Abstract: A DNA chip includes a large number of minute spots formed by dripping sample solutions onto a base plate. The base plate is provided with positional deviation-correcting means for displacing the spots and automatically correcting any positional deviation of each of the spots. The positional deviation-correcting means includes any one of at least one projection, at least one recess and electric field-generating means for providing charged states on the base plate centered at a correct position for each of the spots supplied on the base plate.

Abstract: A mass sensor (30) in which a connection plate (33) and a diaphragm (31) are joined together at their respective sides; a sensing plate (32) is joined to the connection plate (33) at their respective sides in the direction perpendicular to the direction where the diaphragm (31) is joined to the connection plate (33); a piezoelectric element (35) consisting of a piezoelectric film and an electrode is installed on at least either one of plate surfaces of the sensing plate (32); and a resonating portion consisting of the diaphragm (31), the sensing plate (32), the connection plate (33), and the piezoelectric element (35) is joined to a sensor substrate (34). Change in the mass of the diaphragm (31) is measured by measuring change in the resonant frequency of the resonating portion accompanying the change in the mass of the diaphragm (31).

Abstract: A mass sensor (30) in which a connection plate (33) and a diaphragm (31) are joined together at their respective sides; a sensing plate (32) is joined to the connection plate (33) at their respective sides in the direction perpendicular to the direction where the diaphragm (31) is joined to the connection plate (33); a piezoelectric element (35) consisting of a piezoelectric film and an electrode is installed on at least either one of plate surfaces of the sensing plate (32); and a resonating portion consisting of the diaphragm (31), the sensing plate (32), the connection plate (33), and the piezoelectric element (35) is joined to a sensor substrate (34). Change in the mass of the diaphragm (31) is measured by measuring change in the resonant frequency of the resonating portion accompanying the change in the mass of the diaphragm (31).

Abstract: A liquid-drop discharge device includes an array of liquid-drop discharge units for discharging liquid from a float cell in communication with a liquid storage tank. A reaction cell, into which fluid is discharged, is provided in communication with the float cell. A differential adjusting tube is provided between the float cell and the reaction cell and includes a release valve for maintaining a specified pressure relationship between an internal pressure P2 of the float cell and an internal pressure P3 of the reaction cell. A driving circuit is provided to drive a pressurizing source of the liquid-drop discharge device and is connected to a control unit. The control unit is connected to a pressure sensor, which detects the internal pressure of the reaction cell and the release valve. The internal pressure P1 of the liquid storage tank is controlled to be larger than the internal pressure P3 of the reaction cell.

Abstract: A circuit for driving a liquid drop spraying apparatus capable of smoothly supplying liquid to a pressurizing chamber is provided. A coil is provided in series with respect to a resistor that determines the charge characteristics of a charge circuit of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element, thereby enabling gentle start characteristics when a charge voltage rises. In addition, discharge circuits are provided at two stages. A constant of the second discharging circuit is set to be smaller than a constant of the first discharging circuit. Coils are provided in series with resistors that determine their discharge characteristics. In this manner, even in the case where a large amount of liquid is sprayed, liquid is smoothly supplied to the pressurizing chamber.

Abstract: A liquid injection apparatus is provided which is capable of uniformly atomizing and injecting liquid such as fuel even if the surrounding environment changes significantly.

Abstract: A DNA chip includes a large number of minute spots formed by dripping sample solutions onto a base plate. The base plate is provided with positional deviation-correcting means for displacing the spots and automatically correcting any positional deviation of each of the spots. The positional deviation-correcting means includes any one of at least one projection, at least one recess and electric field-generating means for providing charged states on the base plate centered at a correct position for each of the spots supplied on the base plate.

Abstract: A liquid fuel injection system includes an injection unit for atomizing liquid through application to the fuel vibration energy induced by the operation of piezoelectric/electrostriction elements, and a discharge valve for discharging pressurized fuel into the injection unit. Only during a period of time when an intake valve of an internal combustion engine is closed, an electric controller supplies a drive voltage signal of a certain frequency to the piezoelectric/electrostriction elements of the injection unit so as to operate the piezoelectric/electrostriction elements, and a valve-opening drive signal to the discharge valve so as to discharge fuel into the injection unit from a fuel path of the discharge valve.

Abstract: A liquid droplet ejection apparatus for use in the present liquid droplet ejecting method comprises a base member 30 and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element 41, the interior of the base member being provided with a pressurizing chamber 30b and an ejection opening 30d. When the interval from the last pressurizing operation to the current pressurizing operation is longer than a predetermined time, applied voltage to the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is increased at a first voltage increase rate so that liquid within the pressurizing chamber is pressurized for ejection at a first pressurizing increase rate. When the interval from the last pressurizing operation to the current pressurizing operation is shorter than the predetermined time, the applied voltage is increased at a second voltage increase rate which is smaller than the first voltage increase rate so that the liquid is pressurized for ejection at a second pressurizing rate which is relatively small.

Abstract: A liquid-drop discharge device includes an array of liquid-drop discharge units for discharging liquid from a float cell in communication with a liquid storage tank. A reaction cell, into which fluid is discharged, is provided in communication with the float cell. A differential adjusting tube is provided between the float cell and the reaction cell and includes a release valve for maintaining a specified pressure relationship between an internal pressure P2 of the float cell and an internal pressure P3 of the reaction cell. A driving circuit is provided to drive a pressurizing source of the liquid-drop discharge device and is connected to a control unit. The control unit is connected to a pressure sensor, which detects the internal pressure of the reaction cell and the release valve. The internal pressure P1 of the liquid storage tank is controlled to be larger than the internal pressure P3 of the reaction cell.

Abstract: A liquid injection apparatus 10 comprises an injection device 15, and an electro-magnetic injection valve 14 for ejecting pressurized fuel into the injection device. An ejection hole in the electro-magnetic injection valve is connected to a hollow cylindrical hermetically sealed space, which in turn is connected to a liquid ejection nozzle, through a liquid filling port, a liquid supply passage, and a chamber which are included in the injection device. By means of allowing the electro-magnetic injection valve to eject the pressurized fuel at an angle of inclination relative to the center axis of the hollow cylindrical hermetically sealed space, flows of fuel are produced across a wide area in the hermetically sealed space so that large-sized air bubbles are prevented from being formed in the hermetically sealed space.

Abstract: An improved structure of a liquid drop emitter is provided which works to emit minute drops of liquid to deposit them in a dense array of dots on a substrate to produce a DNA chip, for example. The liquid drop emitter has a plurality of liquid inlets formed in rows in a staggered fashion, thereby allowing the liquid inlets to have a maximum possible area without any physical interference between adjacent two of them and also allowing outlet nozzles to be arranged in a dense array.

Abstract: When the genetic analysis is performed by using a DNA microarray, the inspection accuracy is improved. A sample solution is supplied onto a base plate to prepare the DNA microarray comprising a large number of spots based on the sample solution arranged on the base plate. In the microarray, the planar configuration of the spot is substantially circular, and a plurality of spots having different spot sizes are formed on the base plate.

Abstract: A liquid-drop spraying device is provided which can perform a stable liquid discharge without producing air bubbles in the liquid of the pressurized room as well as the amount of liquid supply per unit time is increased. The liquid can be flowed into the pressurized room uniformly and without entrainment of bubbles from the nozzle side by making an initial discharge (or charge) time constant larger than a subsequent discharge (or charge) time constant, which in turn allows liquid in the pressurized room to be replaced by slow suction followed by fast suction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric/electrostrictive device including a substrate and a connection plate having a first end joined to the substrate and an opposed second end extending along a first direction, and first and second opposed sides along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A fixing plate is joined to the second end of the connection plate. A first side of a first diaphragm is joined to the first side of the connection plate and an opposed second side of the first diaphragm is joined to the substrate. A first side of a second diaphragm is joined to the substrate and an opposed second side of the second diaphragm is joined to the second side of the connection plate. A piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is provided on at least a portion of at least one planar surface of at least one of the diaphragms.

Abstract: A biochip manufacturing method can densely align spots of a plurality of samples in predetermined locations on a substrate using a discharge head equipped with one or more discharge modules composed of one or more discharge units, and a first moving table on which one or more trays with one or more substrates fixed thereon are detachably mounted. According to the biochip manufacturing method, the high precision in the operation for densely aligning and fixing droplets with a minute volume on a predetermined substrate (micro spot-forming operation) can be attained, and the time required for the micro spot-forming operation can be shortened as well.

Abstract: A mass sensor including first and second connecting plates having a slit, an opening portion, and/or a thin-walled portion and a thick-walled portion formed therein; a first diaphragm joined with the first connecting plate at respective side surfaces thereof, and a second diaphragm joined with the second connecting plate at respective side surfaces thereof, between which connecting plates a first sensing plate to which a piezoelectric element is provided at least on a part of at least one surface is bridged; and a sensor substrate joined with the first and second connecting plates at respective side surfaces thereof so that the sensor substrate is positioned on a side opposite to the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm, wherein the diaphragms, connecting plates, sensing plate, and piezoelectric element form a resonating portion.

Abstract: A drop discharge device is provided, including a pressurizing means for achieving discharge of liquid such as raw material or fuel, a pressurizing chamber for pressurizing liquid to be discharged, a nozzle connected to a lower portion of the pressurizing chamber for discharging liquid to a processing unit of the raw material/fuel discharge device, a layer for repelling liquid disposed in a periphery of a discharge hole of the nozzle, and an introducing hole for supplying liquid to the pressurizing chamber. The layer for repelling liquid includes a layer formed to extend over the entire bottom surface of the pressurizing chamber made of fluorocarbon polymers, and grooves for repelling liquid around the discharge hole of the nozzle.

Abstract: In a method for producing a biochip comprising a large number of spots based on captures, the spots are arranged on a base plate 10 by supplying, onto the base plate 10, a plurality of types of the captures to be used to specifically react with a specimen in order to obtain information on a structure or a function of the specimen, an immobilization-reinforcing solution 16 is supplied onto the base plate 10 (first supply step). Subsequently, a sample 14, which is obtained in a sample preparation step, is supplied onto the immobilization-reinforcing solution 16 having been supplied onto the base plate 10 to produce the biochip thereby (second supply step).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method comprising a pretreatment step of forming a poly-L-lysine layer on a surface of a base plate, a sample preparation step of preparing a sample containing a DNA fragment, a dilution step of diluting the concentration of the obtained sample, and a supply step of supplying a diluted sample solution onto the base plate to produce a DNA chip. The sample preparation step includes an amplification step of PCR-amplifying the DNA fragment to prepare a PCR product, a powder formation step of drying the obtained PCR product to form DNA powder, and a mixing step of dissolving the obtained DNA powder in a buffer solution.