JP3037691B1 - Liquid transfer member and liquid transfer device - Google Patents

Abstract

For example, when a DNA chip is manufactured, when forming a point where a reagent is transferred onto a base such as a slide glass, the concentration of the reagent at the point is made uniform to stabilize the shape. Increase the density of points. A transfer member (3) has a main body (3a) and a transfer surface (3b), and a taper portion (3c) is formed by connecting the two. A spiral member having one end connected to the transfer surface (3b) on the outer periphery of the main body (3a). Is formed. The transfer surface 3b to which the groove 4 is connected has a shape in which a circle which is a basic shape and a curve formed by a part of the groove 4 which is connected obliquely are combined. When the reagent held in the groove 4 is transferred to the substrate 1, the formed point 2 becomes an ellipse or an ellipse whose basic axis is the major axis. A transfer head B is configured by mounting a plurality of transfer members 3 side by side so as to be movable in the axial direction on the bracket 22.
Direction driving member 12, Y direction driving member 13, Z direction driving member 15
The reagent is three-dimensionally moved to collect the reagent from the container 5, transferred to the substrate 1, and cleaned by the cleaning device 6 and the ultrasonic cleaning device 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a transfer member for transferring a target liquid onto a substrate in the form of fine dots, and a transfer device using the transfer member, and more particularly, to a DNA (gene) chip. The present invention relates to a transfer member and a transfer device that are advantageously used in such a case.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, genes (DNA) have been used in the medical field.
Therapeutic treatments and medicines have been developed. A research institution in such a technical field handles a so-called DNA chip in which thousands to tens of thousands of copies of different chemically synthesized genes are attached to a substrate made of a glass plate, a synthetic resin plate, or the like as a sample.

[0003] The DNA chip is manufactured using an apparatus called an arrayer. Here, a schematic structure of the arrayer will be described. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the overall configuration of the apparatus, FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a first known example of a transfer member that transfers a reagent onto a substrate, and FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a second known example of a transfer member. is there.

[0004] In FIG. 7, an X rail 62 is provided on a work table 61 along the X direction. The X rail 62 has a Y rail 63 perpendicular to the X rail 62 (Y direction).
The Y rail 63 is configured to be driven by an X motor 62a to run on the X rail 62. Further, a carriage 64 is provided on the Y rail 63, and is configured to be driven by a Y motor 63a so as to be able to traverse along the Y rail 63. The carriage 64 is provided with a spouting head 65 having a transfer member 70 or a transfer member 80 described later. The spoiling head 65 is driven by an elevating motor 66 so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction (Z direction). It is configured. At a predetermined position of the work table 61, a container 67 containing a reagent is arranged, and a number of bases 68 are arranged.

Accordingly, the Z motor 66 is driven to raise the spouting head 65, and in this state, the X motor and the Y motor are driven synchronously to move the carriage 64 to reach the position of the container 67. Spoiling head 65
Is lowered to receive the reagent contained in the container 67, and thereafter, the spoiling head 65 is raised to move the carriage 64 to reach the base 68, and at this position the spawning head 65 is lowered to reach the base 68. The reagent can be transferred in the form of dots, and further, the spotting head 65 can be raised, moved by a predetermined pitch, and lowered to transfer the reagent in the form of dots.
And by repeating this work, several thousand pieces on the base 68
Tens of thousands of reagent points can be formed.

The transfer member 70 of the first known example provided on the spotting head 65 is formed in a pen shape having a slit 70a as shown in FIG. In the transfer member 70, as shown in FIG. 7A, the reagent penetrates into the slit 70a by being inserted into the container 67, and as shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), the reagent held in the slit 70a is transferred to the base 68 in a dot-like manner by moving the transfer member 70 up and down and repeatedly contacting and separating from the base 68 as shown in FIG. ing.

As shown in FIG. 9, the transfer member 80 of the second known example is configured to include a pin 80a for transferring a reagent and a ring-shaped holding member 80b for holding the reagent. In this transfer member 80, as shown in FIGS.
The reagent is held in the ring portion by inserting 80b into the container 67, and the base 68 is inserted as shown in FIGS.
After being moved upward, the pin 80a is moved up and down while maintaining the holding member 80b at a predetermined height, whereby the reagent held by the holding member 80b is transferred via the pin 80b.

In the first and second known examples,
When forming thousands to tens of thousands of points on the base 68, DNA
There are also prepared thousands to tens of thousands of samples. These samples are 1
Each sample is accommodated in a container 67 having 96 or 384 depressions.
After the transfer to the upper side, the worker is performing an operation of supplying a new container 67.

[0009]

The transfer member of the first known example is formed by a pen-shaped member having a linear slit. Therefore, when the transfer is performed by abutting the leading end surface of the transfer member against the base, the reagent held in the slit portion drops and the size of the dot becomes unstable,
Since the transfer member is formed in the shape of a pen, the outer dimensions of the transfer member are larger than the size of the point at the time of transfer,
There is also a problem that the number is limited when the transfer members are arranged in parallel. In addition, the amount of the reagent held in the slit is limited in order to suppress dropping, and the amount of the reagent to be transferred to several substrates is limited. For this reason, the number of times of reciprocating to the container and the number of times of cleaning the transfer member for collecting the reagent are increased, and the speed required for transfer is reduced.

The transfer member of the second known example is formed by a ring-shaped holding member and a pin. For this reason, when transferring the reagent to the substrate, a large force per unit area acts on the distal end surface of the transfer member in contact with the substrate, and the reagent attached to the distal end surface protrudes from between the substrate and a ring-shaped point. Is formed. The point having such a shape has a problem that the uniformity of the thickness of the reagent is impaired, and there is a possibility that accuracy may be impaired when the transferred point is subjected to a fluorescent treatment and used. In addition, there is a problem that the amount of the reagent held by the ring-shaped holding member is increased, and the reagent is wasted. Furthermore, when cleaning the holding member, there is a case where a problem arises in that the amount of the reagent removed from the holding member increases and the cleaning liquid is contaminated.

Although the pins themselves are thin, the outer shape of the holding member for holding the reagent becomes large, and there is a problem that the number is limited when the transfer members are arranged in parallel like the transfer members of the first known example. .

In particular, when forming a large number of points on a substrate,
Reducing the interval between the transferred reagent points and arranging as many transfer members as possible is effective in increasing the processing speed of the DNA chip and reducing costs, and the development of such transfer members is required. Have been.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid transfer member capable of transferring a reagent to a substrate with a uniform thickness and increasing the number of parallel liquids, and a liquid transfer device using the transfer member. To provide.

[0014]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a liquid transfer member according to the present invention is a liquid transfer member for transferring a liquid received from a storage member storing a target liquid onto a substrate. A main body having an axial shape, a transfer surface formed at the tip of the main body, and a groove spirally formed on an outer peripheral portion of the main body and having one end connected to the transfer surface. The liquid received from the storage member can be held in the groove.

In the transfer member, a transfer surface is formed at the tip of the shaft-shaped main body, and a spiral groove having one end connected to the transfer surface is formed in the outer peripheral portion. When the tip is inserted into the liquid storage member, the liquid is held in the groove formed on the outer periphery of the main body. When the transfer surface of the transfer member is brought into contact with the base, the liquid held in the groove is transferred to the base, so that a point made of the liquid can be formed on the base.

In particular, since the groove is formed in a spiral shape on the outer peripheral portion of the main body, even when the transfer member is reciprocated in the vertical direction, the adhesive force of the liquid to the groove is increased.
No dropping occurs.

In the transfer member, it is preferable that two grooves are formed at opposing portions on the outer peripheral portion of the main body, and that the shape of the transfer surface of the transfer member has centers at different positions. It consists of a combination of two arcs facing each other and an arc connecting these arcs, and may be configured so that the received liquid can be transferred onto the substrate in an elliptical or elliptical shape. More preferred.

In the transfer member, since two grooves are formed facing the outer peripheral portion of the main body, when the transfer surface of the transfer member is brought into contact with the base, the liquid held in the two grooves is removed. Since both sides of the transfer surface are respectively transferred to the substrate, a sufficient liquid can be transferred stably.

In particular, the liquid transferred from the two grooves to the substrate can be integrated on the substrate to form a point having a stable and uniform thickness. As described above, the liquid is transferred from the two grooves, and the transferred liquid is integrated on the base, so that the formed point is an ellipse or an ellipse. Since the formed points have uniform points, sufficient reliability can be obtained at points having smaller dimensions than the conventional points, so that the points are formed closer to each other in the short axis direction. You can do it. For this reason, it is possible to make the intervals between the points that can be formed on the substrate closer, and it is possible to increase the density and effectively use the area of the substrate.

Further, since the transfer members are constituted only by the shaft-shaped main bodies, even if many transfer members are arranged close to each other, they do not interfere with each other. Therefore, a larger number can be arranged in parallel even if the size is the same as that of the conventional transfer member.

Further, the transfer apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a work table in which an area for arranging a substrate onto which a liquid is to be transferred and an area for installing a storage member for storing the target liquid; And a moving means for moving a carriage selectively provided within the area set in the work table, and an elevating means for separating or approaching the transfer member with respect to the work table.

In the above-described transfer device, the carriage provided with the transfer member is moved by the moving means into the area set on the work table, and is separated and approached from the work table by the elevating means. Reaching and lowering the position of the container arranged on the work table, collecting the reagent by the transfer member at this position, then raising the transfer member to reach the position of the base, and further lowering the transfer member The contact allows the reagent to be transferred onto the substrate in a dot-like manner.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the above-described transfer member and transfer device will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transfer member. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the shape of a transferred point. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating a transfer member attached to a bracket. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of the transfer device. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where a reagent is collected by a transfer member and transferred to a substrate. FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the distribution state of the reagent transferred to the substrate.

Prior to the description of the transfer member and the transfer device according to the present invention, the distribution state of points 2 where the reagent has been transferred on the substrate 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The base 1 is formed by selectively using a plastic plate or a glass plate, and generally uses a slide glass. As an example of transferring a reagent to the substrate 1, 2500 is placed at a pitch of about 0.2 mm in a 10 mm square area.
Points 2 are formed and 2 × 6 of the area are created to obtain 1
There are cases where 30,000 points 2 are formed on one substrate 1.

The pitch of the points 2 and the number of the points 2 formed on one substrate 1 are not limited to the above-mentioned values. .

The liquids forming the point 2 have different characteristics, and in order to form 30,000 points 2, 3
0000 types of samples are required. Thus, since each point 2 has a different character, if it is mixed with another adjacent point 2, the value as a sample is lost. Therefore, it is essential that each point 2 is transferred independently of each other.

The base 1 is provided with two reference points O (reference points O) at two predetermined positions. This reference point O is used to detect the exact position of each substrate 1 before starting the transfer of the liquid to the substrate 1 or to perform a predetermined process on the substrate 1 after the predetermined transfer is completed in the next step. This is for detecting the exact position of each substrate 1 when performing the above.

Therefore, when the base 1 on which the reference point O is formed in advance is used, when the transfer to the base 1 is started, an area where the base 1 is arranged is photographed by, for example, a CCD camera, or the base 1 is arranged. By scanning the proximity switch in the area, the accurate position of the substrate 1 arranged in the area is detected and stored in the control device. In the transfer, the position of each substrate 1 is read out to perform highly accurate transfer. It is possible to realize. Therefore, it is possible to form the point 2 on the base 1 with the reference point O as a reference.

Before starting the transfer of the reagent to the base 1, a reference point O is formed on the base 1 arranged on the work table, and thereafter, the point 2 is formed by transferring the reagent. No matter where the point 2 is formed with respect to the base 1, the base 2 maintains a certain relation to the reference point O, and after transferring the base 1 on which the transfer of the reagent has been completed to the next step, When performing the predetermined processing in the next step, it is possible to use the reference point O formed on the base 1 when positioning each base 1 or detecting the current position. .

Next, the structure of the transfer member according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, (a) is a diagram for explaining the transfer member according to the first embodiment, and (b) is a diagram for explaining the second member.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a transfer member according to an embodiment.

First, the structure of the transfer member 3 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The transfer member 3 has a shaft-shaped main body 3a and a transfer surface 3b provided at an end of the main body 3a. A single groove 4 is formed in a spiral shape on the outer periphery of the main body 3a. I have.

The main body 3a has a thickness enough to withstand the force acting when it comes into contact with the base 1, and the transfer surface 3b has a size suitable for forming the point 2. ing.
That is, the thickness of the main body portion 3a is not limited, and may be any thickness as long as it has a thickness necessary to withstand the compressive stress and buckling acting during the transfer of the reagent. When a point 2 having a shape of a circle and a size of 0.2 mm is formed, the diameter of the transfer surface 3b may be about 0.15 mm.

Accordingly, the thickness of the main body 3a is configured to be sufficiently larger than the diameter of the transfer surface 3b, and the main body 3a and the transfer surface 3b are connected by the tapered portion 3c. However, the taper angle of the tapered portion 3c is not particularly limited. When the strength of the transfer member 3 is considered mainly, the taper angle is preferably strong.

The groove 4 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the main body 3a including the tapered portion 3c, and functions to collect and hold the reagent when the tip of the transfer member 3 is immersed in the reagent.
Has the function of replenishing the reagents.

The groove 4 has one end connected to the transfer surface 3b. For this reason, on the transfer surface 3b, the groove 4 is connected to the outer periphery of the circle which is the basic shape of the transfer surface 3b, and the outer periphery of the transfer surface 3b is formed into a circle having a predetermined diameter. Are formed in a shape combined in an arc shape.

The groove 4 is spirally formed on the outer periphery of the main body 3a. The lead and twist angle of the spiral are not particularly limited. However, when the lead becomes large and the twist angle becomes small, there occurs a problem that the reagent held in the groove 4 easily falls off due to inertia when the transfer member 3 is reciprocated in the vertical direction when performing the transfer. . In the experiment of the present inventor, favorable results were obtained when the twist angle of the groove 4 was in the range of about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees. In particular, more favorable results are obtained by selecting the twist angle in accordance with the viscosity of the reagent.

The length, width and depth of the groove 4 are not particularly limited. That is, it is possible to set the volume of the groove 4 by setting the dimensions of the groove 4. For this reason, the transfer is performed by setting the length of the groove 4 in accordance with the amount of the reagent to be held and setting the twist angle, width and depth of the groove 4 in accordance with the fluid property of the reagent. It is possible to set a groove 4 that can optimally hold a reagent to be used and can hold a required amount of reagent.

In this embodiment, the main body 3 of the transfer member 3
When a is 1 mm in diameter, the groove 4 is formed as a circular arc-shaped groove having a width of 0.3 mm and a standard length of 5 mm.
is set to mm.

The transfer member 3 shown in FIG. 3B has two grooves 4 formed in opposing portions on the outer peripheral portion of the main body 3a including the tapered portion 3c. In the transfer member 3, since two grooves 4 are connected to opposing portions of the transfer surface 3b, the shape of the transfer surface 3b is a shape obtained by combining a basic circle and a pair of arcs facing each other. Become.

Since the transfer member 3 according to the present embodiment is obtained by simply doubling the number of the grooves 4 in the transfer member 3 according to the first embodiment, the amount of the reagent that can be held is doubled, and It is possible to form a number of points 2. Further, when transferring the reagent held in the groove 4 to the base 1, the reagent held in the opposing portion of the transfer surface 3 b is supplied to the base 1 in a state where the reagent is sufficiently supplied from both side surfaces to the center portion of the transfer surface 3 b. Since the transfer is performed, it is possible to form a point 2 having a stable shape, and it is possible to secure a stable transfer amount.

In the following description, it is assumed that the transfer member 3 has two grooves 4 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the main body 3a including the tapered portion 3c according to the second embodiment.

Here, the shape of the point 2 formed on the base 1 by the transfer member 3 and the point formed by a circular pin having the same diameter as that of the transfer member 3 will be compared and described with reference to FIG. 2A is a diagram of the transfer member 3 as viewed from the front, FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the shape of a point 2 transferred by the transfer member 3, and FIG. Member 3
It is a diagram of a circular pin which is the basic shape of
FIG. 4D is a diagram in which a point transferred by a circular pin and a point 2 transferred by the transfer member 3 are superimposed.

FIG. 7A is a front view of the transfer surface 3b.
The figure including the dotted line portion is the shape of the point formed by the transfer. As shown in the drawing, the point formed by the transfer member 3 has a portion corresponding to the pair of grooves 4 smaller than the base circular arc, and has a shape approximate to an ellipse or an oval.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, a point 2 formed on the base 1 corresponds to the groove 4 although a portion corresponding to the diameter of the transfer surface 3b has the size of the transfer surface 3b. The portion becomes smaller than the diameter of the transfer surface 3b. Therefore, groove 4
When the dimension between adjacent points 2 in the direction in which is formed is a fixed value, it is possible to make the pitch of the points 2 fine. This means that the number of points 2 that can be formed by the transfer member 3 in the same area is larger than in the related art, and that the formation density of the points 2 can be increased.

The procedure for transferring the reagent to the substrate 1 by the transfer member 3 to form the point 2 will be described. The transfer surface 3b holding the reagent in each groove 4 formed in the transfer member 3 is
The reagent is transferred from each groove 4 in accordance with this contact, points corresponding to each groove are formed, and at the same time, the reagent on the surface of the transfer surface 3b is transferred. For this reason, the reagents transferred corresponding to the respective grooves 4 are quickly integrated through the wet surface of the base 1 by the transfer surface 3b to form the point 2 without maintaining an independent state.

FIG. 7C is a front view of a transfer surface of a circular pin. When transferring reagents with such pins,
The transferred reagent has a ring shape with an extremely thin central portion. Even when this point is not considered, the point formed on the substrate is a circle having a diameter larger than the diameter of the transfer surface.

Therefore, as shown by the dotted line in FIG.
When a large number of points are arranged side by side, assuming that the dimension between these points is constant, the pitch of each point is the same in any direction, and is set substantially uniquely by the diameter of the transfer surface.

As described above, by using the transfer member 3 according to the present embodiment, regardless of the number of points 2 to be formed, a stable transfer amount and a stable shape can be obtained after the reagent is once collected. The point 2 can be formed, and the density of the formed point 2 can be increased.

Next, a transfer device A according to the present embodiment and a transfer head B constituted by a plurality of transfer members 3 will be described. 3 to 5, the transfer device A includes a work table 11, an X-direction drive member 12 installed in the X direction of the work table 11, and an X-direction drive member 12 installed in the Y direction of the work table 11. A Y-direction driving member 13 driven in the X direction by driving the carriage 14, a carriage 14 driven by the Y-direction driving member 13 and traversing in the Y direction, and a transfer head B provided on the carriage 14 and including a plurality of transfer members 3 , And a Z-direction drive member 15 for driving the Z-axis in the vertical direction.

The position of the work table 11 is specified in advance in accordance with the XY orthogonal coordinate system, and an area 11a for installing many substrates 1 and an area for installing containers 3 containing reagents.
11b, an area for installing the cleaning device 6 for supplying a fluid prior to cleaning the transfer head B to remove the remaining reagent 11
c, areas 11a to 11d having different functions, such as an area 11d for installing the ultrasonic cleaning device 7, are set.

The structure of the work table 11 is not particularly limited, and may be configured as a movable cart or a non-movable frame.

In the area 11a set in the work table 11, the base 1 made of a slide glass is arranged. When arranging the bases 1, the bases 1 may be arranged directly on the area 11 a of the work table 11. However, a tray (not shown) configured to be attached to the area 11a of the work table 11 by a positioning method such as a pin or a screw is arranged, and the tray can be arranged in, for example, 6 × 8 rows and columns. Is preferred.

A container 5 containing a reagent is set in the area 11b. As the container 5, for example, a so-called microplate having an 8 × 12 conical depression formed on its surface is used, and each depression contains reagents having different characteristics.

The cleaning device 6 installed in the area 11c is for removing the reagent remaining in the groove 4 of each transfer member 3 provided in the transfer head B when a series of transfer by the transfer head B is completed. It is configured to be able to eject a fluid such as water or air.

As the ultrasonic cleaning device 7 installed in the area 11d, an ultrasonic cleaning device used for general cleaning is used.

The X-direction driving member 12 is connected to the Y-direction driving member 13
The transfer head B is moved along the work table 11
Has the function of moving to the range in the X direction of all of the work areas 11a to 11d set in. Therefore, the X-direction driving member 12 is not particularly limited as long as it satisfies the above function, and is not particularly limited.

In this embodiment, a ball screw is arranged along the X direction, a Y direction driving member 13 is attached to a ball nut screwed to the ball screw, and the ball screw can be driven by a servo motor. .

The Y-direction driving member 13 has a function of causing the carriage 14 to traverse in the Y-direction and moving the transfer head B to the Y-direction range of all the work areas 11a to 11d set on the work table 11. It is. Therefore, the Y-direction driving member 13 is not particularly limited as long as it satisfies the function described above.

In this embodiment, a ball screw is arranged along the Y direction, the ball screw is mounted on a ball nut of the X-direction drive member 12, a carriage 14 is mounted on the ball nut screwed onto the ball screw, and a servo motor is used. The ball screw is configured to be driven.

The Z-direction drive member 15 is provided on the carriage 14 and has a function of moving the transfer head B up and down. Accordingly, the configuration of the Z-direction drive member 15 is not limited as long as the above-described function can be satisfied.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, a ball screw 15a disposed along the Z direction
It comprises a ball nut 15b screwed into the ball screw 15a and a servomotor 15c for driving the ball screw 15. The transfer head B is formed on the ball nut 15b.

In the transfer apparatus A configured as described above, X
By driving the X direction driving member 12 and the Y direction driving member 13 installed along the Y direction in synchronization with each other,
The (transfer head B) can be moved to each of the work areas 11a to 11d set on the work table 11. Then, after moving the transfer head B to the desired areas 11a to 11d, the Z-direction drive member 15 is driven, so that the transfer head B is moved.
Can be brought closer to any one of the base 1, the container 5, the cleaning device 6, and the ultrasonic cleaning device 7 installed in the regions 11a to 11d to perform the target operation.

The transfer head B holds a plurality of transfer members 3 in parallel and, in this state, opposes the target base 1, and then transfers the transfer member 3 by bringing the transfer member 3 into contact with the surface of the base 1.
A point 2 is formed on the base 1.

The transfer head B has a frame 21 mounted on the ball nut 15b of the Z-direction drive member 15, and a transfer member 3 protruding from the end of the frame 21 and extending the transfer member 3 in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction).
Bracket 22 movably attached to
23 disposed on the lower surface of the transfer member 3 to urge the transfer member 3 downward.
And is configured.

Accordingly, the transfer member 3 is always urged downward by the spring 23, and the spring 23 is bent in response to the force acting when the transfer surface 3b comes into contact with the base 1, so that the transfer is performed. The member 3 is configured so as not to escape upward and exert an excessive force.

The number of transfer members 3 provided on the transfer head B is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set according to the number of points 2 formed on the base 1 and the like. In the present embodiment, since the transfer member 3 is formed in an axial shape and the shape of the transferred point 2 is close to an ellipse or an ellipse, the transfer member 3 can be brought close to each other. 8 × 4 are provided corresponding to the number of arrangements of the portion 5a.

Since the reagent to be transferred is held in the groove 4 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the transfer member 3, when a new reagent is transferred, if the reagent already transferred in the groove 4 remains, two There is a possibility that the reagents may not be mixed to obtain accurate data. For this purpose, a removing device 6 for removing the reagent is provided.

The removing device 6 is provided in the area 11c of the work table 11 and has a plurality of holes 6a arranged in the same manner as the plurality of transfer members 3 provided on the transfer head B.
In order to inject a fluid consisting of liquid or gas for each a,
A blow member (not shown) is provided. The blow member has a function of ejecting a fluid to the outer peripheral portion of the transfer member 3 to blow off the reagent remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer member 3 and the groove 4.

Accordingly, the transfer head B is opposed to the removing device 4, the transfer member 3 is inserted into the hole 6a of the removing device 6, and the bracket 22 is lowered. In this state, the fluid is supplied to the hole 6a. The reagent remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the transfer member 3 and the groove 4 can be removed.

In particular, when the transfer member 3 is inserted into the hole 6a of the blow member, and the hole 6a is closed by the spring receiving portion 3d formed in the transfer member 3, the fluid is supplied and ejected, whereby the ejected fluid is ejected. In addition, the remaining reagent does not scatter in an uncontrolled state, and does not pollute the surroundings.

The ultrasonic cleaning device 7 has a function of cleaning the transfer member 3, and any device having this function can be used. In the present embodiment, an overflow type ultrasonic cleaner is used as the ultrasonic cleaner 7. The ultrasonic cleaning device 7 includes a drainage tank, an ultrasonic cleaning tank supported by a perforated plate attached to a predetermined position in a height direction of the drainage tank, and a cleaning tank. A drain port for adjusting the water level is provided on the side of the sonic cleaning tank.

In the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus 7 configured as described above, the water supplied to the ultrasonic cleaning tank can be constantly drained from the drain port to maintain the water level, and the vibrator is excited to vibrate. The cleaning can be performed by inserting the transfer member 3 in the state in which the transfer is performed. At this time, even if the reagent adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the transfer member 3 and the groove 4 contaminates the water in the washing tank, the water always overflows, and therefore, each washing tank has no mixing of the reagent. It is possible to maintain the state.

By configuring the transfer head B, the cleaning device 6, and the ultrasonic cleaning device 7 as described above, it is possible to eliminate the mixing of reagents and perform highly reliable transfer.

Next, the transfer devices A,
The operation of transferring the reagent to the substrate 1 by the transfer head B will be described.

First, each area set in the work table 11
The base 1 and the container 5 are installed on each of 11a to 11d, and water is supplied to each cleaning tank of the ultrasonic cleaning device 7. The transfer head B is raised by driving the Z-direction drive member 15, and in this state, the X-direction drive member 12 and the Y-direction drive member 13 are driven to face the storage section 5 a of the container 5. Next, the Z-direction driving member 15 is driven to lower the transfer head B, and the transfer member 3 is placed in the storage portion 5a.
And a predetermined amount of reagent is collected and held in the groove 4. Thereafter, the Z-direction drive member 15 is driven to raise the transfer head B, the X-direction drive member 12 and the Y-direction drive member 13 are driven to face the target base 1, and the Z-direction drive member 15 is driven. By lowering the transfer head B and bringing the transfer surface 3b of the transfer member 3 into contact with the base 1, the transfer operation on the base 1 is started.

In the course of a series of transfer operations on the base 1,
Alternatively, after the transfer is completed, the transfer head b is raised to face the removing device 6, the transfer member 3 is inserted into the hole 6a of the removing member 6, and fluid is ejected from the blow member to transfer the transfer member 3.
The reagent adhering to the outer peripheral surface or remaining in the groove 4 is eliminated. Further, the transfer member 3 is dried by injecting a fluid such as air, and the transfer head B is moved again to the container 5 so as to be opposed to the storage portion 5a other than the storage portion 5a to which the transfer has already been performed. Collect the reagent in 3. By repeating such an operation, it is possible to form points 2 composed of a predetermined number of samples on a plurality of substrates 1.

When the work is completed or started, or when the transfer member 3 is damaged and replaced with a new transfer member 3, it is further ensured that the reagent or foreign matter is firmly attached to the transfer member 3. In such a case, the transfer member 3 is inserted into the ultrasonic cleaning device 7 and cleaned.

In the above-described embodiment, as the means for moving the transfer member B on the work table 11, the X-direction drive members 12, Y
Although the directional drive member 13 and the Z-direction drive member 15 are configured, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the transfer member B may be configured to be moved by a robot including an articulated arm.

[0080]

As described in detail above, in the transfer member according to the present invention, a spiral groove having one end connected to the transfer surface is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the main body, and the reagent is held by the groove to transfer the reagent. When the transfer surface comes into contact with the substrate, the held reagent directly contacts the substrate and is transferred.
For this reason, reliable transfer can be performed. In particular,
Since the groove is formed in a spiral shape, even when the transfer member is moved in the up-down direction, the reagent held in the groove does not drop and always replenishes the transfer surface in a substantially constant state. You can do it.

By forming the grooves facing each other,
The transfer surface is replenished with the reagent from the opposing site. For this reason, when the transfer surface is brought into contact with the substrate, the reagent is transferred from two places, and these reagents are integrated via the wet surface formed on the transfer surface on the substrate. Therefore, it is possible to form a point having a reliable shape and a uniform density. This point
Compared to a point formed by a conventional pin-type transfer member or pen-type transfer member, the reliability is extremely high in terms of uniformity of the shape and density, and stable quality can be compensated.

Further, the amount of the reagent to be held by the transfer member can be set by the shape, width and length of the groove.
A series of transfer operations can be executed by one sampling. In addition, since the region for holding the reagent is limited to the outer peripheral portion, when a series of transfer operations is completed, it is possible to remove the remaining reagent only by spraying the fluid to the outside, thereby facilitating the cleaning.

Since the point transferred to the base is an ellipse or an oval, the distance to another point adjacent in the short axis direction can be reduced. Therefore, the density of points can be increased, and the number of points that can be transferred onto the substrate can be increased.

Further, in the transfer apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably form a plurality of bases placed on the work table at a point where the density is increased and which is not mixed with other reagents. Can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a transfer member.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the shape of a transferred point.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating a transfer member attached to a bracket.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a transfer device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state where a reagent is collected by a transfer member and transferred to a substrate.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a distribution state of a reagent transferred to a substrate.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a conventional transfer device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a first known example of a transfer member.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a second known example of the transfer member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List A transfer device B transfer head 1 base 2 points 3 transfer member 3a body 3b transfer surface 3c taper 3d spring receiver 4 groove 5 container 5a housing 6 cleaning device 6a hole 7 ultrasonic cleaning device 11 work table 11a to 11d area 12 X direction drive member 13 Y direction drive member 14 Carriage 15 Z direction drive member 15a Ball screw 15b Ball nut 15c Servo motor 21 Frame 22 Bracket 23 Spring

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C12N 15/00 B01L 3/00 B05C 5/00 C12M 1/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A liquid transfer member for transferring a liquid received from a storage member storing a target liquid onto a base, comprising: a shaft-shaped main body; and a transfer surface formed at a tip of the main body. ,
A groove spirally formed on the outer periphery of the main body and having one end connected to the transfer surface, wherein the liquid received from the housing member can be held in the groove. Liquid transfer member. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein two of said grooves are formed at opposing portions on an outer peripheral portion of said main body.
2. The transfer member according to 1. 3. The transfer surface of the liquid transfer member is formed of a combination of two arcs having centers at different positions and facing each other and arcs connecting these arcs, and the received liquid is used as a base. 3. The liquid transfer member according to claim 2, wherein the transfer member has an elliptical or elliptical shape and can be transferred. 4. The work table according to claim 1, wherein an area for arranging a substrate onto which the liquid is transferred and an area for installing a storage member storing the target liquid are set. Transfer means for moving a carriage provided with a transfer member into a region set on the work table, and elevating means for separating or approaching the transfer member with respect to the work table. apparatus.