Abstract: Proposed is dispensing technology capable of reliably spotting a biological sample on a solid phase. A head chip applies a voltage pulse between a diaphragm and separate electrodes based on a drive control signal output from a head driver IC, and discharges a solution containing protein filled in a pressurized chamber as a result of the elastic deformation of the diaphragm. A drive pulse generation circuit generates a drive voltage pulse and supplies this to the head chip in order to discharge a solution containing protein from the head chip. The drive current detection circuit detects a drive current flowing between the diaphragm and separate electrodes. Since the waveform of the detected drive current and the peak current value and so on differ in the case where the discharge status is normal and in the case where it is abnormal, a defective discharge can be discriminated by detecting such change.

Abstract: A method for discharging a liquid containing a biological material includes adding as a dispense stabilizer a polymer composed of phosphorylcholine-group-containing unsaturated compound units or a copolymer including same to the liquid containing the biological material; and discharging the liquid containing the dispense stabilizer using an inkjet system.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a bead array is provided including a container, a liquid including a bead having a biological substance fixed on a surface of the bead, and means for ejecting the liquid including the bead on a desired position on a solid-phase base. A method for manufacturing a bead array is also provided including: containing the liquid including the bead in a container; selectively ejecting the liquid on a desired position on the solid-phase base; and forming a reactive region where the liquid is ejected.

Abstract: A liquid dispense head is provided which can be manufactured at a reduced manufacturing cost, will not react with dispense liquid containing biomolecules, and can dispense liquid droplets having a constant amount from individual nozzles. The liquid dispense head has reservoirs used as reservoirs for containing liquid, pressure chambers for applying a pressure to dispense the liquid, flow passages connecting the pressure chambers and the respective reservoirs. In the liquid dispense head described above, a part of the flow passage is formed of a minute through-hole provided in a glass substrate, and the inside diameter of the minute through-hole is continuously decreased or increased.

Abstract: A microfluidic system includes a plate-shaped microfluidic chip having a flow path, a liquid introduction tube for supplying liquid to the flow path, the liquid introduction tube having an end communicating with an end of the flow path and its other end that can be soaked in the liquid that is to be supplied to the flow path, and a liquid discharge head communicating with the other end of the flow path for discharging liquid that has passed through the flow path.

Abstract: To provide a capping unit, a capping method, and a droplet dispense unit capable of a liquid-filling operation to an inkjet head and recovery operation of the inkjet head in imperfect dispense condition without useless discharge of liquid dispensed by an inkjet system. A capping unit to cover a dispense head with a covering device, the dispense head including cavities to store liquid, nozzles communicating with the cavities, and a dispense device to dispense the liquid stored in the cavities through the nozzles. The covering device is equipped with a first cover including a gas-permeable member having high gas permeability and a second cover including a wetting member to keep the vicinity of the nozzles in a wet condition.

Abstract: Provided is a droplet discharging head, including: a nozzle formed on a first principal surface; a pressurized room having a pressurization unit that applies pressure on liquid discharged from the nozzle; a liquid retention unit in communication with the pressurized room; and a supply port that supplies liquid to the liquid retention unit; wherein the droplet discharging head is used by being mounted on a droplet discharging device in which the supply port is provided protrusively from a second principal surface positioned on the opposite side of the first principal surface.

Abstract: A method for discharging a liquid containing a biological material includes adding as a dispense stabilizer a polymer composed of phosphorylcholine-group-containing unsaturated compound units or a copolymer including same to the liquid containing the biological material; and discharging the liquid containing the dispense stabilizer using an inkjet system.

Abstract: A method for supplying a liquid to a liquid discharge head by using a liquid container, the liquid container including: a main body that is attachable to and detachable from the liquid discharge head, that has a liquid receptacle for receiving a liquid to discharge from the liquid discharge head, a supply port for supplying the liquid to the liquid receptacle, and an ejecting port for connecting the liquid receptacle to a flow path provided in the liquid discharge head; a supply-port-sealing member, attachable to and detachable from the main body, capable of hermetically sealing the supply port; and an ejecting-port-sealing member, attachable to and detachable from the main body, capable of hermetically sealing the ejecting port.

Abstract: In a method of filling an ink-jet head of an ink-jet type printing apparatus with a liquid stored in an ink cartridge or in a reservoir tank, the head is filled up to the tip of nozzles by bringing a suction cap into close contact with a nozzle opening face of the ink-jet head via a gas-permeable filters and drawing the air inside the suction caps with a pump.

Abstract: A surface treatment apparatus 1 is constructed to hold a substrate 10 when surface treatment is carried out to a back surface 101 of the substrate 10. The surface treatment apparatus 1 includes at least one enclosed space each defined by a concave portion 32 and a front surface 102 of the substrate 10; and an O-ring 2 (contact portion) adapted to hermetically contact with the front surface 102 of the substrate 10 to produce negative pressure in cooperation with the O-ring 2 and the front surface 102 of the substrate 10. The surface treatment apparatus 1 is constructed so that the substrate 10 is attracted onto the surface treatment apparatus 1 using a difference between the negative pressure and atmospheric pressure by decompressing the enclosed space in a decompression chamber and then bringing out the substrate 10 from the inside of the decompression chamber to environment under atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a bead array is provided including a container, a liquid including a bead having a biological substance fixed on a surface of the bead, and means for ejecting the liquid including the bead on a desired position on a solid-phase base. A method for manufacturing a bead array is also provided including: containing the liquid including the bead in a container; selectively ejecting the liquid on a desired position on the solid-phase base; and forming a reactive region where the liquid is ejected.

Abstract: A mainspring used as a power source for a driving mechanism is made of an amorphous metal sheet, and has an S-shaped free-exploded shape. The curvature changing point, where the curving direction of the free-exploded shape changes is formed on the inner end side of a middle point between the inner end on the winding side and the outer end serving as the other end of the inner end. Because of the high tensile stress and a low Young's modulus, the amorphous metal permits increase in mechanical energy stored in the mainspring.

Abstract: A mainspring used as a power source for a driving mechanism is made of an amorphous metal sheet, and has an S-shaped free-exploded shape. The curvature changing point where the curving direction of the free-exploded shape changes is formed on the inner end side of a middle point between the inner end on the winding side and the outer end serving as the other end of the inner end. Because of the high tensile stress and a low Young's modulus, the amorphous metal permits increase in mechanical energy stored in the mainspring.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a droplet discharging head suited to the discharge of a sample solution, and particularly one that contains a bio-related substance. This object is achieved by a droplet discharging head 1 for discharging a sample solution, wherein the portion of the inner walls of the droplet discharging head 1 that comes into contact with the sample solution is covered with a polymer composed of phosphorylcholine group-containing unsaturated compound units, or a copolymer including same. The droplet discharging head is preferably an electrostatic drive or piezoelectric drive type.

Abstract: To provide a capping unit, a capping method, and a droplet dispense unit capable of a liquid-filling operation to an inkjet head and recovery operation of the inkjet head in imperfect dispense condition without useless discharge of liquid dispensed by an inkjet system. A capping unit to cover a dispense head with a covering device, the dispense head including cavities to store liquid, nozzles communicating with the cavities, and a dispense device to dispense the liquid stored in the cavities through the nozzles. The covering device is equipped with a first cover including a gas-permeable member having high gas permeability and a second cover including a wetting member to keep the vicinity of the nozzles in a wet condition.

Abstract: A liquid dispense head is provided which can be manufactured at a reduced manufacturing cost, will not react with dispense liquid containing biomolecules, and can dispense liquid droplets having a constant amount from individual nozzles. The liquid dispense head has reservoirs used as reservoirs for containing liquid, pressure chambers for applying a pressure to dispense the liquid, flow passages connecting the pressure chambers and the respective reservoirs. In the liquid dispense head described above, a part of the flow passage is formed of a minute through-hole provided in a glass substrate, and the inside diameter of the minute through-hole is continuously decreased or increased.

Abstract: In a method of filling an ink-jet head of an ink-jet type printing apparatus with a liquid stored in an ink cartridge or in a reservoir tank, the head is filled up to the tip of nozzles by bringing a suction cap into close contact with a nozzle opening face of the ink-jet head via a gas-permeable filters and drawing the air inside the suction caps with a pump.

Abstract: Proposed is dispensing technology capable of reliably spotting a biological sample on a solid phase. A head chip (12) applies a voltage pulse between a diaphragm and separate electrodes based on a drive control signal output from a head driver IC (313), and discharges a solution containing protein filled in a pressurized chamber as a result of the elastic deformation of the diaphragm. A drive pulse generation circuit (307) generates a drive voltage pulse and supplies this to the head chip (12) in order to discharge a solution containing protein from the head chip (12). The drive current detection circuit (308) detects a drive current flowing between the diaphragm and separate electrodes. Since the waveform of the detected drive current and the peak current value and so on differ in the case where the discharge status is normal and in the case where it is abnormal, a defective discharge can be discriminated by detecting such change.

Abstract: A developing device includes a supply member disposed to rotate in contact with a developer carrier to supply developer layer having a predetermined thickness to the developer carrier surface. A layer forming member is disposed to abut against the developer carrier to regulate the layer thickness of the developer so as to form a thin developer layer on the developer carrier. A bias application unit applies an AC-superimposed bias voltage to the developer carrier. A latent image on a latent image carrier is developed with the thin developer layer formed on the developer carrier by the layer forming member. The minimum value of the AC-superimposed bias voltage may be lower than the exposure potential of the latent image carrier, and a maximum value of the bias voltage is to be lower then the charge potential. However, the polarities of the two voltages may be identical.