Bio-assay substrate, bio-assay apparatus, and reading apparatus

Abstract

A bioassay substrate high in integration amount, free in grouping of substances, low in cost, and the like are provided. Specifically, a bioassay substrate includes detection surfaces S on which detection substances can be solidified, the detection surfaces S is provided on a surface of a disk form substrate capable of reading out record information optically, and the detection surfaces S is provided in groove structures (pits) provided in the surface of the substrate radially as viewed on the upper side at predetermined intervals. A bioassay system using the bioassay substrate and a readout system are also provided.

1 . A bioassay substrate comprising detection surfaces on which detection substances can be solidified, said detection surfaces being provided on a surface of a disk form substrate capable of reading out record information optically, wherein said detection surfaces are provided in groove structures provided in said surface of said substrate so as to extend in radial directions as viewed on the upper side.  
     
     
         2 . The bioassay substrate as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising means for providing positional information and rotational synchronism information on said detection surface sites.  
     
     
         3 . The bioassay substrate as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said means is comprised of a wobbling or address pits provided on said substrate.  
     
     
         4 . The bioassay substrate as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said detection substances are each any one selected from the group composed of nucleotide chains, peptides, proteins, lipids, low-molecular compounds, ribosome, and other vital substances.  
     
     
         5 . A bioassay method comprising the steps of: 
 spotting detection substance-containing solutions onto detection surface sites of a bioassay substrate comprising said detection surfaces for enabling solidification of detection substances, said detection surfaces being provided on a surface of a disk form substrate capable of reading out record information optically, and said detection surfaces being provided in groove structures provided in said substrate so as to extend in radial directions as viewed on the upper side, by an ink jet printing process or a micromechanical spotting process; and    solidifying said detection substances.    
     
     
         6 . A bioassay system using a bioassay substrate comprising detection surfaces on which detection substances can be solidified, said detection surfaces being provided on a surface of a disk form substrate capable of reading out record information optically, said detection surfaces being provided in groove structures provided in said surface of said substrate so as to extend in radial directions as viewed on the upper side, and said bioassay substrate providing positional information and rotational synchronism information, wherein said bioassay system comprises, at least: 
 substrate rotating means for rotatably supporting said bioassay substrate;    a spotting device for spotting detection substance-containing solutions and a labeled target substance-containing solution onto said detection surface sites, while rotating said bioassay substrate by said substrate rotating means;    a focus servo mechanism for maintaining a fixed distance between said spotting device and said bioassay substrate; and    a tracking servo mechanism for making said spotting of said solutions follow up to said detection surface sites, based on said positional information and said rotational synchronism information.    
     
     
         7 . The bioassay system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said spotting device is at least one selected from the group composed of an ink jet printing device and a micromechanical spotting device.  
     
     
         8 . The bioassay system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein 
 Said spotting device is an ink jet printing device, and    ink jet nozzles are integrated to a support body disposed opposite to said bioassay substrate for containing an objective lens for emitting to said bioassay substrate a laser beam for the functions of focus servo and tracking servo.    
     
     
         9 . The readout system unitized with a bioassay system as set forth in  claim 6 , for reading out record information on said bioassay substrate, wherein 
 focus servo and tracking servo are applied to said bioassay substrate, a fluorescence-labeled target substance coupled with said detection substances on said detection surfaces is irradiated with a condensed laser beam, and fluorochrome intensities of fluorescence induced by excitation upon said irradiation are detected.