Abstract: A cell evaluation method according to the disclosed technology includes culturing cells such that a plurality of cells or a plurality of cell aggregates are arranged on a culture surface, installing a flow channel attachable to and detachable from the culture surface, and allowing a liquid to flow through the flow channel to provide a liquid flow to each of the plurality of cells or the plurality of cell aggregates.

Abstract: There is provided a masking sheet that is used for patterning cells or cell aggregates, which are formed on a culture surface. The masking sheet has the adhesive layer that is adhered to a culture surface, the support layer that is laminated on the adhesive layer to support the adhesive layer, and the opening portion that penetrates through the adhesive layer and the support layer and corresponds to a pattern of the cells or cell aggregates.

Abstract: The pattern forming device includes at least one columnar structure body having a holding surface for holding a liquid at a tip thereof. The pattern forming method includes forming liquid droplets of a cell suspension or a cell adhesive on the holding surface and making the liquid droplets contact with the culture surface.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus, a liquid dispensing method, and a cell dispensing method which can dispense liquid with very high accuracy. A dispensing apparatus includes a glass pipette, a tubular elastic member, a rod-shaped member, and a piezoelectric element actuator. A portion of the tubular elastic member located adjacent to a first open end thereof covers a portion of the glass pipette located adjacent to an opening portion thereof. A portion of the tubular elastic member located adjacent to a second open end thereof covers at least a forward end portion of the rod-shaped member. When the piezoelectric element actuator pushes the rod-shaped member toward the opening portion of the glass pipette, the tubular elastic member deforms such that the volume of the internal space of the tubular elastic member decreases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a platelet comprising: (a) a step of culturing a megakaryocyte for at least 6 days in a platelet production medium in which a turbulent flow is generated; and (b) a step of injecting the medium comprising the megakaryocyte that has undergone step (a) into a predetermined platelet production device to expose the megakaryocyte to a laminar flow.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus that measures an optical characteristic of a surface in accordance with a standard selected from a plurality of standards is provided. The apparatus includes an illumination device configured to illuminate the surface with light from a light source, an imaging device configured to image the light source with reflected light from the surface illuminated by the illumination device, and a processor configured to process image data having number of pixels obtained by reducing number of pixels of the imaging device by a reduction rate to obtain the optical characteristic of the surface. The processor is configured to determine the reduction rate based on the selected standard.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus, a liquid dispensing method, and a cell dispensing method which can dispense liquid with very high accuracy. A dispensing apparatus includes a glass pipette, a tubular elastic member, a rod-shaped member, and a piezoelectric element actuator. A portion of the tubular elastic member located adjacent to a first open end thereof covers a portion of the glass pipette located adjacent to an opening portion thereof. A portion of the tubular elastic member located adjacent to a second open end thereof covers at least a forward end portion of the rod-shaped member. When the piezoelectric element actuator pushes the rod-shaped member toward the opening portion of the glass pipette, the tubular elastic member deforms such that the volume of the internal space of the tubular elastic member decreases.

Abstract: A two-dimensional intensity distribution representing intensity distributions of reflected light from an object surface in a reflection angle direction and an azimuth angle direction is acquired. A reflection characteristic of the object surface is obtained based on an intensity distribution in a predetermined direction different from the reflection angle direction in the two-dimensional intensity distribution.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes an optical system configured to project light onto a sample and to receive light via the sample, an imaging device configured to take an image of a light source via the optical system, and a processor configured to obtain an optical characteristic of the sample based on an output of the imaging device. The processor is configured to determine a coefficient of a Wiener filter based on one of the image and a Fourier transform thereof and corresponding one of the light source (an aperture in an aperture unit) and a Fourier transform thereof, and obtain the optical characteristic based on the Wiener filter of which the coefficient has been determined, a Fourier transform of the image, and a Fourier transform of the light source.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus that measures an optical characteristic of a surface in accordance with a standard selected from a plurality of standards is provided. The apparatus includes an illumination device configured to illuminate the surface with light from a light source, an imaging device configured to image the light source with reflected light from the surface illuminated by the illumination device, and a processor configured to process image data having number of pixels obtained by reducing number of pixels of the imaging device by a reduction rate to obtain the optical characteristic of the surface. The processor is configured to determine the reduction rate based on the selected standard.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus includes an optical system configured to project light onto a sample and to receive light via the sample, an imaging device configured to take an image of a light source via the optical system, and a processor configured to obtain an optical characteristic of the sample based on an output of the imaging device. The processor is configured to determine a coefficient of a Wiener filter based on one of the image and a Fourier transform thereof and corresponding one of the light source (an aperture in an aperture unit) and a Fourier transform thereof, and obtain the optical characteristic based on the Wiener filter of which the coefficient has been determined, a Fourier transform of the image, and a Fourier transform of the light source.