Abstract: A wafer transferring robot in semiconductor device fabricating equipment and a method of detecting wafer warpage by using the wafer transferring robot are provided. In the realizing the wafer transferring robot to transfer a wafer, vacuum lines are formed to adsorb a plurality of regions of the wafer. Whether the wafer is warped or not and the extent of warpage are determined in real time, depending on whether the wafer is adsorbed by the vacuum lines. When no warpage occurs on the wafer or when the extent of warpage is slight, the wafer is allowed to be normally processed. When the extent of warpage is too serious to perform a normal process on the wafer, the wafer is previously processed as an error, thereby preventing the waste of time, cost and manpower caused by performing an unnecessary process.

Abstract: Provided are SARS-CoV detection PCR primers having nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1-46, a method for detecting SARS-CoV using the primers, and a SARS-CoV detection kit including the primers.

Abstract: Provided are SARS-CoV detection PCR primers having nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1-46, a method for detecting SARS-CoV using the primers, and a SARS-CoV detection kit including the primers.

Abstract: Provided is a method for concentrating and disrupting cells or viruses, the method employs magnetic particles which are capable of binding the cells or viruses to capture the cells or viruses and a laser to disrupt the cells or viruses. Since the same particles are used in target cell separation and cell lysis, there is no need to add additional particles in a laser lysis process, and thus integration of a target cell separation, concentration, purification, and nucleic acid extraction process is easy.

Abstract: Provided are a primer set selected from the group consisting of primers having nucleotide sequences as set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 1–40, a method for detecting hepatitis B virus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primer set, and a hepatitis B virus detection kit including the primer set.

Abstract: A method of reducing a temperature difference between a high-temperature and a low-temperature substrate includes interposing a heat transfer facilitating layer which has a higher thermal conductivity than air and can hold particles between the substrates, and maintaining close contact between the high-temperature substrate, the heat transfer facilitating layer, and the low-temperature substrate, wherein formation of an air layer can be at least substantially prevented between the high-temperature substrate and the heat transfer facilitating layer, and between the low-temperature substrate and the heat transfer facilitating layer. A fluid reaction device includes a microfluidic reaction chip which accommodates a fluid, a heater, and a heat transfer facilitating layer which is interposed between the microfluidic reaction chip and the heater, the heat transfer facilitating layer has a higher thermal conductivity than air and can hold particles, wherein formation of an air layer can be prevented.

Abstract: A method of separating microorganisms from a sample includes introducing a sample into an apparatus which controls a concentration of at least one salt, the apparatus includes a reaction chamber defined between a cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane, a first electrode chamber defined between the anion exchange membrane and a first electrode, the first electrode chamber containing a first ion exchange medium, a second electrode chamber defined between the cation exchange membrane and a second electrode, the second electrode chamber containing a second ion exchange medium, applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to electrodialyze the sample in the reaction chamber and reduce the concentration of the at least one salt in the sample and allowing the sample having the reduced concentration of the at least one salt to contact a microorganism capturing means.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for circulating a carrier fluid having two or more chambers or sections, an apparatus for amplifying a nucleic acid using the same, and a chip containing the same. The apparatus for circulating a carrier fluid includes two or more chambers maintained at different temperatures, each chamber having an inlet valve containing a pneumatic air pressure port for controlling inflow of the carrier fluid to the chamber (inlet pneumatic air pressure port), and an outlet valve containing a pneumatic air pressure for controlling outflow of the carrier fluid from the chamber (outlet pneumatic air pressure port), wherein the chambers are sequentially connected such that the outlet valve of one chamber is connected to the inlet valve of an adjacent chamber in a direction the fluid flows.

Abstract: A microfluidic reaction chip and a method of manufacturing the same include a lower substrate, an upper substrate disposed on the lower substrate, wherein a lower surface of the upper substrate and an upper surface of the lower substrate face each other and are bonded to each other, at least one chamber formed in the upper surface of the lower substrate is configured to contain a fluid and at least one channel formed in the lower surface of the upper substrate, the at least one channel is in fluid communication with the at least one chamber.

Abstract: A method of sequentially performing concentration and amplification of nucleic acid in a single micro chamber includes: introducing a nucleic acid-containing sample and a solution including a kosmotropic salt to a micro chamber having a hydrophilic interior surface to concentrate the nucleic acid by binding the nucleic acid on the interior surface of the micro chamber; and performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by adding a PCR mixture to the chamber. Since the nucleic acid is reversibly bound to the interior surface of the micro chamber, PCR yield is higher compared with a surface of aluminum oxide in which irreversible binding occurs. In addition, all processes are sequentially performed in a single micro chamber so that the number of samples, consumables, time, and labor for treatment and analysis can be reduced, detection sensitivity can be improved, and risk of sample cross contamination significantly reduced without sample loss by eliminating transporting of the sample.

Abstract: A micro-fluid reaction vessel includes an upper plate formed of an elastomer, a lower plate adhered to the upper plate, a micro-chamber and a micro-channel formed on an inner surface of the upper plate facing the lower plate and an inlet hole and an outlet hole formed in the upper plate and through which a fluid flows into or out of, respectively. The micro-channel is constructed to be closed by pressure applied to the upper plate and elastically restored when the pressure is not applied. A micro fluid reaction method uses the micro fluid reaction vessel and a method of manufacturing forms the microfluid reaction vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of releasing a photoresist film from a substrate, which includes forming a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a substrate; coating the SAM with a photoresist film; and rinsing the substrate with an alcohol or an acid. According to the photoresist film releasing method, a photoresist film can be easily released from a substrate without damage after patterning. A method of bonding a released photoresist film with a substrate includes arraying a second substrate and the photoresist film released from a first substrate, and baking the second substrate. According to the bonding method, the photoresist film can be perfectly bonded with a second substrate without generating a crevice even though an additional adhesive is not used.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of culturing stem cells, which can remove differentiated cells generated in stem cell culture, using ABC transporters, according to a stem cell's characteristic in that the stem cells contain a plurality of the ABC transporters. The method comprises the steps of: bringing a stem cell culture into contact with an antitumor drug or toxin as a substrate of ATP-Binding Cassette transporters (ABC transporters) to allow the substrate to react with the stem cell culture; and reculturing viable cells among the stem cell culture which reacted with the substrate, the viable cells having no substrate introduced therein. According to the disclosed method, the differentiated cells generated in stem cell culture can be easily removed using an antitumor drug or toxin among various substrates of the ABC transporters. Thus, the method has an excellent effect capable of significantly increasing the purity of a stem cell culture.

Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic device for electrochemically regulating the pH of a fluid. The microfluidic device includes: an ion-exchange material; an anode chamber having a surface defined by a surface of the ion-exchange material and an anode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the anode chamber; and a cathode chamber having a surface defined by a surface of the ion-exchange material and a cathode electrode disposed along an edge of the surface of the cathode chamber, wherein the anode chamber and the cathode chamber are separated by an insulation material.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating salt concentration, a lab-on-a-chip including the same and a method of regulating salt concentration using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes: a reaction chamber that is defined by a cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane and is selected from the group consisting of a biomolecule extraction chamber, an amplification chamber, a hybridization chamber, and a detection chamber; a first electrode chamber that is defined by the anion exchange membrane and a first electrode and includes an ion exchange medium; and a second electrode chamber that is defined by the cation exchange membrane and a second electrode and includes an ion exchange medium. Even without injecting solutions with different salt concentrations into the reaction chamber by operating pumps and valves for each operation stage, the salt concentration can be reversibly regulated in situ by adjusting the polarity, intensity and application time of a voltage.

Abstract: Provided is a cell lysis method including: preparing a cell sample to be lysed; heating the cell sample; and cooling the cell sample by causing an endothermic reaction near the cell sample. According to the method, cell lysis can be simply and conveniently performed without regard to location and without additional devices since a separate energy source is not required and the apparatus is portable. In particular, when cell lysis is performed in a biochip using a small amount of sample, a greater cell lysis effect can be obtained. In addition, cell lysis efficiency is significantly improved, compared to when only heating is performed.

Abstract: A microvalve device is provided. The microvalve device uses electrolysis and uses a hydrogel swelling and deswelling in response to anions or cations as an actuator for controlling the path of a flowing fluid. The microvalve device does not require a buffer solution but uses the transfer fluid flowing in a valve as a source driving the actuator. To generate the anions or cations, an electrode is needed for electrolysis of the fluid near the hydrogel. The microvalve is easy to manufacture and has a simple structure. In addition, the micro valve is useful to manufacture fluid channel arrays having various multi-channel structures.

Abstract: A handheld centrifuge is provided. In the handheld centrifuge, an inertia body has an axle to which one end of a string is connected and a pair of inertia wheels coupled to the axle, and at least one closed vessel is installed at the inertia body to contain a substance to be centrifuged.

Abstract: Provided is a method of isolating and purifying biomolecules using a hydrogel, the method including: bring a sample containing charged biomolecules into contact with a hydrogel to bind the biomolecules to the hydrogel; washing the hydrogel bound with the biomolecules; and eluting the bound biomolecules using an elution solvent. According to the method, the use of a hydrogel with a large surface area reduces the isolation time of biomolecules to 5 min or less, an external device such as an electromagnet is not required, and small-sized systems or LOC can be easily implemented due to applicability to microsystems through a polymer patterning technique.

Abstract: Provided are a temperature control method and apparatus for driving a polymerize chain reaction (PCR) chip. In the temperature control apparatus, which is for a polymerize chain reaction chip, PCR chips receive electric power from the outside and generating heat to maintain a predetermined temperature and for outputting actual temperature information to the outside. electric power supply units supply electric power to the PCR chips according to input control signals, and a controller generates the control signals based on control information including pre-established control temperature and control time information and the actual temperature information supplied from the PCR chips in order to supply the control signals to the electric power supply units. In the present invention, it is possible to examine various kinds of DNA at the same time because the temperature control apparatus controls the temperatures of DNA samples at the same time.