Method and apparatus for producing probe carrier

Abstract

Ambient humidity for a plurality of nozzles of a liquid ejection device for ejecting droplets of solutions containing probes to the surface of a carrier is controlled to 50% or more, preferably 60% or more. Part of solution supply passages to the plurality of nozzles are constructed from gas permeable membranes permitting gas-liquid separation under reduced pressure. These gas permeable membrane portions are gathered and altogether placed under reduced pressure to remove air bubbles from the respective solutions supplied to the plural nozzles and decrease the amount of a dissolved gas causing air bubble generation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for producing a probe carrier comprising: 
 scanning a liquid ejection head having a plurality of liquid ejection nozzles relative to a support device supporting a carrier thereon to impart a plurality of solutions to predetermined positions on the carrier, the plurality of solutions containing plural types of probes capable of specifically binding to target substances, thereby obtaining the probe carrier,    wherein at least the support device and the liquid ejection head are installed in an environment where humidity can be maintained at 50% or more.    
     
     
         2 . A method for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein 
 part of solution supply passages between a plurality of probe solution reservoirs for supplying plural types of probe solutions to said plurality of nozzles of said liquid ejection head and said respective nozzles are constructed from hollow yarns permitting gas-liquid separation under reduced pressure, and    an exterior of said hollow yarn supply passage portions is reduced in pressure,    whereby air bubbles infiltrating the probe solutions supplied to said respective nozzles are removed, and an amount of dissolved oxygen in the solution is decreased.    
     
     
         3 . A method for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said humidity is maintained at 60% or more.    
     
     
         4 . A method for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said liquid ejection has a thermal energy generator which gives thermal energy for ejection to a liquid in said nozzle.    
     
     
         5 . A method for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein 
 said probe is any of DNA, RNA, CDNA (complementary DNA), PNA, oligonucleotide, polynucleotide, other nucleic acid, oligopeptide, polypeptide, protein, enzyme, substrate for enzyme, antibody, epitope for antibody, antigen, hormone, hormone receptor, ligand, ligand receptor, oligosaccharide, and polysaccharide.    
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier, comprising: 
 a support device for supporting a carrier;    a liquid ejection head for imparting a plurality of solutions to predetermined positions on said carrier, said plurality of solutions containing probes capable of specifically binding to target substances; and    a scan device for scanning said liquid ejection head relative to said support device, and wherein 
 said liquid ejection head includes a plurality of reservoirs accommodating a plurality of probe solutions containing the plural types of probes specifically binding to the target substances, and a plurality of liquid ejection nozzles for receiving supply of the probe solutions from said plurality of reservoirs and imparting droplets of the probe solutions onto the predetermined positions on said carrier, and  
 at least said support device and said liquid ejection head are installed in an environment where humidity can be maintained at 50% or more.  
   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein 
 part of solution supply passages between said plurality of probe solution reservoirs and said respective nozzles are constructed from hollow yarns comprising gas permeable membranes permitting gas-liquid separation under reduced pressure, and    said hollow yarn supply passage portions are passed into a vacuum chamber.    
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein 
 said humidity is 60% or more.    
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein 
 said liquid ejection head is equipped with a thermal energy generator which gives thermal energy for ejection to a liquid in said nozzle.    
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein 
 said probe is any of DNA, RNA, cDNA (complementary DNA), PNA, oligonucleotide, polynucleotide, other nucleic acid, oligopeptide, polypeptide, protein, enzyme, substrate for enzyme, antibody, epitope for antibody, antigen, hormone, hormone receptor, ligand, ligand receptor, oligosaccharide, and polysaccharide.    
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier, comprising: 
 a plurality of probe imparting chambers each including a support device for supporting a carrier, a liquid ejection head for imparting plural types of probe solutions, capable of specifically binding to target substances, to predetermined positions on said carrier, and a scan device for scanning said liquid ejection head relative to said support device; and    means for transporting said carrier, and wherein 
 the other of the plurality of chambers are arranged around said transport means as a center, and the transport means transports the carrier for insert and taking out the carrier onto and from the chambers.  
   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus further comprises testing chamber for testing a probe impartment state on a surface of said carrier.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein 
 at least ambient humidity for said liquid ejection head constituting said plurality of probe imparting chambers is maintained at 50% or more.    
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein 
 part of solution supply passages between a plurality of probe solution reservoirs and respective nozzles of said liquid ejection head are constructed from hollow yarns permitting gas-liquid separation under reduced pressure, and    said hollow yarn supply passage portions are passed into a vacuum chamber.    
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein 
 ambient humidity for said liquid ejection head is 60% or more.    
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein 
 said liquid ejection head is equipped with a thermal energy generator which gives thermal energy for ejection to a liquid in said nozzle.    
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for producing a probe carrier as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein 
 said probe is any of DNA, RNA, cDNA (complementary DNA), PNA, oligonucleotide, polynucleotide, other nucleic acid, oligopeptide, polypeptide, protein, enzyme, substrate for enzyme, antibody, epitope for antibody, antigen, hormone, hormone receptor, ligand, ligand receptor, oligosaccharide, and polysaccharide.