supporting said hold means and moving said hold means in directions where said hold means approaches and goes away from said substrates; and

delivery means for supporting said moving means and delivering said moving means in an area including said working table and said first solution storing portion to provide two-dimensional coordinates;

wherein said hold means comprises a second solution storing portion for storing said solution and a needle insertable into said second solution storing portion to allow said solution stored in said second solution storing portion to adhere onto the needle, thereby allowing said hold means to form said solution spot on each of said substrates in a given quantity.

6. A micro array manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein a deformation of a leading end of said needle is minimized or restricted as it comes into contact with said substrate.

7. A micro array manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second solution storing portion includes a tapered interior space.

8. A micro array manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said needle includes a flat portion formed in a substrate side leading end portion thereof.

10. A micro array manufacturing apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further including washing means which pours a washing solution into an interior space of said second solution storing portion to thereby wash said interior space of said second solution storing portion.