Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to provide novel cell culture substrates, cell culture vessels, and methods for cell culture. A cell culture substrate having a planar mesh structure, the substrate being coated with a polymer, is provided. Cells are cultured in a cell culture vessel having this substrate.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to provide novel cell culture substrates, cell culture vessels, and methods for cell culture. A cell culture substrate having a planar mesh structure, the substrate being coated with a polymer, is provided. Cells are cultured in a cell culture vessel having this substrate.

Abstract: To provide an electrode for a dielectrophoretic apparatus in which a background detected by reflecting an excited light on an electrode present under the substance (molecule) is reduced and an S/N ratio is enhanced. Also, there is provided an dielectrophoretic apparatus, in an apparatus in which a liquid containing substances to be separated is present in a non-uniform electric field formed by a dielectrophoretic electrode, and separation is carried out by a dielectrophoretic force exerting on the substances, wherein the collecting ability of substances is enhanced. The present invention is characterized in that a vacant space is provided in an electrode whereby substances subjected to influence by a negative dielectrophoretic force can be concentrated in said vacant space of an electrode, or above or below portion of the space.

Abstract: A microchannel has a substrate body; a separation channel which is formed within the substrate; at least two (first and second) connection ports which are formed at one end of the separation channel close to the thickness direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the substrate body; and first and second branch channels connected respectively to the first and second connection ports. When the substrate body is perpendicular to gravity, a blood sample containing blood cells and plasma, flows from one end of the separation channel. Before the blood sample gets to the other end of the separation channel, the blood cells in the blood sample settle out. The blood cells having settled out are then separated into the branch channel.

Abstract: To provide an electrode for a dielectrophoretic apparatus in which a background detected by reflecting an excited light on an electrode present under the substance (molecule) is reduced and an S/N ratio is enhanced. Also, there is provided an dielectrophoretic apparatus, in an apparatus in which a liquid containing substances to be separated is present in a non-uniform electric field formed by a dielectrophoretic electrode, and separation is carried out by a dielectrophoretic force exerting on the substances, wherein the collecting ability of substances is enhanced. The present invention is characterized in that a vacant space is provided in an electrode whereby substances subjected to influence by a negative dielectrophoretic force can be concentrated in said vacant space of an electrode, or above or below portion of the space.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a microchannel for separating blood plasma whereby blood plasma can be conveniently separated on a microchip. A microchannel comprising: a substrate body (10a); a separation channel (11) which is formed within the substrate body (10a) and extended in the direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the substrate body (10a); at least two (first and second) connection ports (13a, 14a) which are formed at one end of the separation channel (11) close to the thickness direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the substrate body (10a); and first and second branch channels (13, 14) which are formed within the substrate body (10a) and connected respectively to the first and second connection ports (13a, 14a). In the state where the substrate body (10a) is extended perpendicular to the direction of gravitational force, a blood sample containing blood cells and plasma is flown from one end (11a) side of the separation channel (11).

Abstract: A device for introducing a substance into a cell which can realize a high-efficient external substance introduction by means of electro-poration not depending on a cell size, a cell clamping device capable of clamping a cell at many locations, and a flow path forming method capable of efficiently forming a flow path. The device for introducing a substance into a cell (10a) comprises an insulating thin film (2) having a pore (1) and a pair of electrodes (6, 7) disposed on the opposite sides of the film (2) across the pore (1). When a cell (9) is fixed to the pore (1) and a pulse voltage is applied to between the electrodes (6, 7) with a space (5) filled with a fluid containing substance (4) to be introduced into the cell (9), a field concentration to a pore portion is used to destroy a cell membrane to thereby introduce the substance (4) into the cell (9).

Abstract: To verify an action of a high-frequency ac electric field on a single-stranded nucleic acid existing in an aqueous solution. This action is used to improve the efficiency of hybridization to which the single-stranded nucleic acid is subjected as a complementary strand. Provided are a method and system for stretching a single-stranded nucleic acid, which exists in a free form in pure water or an aqueous solution (R) of pH 5 to 11, or which exists in a form immobilized on one of surface (f) of an electrode (E) of opposing electrodes (E,E) arranged facing the aqueous solution (R) or in a form immobilized on surfaces (f) of both electrodes (E) of opposing electrodes (E, E), by causing a high-frequency ac electric field to act on the single-stranded nucleic acid.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of providing a method by which two kinds or more of molecules can be separated each other by using dielectrophoretic forces. The present invention comprises two methods. The first method is a method comprising forming a complex substance of a “specific molecule” containing in a sample, and a “substance capable of changing dielectrophoretic properties of the specific molecule”, which binds to the “specific molecule” contained therein, and thereby separating the complex substance and the molecules other than the specific molecule in the sample from each other. The second method is a method comprising placing a solution in which two kinds or more of molecules are dissolved under a strong electric field strength, that is, under a nonuniform electric field having an electric field strength of 500 KV/m or higher, by using dielectrophoretic forces.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus including an optical system of refracting an illumination light illuminated from a light source device by a scanning lens into parallel optical beams and condensing the light by a condensing lens located at a focal position of the scanning lens on an observed surface, in which the light source device has a light emission portion attached to a stage which is adjustable for the position along an XY plane in perpendicular to the optical axis of the scanning lens, with an optical axis of irradiation light being in parallel with the optical axis of the scanning lens. The apparatus being small in the size and simple in the structure, capable of easily controlling the spot position, not requiring accurate optical axis alignment and manufactured at a reduced cost.

Abstract: To provide an electrode for a dielectrophoretic apparatus in which a background detected by reflecting an excited light on an electrode present under the substance (molecule) is reduced and an S/N ratio is enhanced. Also, there is provided an dielectrophoretic apparatus, in an apparatus in which a liquid containing substances to be separated is present in a non-uniform electric field formed by a dielectrophoretic electrode, and separation is carried out by a dielectrophoretic force exerting on the substances, wherein the collecting ability of substances is enhanced. The present invention is characterized in that a vacant space is provided in an electrode whereby substances subjected to influence by a negative dielectrophoretic force can be concentrated in said vacant space of an electrode, or above or below portion of the space.

Abstract: To provide An electrode for a dielectrophoretic apparatus in which a background detected by reflecting an excited light on an electrode present under the substance (molecule) is reduced and an S/N ratio is enhanced. Also, there is provided an dielectrophoretic apparatus, in an apparatus in which a liquid containing substances to be separated is present in a non-uniform electric field formed by a dielectrophoretic electrode, and separation is carried out by a dielectrophoretic force exerting on the substances, wherein the collecting ability of substances is enhanced. The present invention is characterized in that a vacant space is provided in an electrode whereby substances subjected to influence by a negative dielectrophoretic force can be concentrated in said vacant space of an electrode, or above or below portion of the space.

Abstract: Proposed is a method comprising the steps of stretching and arranging DNA while immobilizing it on a board, cutting it into fragments sequentially from one end, analyzing the respective fragments, connecting the analyzed results for analyzing the entire base sequence of the original DNA. For practically applying this method, required is a method of efficiently recovering DNA fragments without disturbing the original base sequence.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus including an optical system of refracting an illumination light illuminated from a light source device by a scanning lens into parallel optical beams and condensing the light by a condensing lens located at a focal position of the scanning lens on an observed surface, in which the light source device has a light emission portion attached to a stage which is adjustable for the position along an XY plane in perpendicular to the optical axis of the scanning lens, with an optical axis of irradiation light being in parallel with the optical axis of the scanning lens. The apparatus being small in the size and simple in the structure, capable of easily controlling the spot position, not requiring accurate optical axis alignment and manufactured at a reduced cost.

Abstract: A method for forming a combinatorial polymer pattern, which comprises immersing a particulate carrier in monomer addition reactors successively in accordance with a predetermined order using a particle transporting means, to thereby prepare a particle having a polymer having a predetermined sequence bonded thereto, and arranging such particles systematically. The method is practiced by using a plurality of reactors, each of which is provided for a specific monomer, a device for controlling the transfer of particles between the reactors, and a device for arranging particles on a substrate.

Abstract: To provide an electrode for a dielectrophoretic apparatus in which a background detected by reflecting an excited light on an electrode present under the substance (molecule) is reduced and an S/N ratio is enhanced. Also, there is provided an dielectrophoretic apparatus, in an apparatus in which a liquid containing substances to be separated is present in a non-uniform electric field formed by a dielectrophoretic electrode, and separation is carried out by a dielectrophoretic force exerting on the substances, wherein the collecting ability of substances is enhanced.