Abstract: A sample solution introduction kit and a sample solution injector capable of introducing sample solution while reducing the rate of occurrence of an air bubble and having a simplified structure are proposed. A sample solution introduction kit includes a plate-like member and a sample solution injector. The plate-like member has a plurality of spaces formed therein and serving as reaction field and a communication space that communicates with the plurality of spaces therein and that has a portion defining an opening formed in a surface of the plate-like member, and the sample solution injector includes a container containing the sample solution, a tube that communicates with the bottom of the container and that is insertable into the opening, a stopper removably fitted into an opening formed at a top end of the tube, and liquid held in the container, and the liquid is insoluble in the sample solution and is lighter than the sample solution.

Abstract: A nucleic acid quantification method that uses a microchip for nucleic acid amplification reaction, the microchip including an inlet through which a liquid is introduced from outside, a plurality of reaction regions provided as reaction sites of a nucleic acid amplification reaction, and a channel through which the liquid introduced through the inlet is supplied into each of the reaction regions, wherein the likelihood of the nucleic acid amplification reaction varies between the reaction regions, includes: flowing a detection target nucleic acid chain-containing solution through the channel and introducing the solution into each of the reaction regions to perform a nucleic acid amplification reaction; and detecting an amplification product in each of the reaction regions to specify the reaction regions in which the nucleic acid amplification reaction occurred.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical analysis apparatus including: a light source; a light guiding plate configured to guide incident light from the light source to each of reaction areas; a light shielding structure configured to restrict emission directions of light beams emitted from the inside of the reaction areas; and a detection system configured to detect the light beams emitted from the inside of the reaction areas by radiation of the light.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a light detection device including, at least, a substrate provided with a plurality of detection regions where to perform detection of fluorescent light emitted from the inside of a sample upon irradiation of the sample with light, a light irradiation section operable to perform the irradiation with light, an optical control section configured to irradiate the detection regions with the light radiated from the light irradiation section, and a light detection section operable to detect the fluorescent light.

Abstract: A microchip is provided. The microchip (A) includes a substrate structure including a fluid channel (2) configured to contain a sample solution, wherein the fluid channel is maintained at a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure prior to injection of the sample solution into the fluid channel.

Abstract: A technology is provided for achieving high efficiency of nucleic acid amplification reaction and high precision of melting curve analysis when performing melting curve analysis in a nucleic acid amplification process of obtaining an amplification product in which the target nucleic acids are continuously arranged via a loop. A method for analysis of nucleic acid base sequence is provided, and includes: performing amplification reaction of target nucleic acid which is targeted for amplification, in presence of a probe nucleic acid that is capable of hybridizing with the target nucleic acid, to obtain an amplification product in which the target nucleic acids are continuously arranged via a loop site and employing as the probe nucleic acid, a probe nucleic acid having a melting temperature which is lower than the reaction temperature of the amplification reaction; and performing melting curve analysis of the amplification product and the probe nucleic acid.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a microchip that allows a sample to be introduced into a region easily and accurately, and which makes it possible to obtain high analysis accuracy. The microchip includes an airtight region into which a solution is externally introduced; and positioning means for positioning a channel for injecting the solution into the region by penetrating a substrate layer forming the region with respect to a puncture part of the region.

Abstract: A nucleic acid quantification method that uses a microchip for nucleic acid amplification reaction, the microchip including an inlet through which a liquid is introduced from outside, a plurality of reaction regions provided as reaction sites of a nucleic acid amplification reaction, and a channel through which the liquid introduced through the inlet is supplied into each of the reaction regions, wherein the likelihood of the nucleic acid amplification reaction varies between the reaction regions, includes: flowing a detection target nucleic acid chain-containing solution through the channel and introducing the solution into each of the reaction regions to perform a nucleic acid amplification reaction; and detecting an amplification product in each of the reaction regions to specify the reaction regions in which the nucleic acid amplification reaction occurred.

Abstract: A sample solution introduction kit and a sample solution injector capable of introducing sample solution while reducing the rate of occurrence of an air bubble and having a simplified structure are proposed. A sample solution introduction kit includes a plate-like member and a sample solution injector. The plate-like member has a plurality of spaces formed therein and serving as reaction field and a communication space that communicates with the plurality of spaces therein and that has a portion defining an opening formed in a surface of the plate-like member, and the sample solution injector includes a container containing the sample solution, a tube that communicates with the bottom of the container and that is insertable into the opening, a stopper removably fitted into an opening formed at a top end of the tube, and liquid held in the container, and the liquid is insoluble in the sample solution and is lighter than the sample solution.

Abstract: A microchip for an isothermal nucleic-acid amplification reaction in which at least one of substances necessary for an isothermal amplification reaction of a nucleic acid is present in a reaction region functioning as a reaction field of the reaction, the at least one of the substances being covered with a thin film that melts at a temperature higher than room temperature and lower than a reaction temperature of the reaction.

Abstract: A real-time PCR system for detecting gene expression levels includes plural reaction regions, a like plural number of heating portions arranged corresponding to the reaction regions and having heat sources, respectively, an optical unit capable of irradiating exciting light of a specific wavelength to all of the plural reaction regions, and a like plural number of fluorescence detecting portions arranged corresponding to the reaction regions, respectively. The heating portions are each provided with a temperature detector for detecting a temperature in a vicinity of the corresponding heat source and converting the temperature into an electrical signal and also with a controller for controlling a thermal dose from the corresponding heat source based on a correlation between electrical signals and calorific values of the heat source stored beforehand.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a light detection device including, at least, a substrate provided with a plurality of detection regions where to perform detection of fluorescent light emitted from the inside of a sample upon irradiation of the sample with light, a light irradiation section operable to perform the irradiation with light, an optical control section configured to irradiate the detection regions with the light radiated from the light irradiation section, and a light detection section operable to detect the fluorescent light.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an optical detector at least including: a first substrate in which a plurality of wells are formed; a second substrate in which a heating section is provided to heat the wells; a third substrate in which a plurality of photoirradiation sections are provided in alignment with the wells; and a fourth substrate in which a plurality of photodetection sections are provided in alignment with the wells.

Abstract: There are provided an interaction detecting portion including an interaction region in the whole of which an electrodynamic effect is obtained, and which has a simpler structure, and the like. There is provided an interaction detecting portion 1 including at least: a reaction region 2 which provides a field for an interaction between materials, and an electrode E1 (or a group of electrodes), having the same potential, which is provided so as to face the reaction region 2. In addition, there are provided a sensor chip, such as a DNA chip or a protein chip, including the interaction detecting portion 1, and an interaction detector using the detection portion 1.

Abstract: A hybridization detecting unit which includes a reaction region in which hybridization takes place, a plurality of sites (e.g., the surface of electrodes) arranged in the reaction region to which is fixed a nucleic acid for detection, and means for sequentially moving by dielectrophoresis the target nucleic acid introduced into the reaction region according to the order of arrangement of the sites to which is fixed a nucleic acid for detection. A sensor chip provided with the hybridization detecting unit. The detecting unit compulsorily moves the target nucleic acid into the region where a probe nucleic acid for detection exists, thereby increasing the probability of hybridization taking place.

Abstract: A real-time PCR system for detecting gene expression levels includes plural reaction regions, a like plural number of heating portions arranged corresponding to the reaction regions and having heat sources, respectively, an optical unit capable of irradiating exciting light of a specific wavelength to all of the plural reaction regions, and a like plural number of fluorescence detecting portions arranged corresponding to the reaction regions, respectively. The heating portions are each provided with a temperature detector for detecting a temperature in a vicinity of the corresponding heat source and converting the temperature into an electrical signal and also with a controller for controlling a thermal dose from the corresponding heat source based on a correlation between electrical signals and calorific values of the heat source stored beforehand.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a nucleic acid amplifier for carrying out a nucleic acid amplification reaction, the amplifier including at least: a plurality of wells configured to carry out the nucleic acid amplification reaction; a heating unit provided for every well; optical means capable of irradiating excitation light of a specified wavelength to all of the wells; and a fluorescence detection unit provided for every well.

Abstract: A polishing method and polishing apparatus able to easily flatten an initial unevenness with an excellent efficiency of removal of excess copper film and suppress damage to a lower interlayer insulation film, and a plating method and plating apparatus able to deposit a flat copper film. The polishing method comprises the steps of measuring thickness equivalent data of a film on a wafer, making a cathode member smaller than the surface face a region thereof, interposing an electrolytic solution between the surface and the cathode member, applying a voltage using the cathode member as a cathode and the film an anode, performing electrolytic polishing by electrolytic elution or anodic oxidation and chelation and removal of a chelate film in the same region preferentially from projecting portions of the film until removing the target amount of film obtained from the thickness equivalent data, and repeating steps of moving the cathode member to another region to flattening the regions over the entire surface.

Abstract: A method of production and a method of polishing a semiconductor device and a polishing apparatus, capable of easily flattening an initial unevenness of a metal film, excellent in efficiency of removal of an excess metal film, and capable of suppressing damage to an interlayer insulation film below the metal film when flattening the metal film by polishing, the polishing method including the steps of interposing an electrolytic solution including a chelating agent between a cathode member and the copper film, applying a voltage between the cathode member used as a cathode and the copper film used as an anode to oxidize the surface of the copper film and forming a chelate film of the oxidized copper, selectively removing a projecting portion of the chelate film corresponding to the shape of the copper film to expose the projecting portion of the copper film at its surface, and repeating the above chelate film forming step and the above chelate film removing step until the projecting portion of the copper film

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybridization detector (1a) and the like that are improved in the hybridization efficiency by arraying nucleotide probes in a stretched form, a sensor chip including the hybridization detector (1a) or the like, and a method of hybridization using these detectors or the chip. The hybridization detector (la) and the like include a reaction region (R) for hybridization between the nucleotide probes (X) and target nucleotide sequences (Y) having a base sequence complementary to the nucleotide probes (X). The reaction region (R) has a configuration for stretching the nucleotide probes (X) by an electric field and immobilizing the nucleotide probes (X) on ends (E) of scanning electrodes (C) by dielectrophoresis.