Abstract: A high-density micro-chamber array has a translucent flat substrate, a hydrophobic layer in which a plurality of micro-chambers are provided, and a lipid bilayer membrane formed in each of the openings of the micro-chambers, wherein an electrode is provided in each of the micro-chambers, and when the side of the substrate on which the hydrophobic layer is provided is directed upward, the micro-chamber array is configured such that with at least one of the following A) and B) being met, light entering the substrate from below is transmitted through the substrate and penetrates into the micro-chambers' interiors, and light entering the substrate from the micro-chambers' interiors is transmitted through the substrate and escapes toward below the substrate. A) The electrode is provided on an inner side surface of each of the micro-chambers. B) The electrode is transparent and provided on a bottom surface of each of the micro-chambers.

Abstract: There are provided a detector and a detection method capable of detecting a biological sample with high sensitivity. A detector is provided with a microchamber array including a plurality of storage sections to be filled with a hydrophilic solvent containing a biological sample; and an image sensor in which picture elements are disposed corresponding to the storage sections, wherein the microchamber array includes a flow channel in communication with openings of the storage sections; a hydrophobic solvent supply unit arranged in continuity with the flow channel; and a through-hole which allows the hydrophilic solvent to enter and exit the flow channel, and the hydrophobic solvent supply unit flows a hydrophobic solvent into the flow channel by an externally-applied force.

Abstract: Provided is a method to detect a target molecule, including a complex formation step of reacting a target molecule, a carrier modified with a first antibody which specifically binds to the target molecule, and two or more second antibodies which specifically bind to the target molecule, and are labeled with enzymes having a substrate cleaving activity and mutually different substrate specificities, to form a complex consisting of the first antibody, the target molecule and the second antibodies, on the carrier; and a detection step of reacting two or more substrates having cleavage sites by the enzymes, a fluorescent substance bound to one terminal side of each of the cleavage sites and a quencher bound to another terminal side thereof, wherein the fluorescent substances are mutually different in fluorescence wavelength, and the complex, to detect fluorescence emitted from the fluorescent substances.

Abstract: As a technique for efficiently sealing many substances, such as beads, nucleic acid, protein, virus, cells, and lipid membrane complex, into an array, the present invention provides a method for sealing a substance, including: (i) a step of introducing a first solvent containing a substance on a substrate on which a plurality of receptacles capable of storing the substance are formed separated from each other by a side wall; and (ii) a step of introducing a second solvent having a greater specific gravity than that of the first solvent onto the first solvent, the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: This invention provides a technique enabling to detect target molecules of low concentration with high sensitivity. This invention includes (i) a step of introducing a hydrophilic solvent (42) containing beads (40),(41?) into a space (30) between (a) a lower layer section (10) including a plurality of receptacles (13) each of which is capable of storing only one of the beads (41),(41?) and which are separated from each other by a side wall (12) having a hydrophobic upper surface and (b) an upper layer section (20) facing a surface of the lower layer section (10) on which surface the plurality of receptacles (13) are provided; and (ii) a step of introducing a hydrophobic solvent (43) into the space (30), the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: A material film is formed as a thin film having a thickness of 1 ?m on a surface of a glass substrate. A plurality of micro-chambers having a diameter of 5 ?m are formed in the material film to be arrayed at a high density. The respective chambers filled with an aqueous test solution have openings that are liquid-sealed by a lipid bilayer membrane to provide a high-density micro-chamber array. Significant downsizing of the micro-chambers enhances a change in concentration by a reaction of one biomolecule in the chamber and thereby increases the detection sensitivity. In the configuration that a large number of micro-chambers are formed at a high density, even in the case of an extremely slow reaction of the biomolecule, the reaction proceeds in any of the chambers. This configuration accordingly enables the reaction of the biomolecule to be detected with high sensitivity.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique enabling to detect target molecules of low concentration with high sensitivity. This invention includes (i) a step of introducing a hydrophilic solvent (42) containing beads (40),(41?) into a space (30) between (a) a lower layer section (10) including a plurality of receptacles (13) each of which is capable of storing only one of the beads (41),(41?) and which are separated from each other by a side wall (12) having a hydrophobic upper surface and (b) an upper layer section (20) facing a surface of the lower layer section (10) on which surface the plurality of receptacles (13) are provided; and (ii) a step of introducing a hydrophobic solvent (43) into the space (30), the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method capable of easily and rapidly inspecting the susceptibility of bacteria or fungi to an antimicrobial drug. The inspection method of the present disclosure is a method for inspecting susceptibility of bacteria or fungi to an antimicrobial drug using a micro-device having flow channels, including: incubating a mixture of the antimicrobial drug and a suspension to be inspected in the flow channels of the micro-device; and detecting bacteria or fungi derived from the suspension to be inspected in an observation area of the flow channels of the micro-device. The detecting step can be performed by detecting an increase or decrease in the number of or a change in shape of bacteria or fungi derived from the suspension to be inspected in the observation area by a microscope or the like.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique enabling to detect target molecules of low concentration with high sensitivity. This invention includes (i) a step of introducing a hydrophilic solvent (42) containing beads (40),(41?) into a space (30) between (a) a lower layer section (10) including a plurality of receptacles (13) each of which is capable of storing only one of the beads (41),(41?) and which are separated from each other by a side wall (12) having a hydrophobic upper surface and (b) an upper layer section (20) facing a surface of the lower layer section (10) on which surface the plurality of receptacles (13) are provided; and (ii) a step of introducing a hydrophobic solvent (43) into the space (30), the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: There are provided a detector and a detection method capable of detecting a biological sample with high sensitivity. A detector is provided with a microchamber array including a plurality of storage sections to be filled with a hydrophilic solvent containing a biological sample; and an image sensor in which picture elements are disposed corresponding to the storage sections, wherein the microchamber array includes a flow channel in communication with openings of the storage sections; a hydrophobic solvent supply unit arranged in continuity with the flow channel; and a through-hole which allows the hydrophilic solvent to enter and exit the flow channel, and the hydrophobic solvent supply unit flows a hydrophobic solvent into the flow channel by an externally-applied force.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] A technique for efficiently sealing many substances, such as beads, nucleic acid, protein, virus, cells, and lipid membrane complex, into an array is provided. [Solution] The present invention provides a method for sealing a substance, including: (i) a step of introducing a first solvent containing a substance on a substrate on which a plurality of receptacles capable of storing the substance are formed separated from each other by a side wall; and (ii) a step of introducing a second solvent having a greater specific gravity than that of the first solvent onto the first solvent, the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method capable of easily and rapidly inspecting the susceptibility of bacteria or fungi to an antimicrobial drug and an inspection system for use in the method. The inspection method of the present invention is a method for inspecting susceptibility of bacteria or fungi to an antimicrobial drug using a micro-device having a flow channel, including: an incubating step of incubating a mixture of the antimicrobial drug and a bacterial suspension to be inspected in the flow channel of the micro-device; and a detecting step of detecting bacteria or fungi derived from the bacterial suspension to be inspected in an observation area of the flow channel of the micro-device. The detecting step can be performed by detecting an increase or decrease in the number of or a change in shape of bacteria or fungi derived from the bacterial suspension to be inspected in the observation area by a microscope or the like.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique enabling to detect target molecules of low concentration with high sensitivity. This invention includes (i) a step of introducing a hydrophilic solvent (42) containing beads (40),(41?) into a space (30) between (a) a lower layer section (10) including a plurality of receptacles (13) each of which is capable of storing only one of the beads (41),(41?) and which are separated from each other by a side wall (12) having a hydrophobic upper surface and (b) an upper layer section (20) facing a surface of the lower layer section (10) on which surface the plurality of receptacles (13) are provided; and (ii) a step of introducing a hydrophobic solvent (43) into the space (30), the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a substance, which is easy to handle and enables the measurement of ATP with a high sensitivity regardless of the concentration of protein, and further a measuring method of ATP using the substance. Such object is solved with a fluorescence labelled fusion protein obtained by attaching two types of fluorescent substances of potential donor and acceptor for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) respectively to a protein which can cause structural changes depending on ATP binding, namely ? protein, which is the subunit of ATP synthetase, and further solved by contacting the fluorescence labelled fusion protein with a subject substance and then measuring the fluorescence spectra.

Abstract: To provide a method of forming a planar lipid-bilayer membrane for membrane protein analysis, by which downsizing, simplifying, and multichanneling of a device therefore are achieved. A planar lipid-bilayer membrane 24 is formed by filling a microchannel 12 with a buffer solution 18, the microchannel 12 disposed under a horizontal partition wall 13 having an aperture 14; applying a small amount of a lipid solution 20 as a droplet on the aperture 14 filled with the buffer solution 18 to thereby form a thin layer 21 of the lipid solution in a chamber, the chamber 17 being formed at a position corresponding to the aperture 14 and provided with a liquid trap 15 inside the chamber; and applying a buffer solution 23 as a droplet to the chamber 17 from the upper side of the chamber.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a substance, which is easy to handle and enables the measurement of ATP with a high sensitivity regardless of the concentration of protein, and further a measuring method of ATP using the substance. Such object is solved with a fluorescence labelled fusion protein obtained by attaching two types of fluorescent substances of potential donor and acceptor for fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) respectively to a protein which can cause structural changes depending on ATP binding, namely ? protein, which is the subunit of ATP synthetase, and further solved by contacting the fluorescence labelled fusion protein with a subject substance and then measuring the fluorescence spectra.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device, which has an internal circuit that operates during a normal operation on the basis of a reference signal and input signals supplied from the outside of the device. A detecting circuit detects the voltage level of the reference signal. When the detecting circuit has detected that the reference signal is at a predetermined voltage level that differs from a voltage level assumed during the normal operation, a transfer circuit transfers an internal signal in the internal circuit to the outside of the device, instead of the regular output signal of the internal circuit.

Abstract: A first bonding pad is formed on the surface of a semiconductor chip on which a semiconductor circuit is formed. A first insulating substrate is formed on the semiconductor chip, and a wiring layer is formed on the first insulating substrate. A second insulating substrate is formed on the first insulating substrate and wiring layer. A first region is formed by forming an opening in the second insulating substrate to expose part of the surface of the wiring layer. The first region and first bonding pad are connected by a wire. A second region is formed by forming an opening in the second insulating substrate to expose part of the surface of the wiring layer. In the second region, a bump is formed. Further, a third region is formed by forming an opening in the second insulating substrate to expose part of the surface of the wiring layer. The third region has at least an area necessary for the terminal of a measurement device to contact the third region in operation measurement.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device is disclosed, which has an internal circuit that operates during a normal operation on the basis of a reference signal and input signals supplied from the outside of the device. A detecting circuit detects the voltage level of the reference signal. When the detecting circuit has detected that the reference signal is at a predetermined voltage level that differs from a voltage level assumed during the normal operation, a transfer circuit transfers an internal signal in the internal circuit to the outside of the device, instead of the regular output signal of the internal circuit.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide a semiconductor device integrated circuit having an additive circuit capable of the evaluation of the dynamic performance of a memory block in a mixed logic and memory IC or a high-speed logic block in a semiconductor device integrated circuit, directly from the outside of the device. In order to evaluate the dynamic performance of the memory block or the high-speed logic block by using a tester, the device is provided on the chip with bus lines which bypass the peripheral logic and are connected to the input terminals of the memory block or the high-speed logic block. In the device, the delay time difference between the bus lines are measured from the outside of the device, at first. By use of the measurement result, the timing error of inputting a plurality of test pulse signals used for the dynamic performance evaluation is compensated. A switching element is provided between the reference line and each of the bus lines.