Liquid discharge apparatus for producing probe carrier, apparatus for producing probe carrier and method for producing probe carrier

• US 6,830,621 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hirosawa, Toshiaki, Udagawa, Kenta
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Laura
• Application Number:
  US10/105,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20020153435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 118/313, 118/315, 422/99, 422/100, 422/103, 436/180, 101/366, 222/265, 222/266, 239/548, 239/555, 239/556, 427/421, 347/40, 347/43, 347/12
• US Class Current: 118/313
• 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 2219/0036 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00378 Piezoelectric or ink jet dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00529 DNA chips
• 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 2219/00612 the surface being inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00626 Covalent
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00637 by coating it with another layer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00702 Processes involving means for analysing and characterising the products
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/06 Libraries containing nucleotides or polynucleotides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 40/10 Libraries containing peptides or polypeptides, or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C40B 60/14 : for creating libraries
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/1069 : by adjusting the spacing between multiple probes of a single transferring head
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/1067 : for transfer to or from containers having different spacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 : Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A liquid discharge apparatus for producing a probe carrier, having a configuration capable of supplying a discharge unit with plural probe solutions without increasing the dimensions of the apparatus, as well as a method and apparatus for producing the probe carrier utilizing such liquid discharge apparatus. The arrangement pitch of the supply openings to liquid holding portions from plural liquid discharging portions (which are provided in the liquid discharge apparatus and respectively correspond to the plural probes) is set to be larger than the arrangement pitch of nozzle openings, thereby increasing the freedom in designing the position and capacity of the liquid holding portions for holding the probe solutions.

Claims

1. A liquid discharge apparatus for individually discharging probe liquids containing mutually different probes and producing a probe carrier bearing probes of plural kinds capable of specifically combining with a target substance and fixed in different positions on a carrier, the apparatus comprising:

a member having a pair of mutually opposed faces; and

a liquid discharging portion, the number of which corresponds to the number of kinds of said probes, including;

1) a liquid holding portion for holding the probe liquid;

2) a supply opening for supplying the probe liquid to said liquid holding portion;

3) a liquid discharging nozzle for discharging the probe liquid; and

4) a flow path connecting said nozzle with said liquid holding portion,

wherein a nozzle opening arrangement face, in which a plurality of openings of nozzles are arranged, is provided on one of the pair of mutually opposed faces of said member, a supply opening arrangement face, in which a plurality of liquid supply openings to said liquid holding portion are arranged, is provided on the other face of said member, and said flow path of each liquid discharging portion is provided as a path that passes through said member,

wherein said member having said pair of mutually opposed faces has a laminated structure composed of a first plate-shaped member in which said nozzles are formed, and a second plate-shaped member in which said plurality of liquid supply opening are formed at a predetermined pitch of arrangement, and

wherein the pitch of arrangement of the supply openings in said supply opening arrangement face is larger than the pitch of arrangement of the openings of the nozzles in said nozzle opening arrangement face.

2. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid holding portion is formed in said second plate-shaped member.

3. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said liquid holding portions are formed in said second plate-shaped member.

4. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plural nozzle openings are formed along a straight line or over vertical and lateral directions.

5. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said liquid holding portion is formed as a through hole penetrating said second plate-shaped member, an end of said through hole constitutes a connecting portion with said nozzle, and the other end constitutes an open end constituting said supply opening.

6. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said through hole is formed by a photolithographic process.

7. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the face bearing said supply openings is water repellent, in the periphery of each opening.

8. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the face bearing said supplying openings is provided with a groove communicating with each opening.

9. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a liquid discharge energy generating element for liquid discharge from each of said nozzles.

10. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said liquid discharge energy generating element is a heater element for generating thermal energy to heat said probe solution thereby inducing film boiling therein and causing the resulting pressure to discharge the liquid from said discharge opening.

11. The liquid discharge apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said liquid discharging portion is provided with such a configuration that a bubble is generated in the probe solution at the discharge thereof from said nozzle by the activation of said heater element and said generated bubble communicates with the external air through said nozzle.

12. An apparatus for individually discharging probe liquids containing mutually different probes and producing a probe carrier bearing probes of plural kinds capable of specifically combining with a target substance and fixed in different positions on a carrier, the apparatus comprising:

A) a liquid discharge apparatus including;

a member having a pair of mutually opposed faces; and

a liquid discharging portion, the number of which corresponds to the number of kinds of said probes, provided with;

1) a liquid holding portion for holding a the probe liquid;

2) a supply opening for supplying said liquid to the probe liquid holding portion;

3) a liquid discharging nozzle for discharging the probe liquid; and

4) a flow path connecting said nozzle with said liquid holding portion,

wherein a nozzle opening arrangement face, in which a plurality of openings of nozzles are arranged, is provided on one of the pair of mutually opposed faces of said member, and a supply opening arrangement face in which a plurality of liquid supply openings to said liquid holding portion are arranged, is provided on the other face of said member, and said flow path of each liquid discharging portion is provided as a path that passes through said member,

wherein said member having said pair of mutually opposed faces has a laminated structure composed of a first plate-shaped member in which said nozzles are formed, and a second plate-shaped member in which said plurality of liquid supply opening are formed at a predetermined pitch of arrangement, and

wherein the pitch of arrangement of the supply openings in said supply opening arrangement face is larger than the pitch of arrangement of the openings of the nozzles in said nozzle opening arrangement face; and

B) aligning means for aligning the relative position of said carrier and said liquid discharge apparatus.

13. A method for producing a probe carrier bearing probes of plural kinds capable of specifically combining with a target substance and fixed in different positions on a carrier, the method comprising:

A) a step of preparing a liquid discharge apparatus for individually discharging probe liquids containing mutually different probes, the apparatus including;

a member having a pair of mutually opposed faces; and

a liquid discharging portion, the number of which corresponds to at least the number of kinds of the probes, provided with

1) a liquid holding portion for holding the probe liquid;

2) a supply opening for supplying the probe liquid to said liquid holding portion;

3) a liquid discharging nozzle for discharging the probe liquid; and

4) a flow path connecting said nozzle with said liquid holding portion,

wherein a nozzle opening arrangement face, in which a plurality of openings of nozzles are arranged, is provided on one of the pair of mutually opposed faces of said member, a supply opening arrangement face, in which a plurality of liquid supply openings to said liquid holding portion are arranged, is provided on the other face of said member, and said flow path of each liquid discharging portion is provided as a path that passes through said member,

wherein said member having said pair of mutually opposed faces has a laminated structure composed of a first plate-shaped member in which said nozzles are formed, and a second plate-shaped member in which said plurality of liquid supply opening are formed at a predetermined pitch of arrangement, and

wherein the pitch of arrangement of the supply openings in said supply opening arrangement face is larger than the pitch of arrangement of the openings of the nozzles in said nozzle opening arrangement face; and

B) a step of discharging said liquid containing said probe onto the different positions on said carrier from said liquid discharge apparatus.