Biochip manufacturing method and biochip manufacturing device

Abstract

Provided is a method of manufacturing a biochip using a droplet discharging device including a droplet discharging head having a cavity and a nozzle hole provided in communication with the cavity, and a liquid housing unit connected to the cavity via a passage, having the steps of filling a retention liquid which separates without getting mixed with the sample liquid into the liquid housing unit, the passage, and the cavity; injecting the sample liquid into the liquid housing unit; moving the sample liquid from the liquid housing unit to the cavity by discharging the retention liquid from the nozzle hole; stopping the discharge of the retention liquid at the moving step upon detecting with a sensor that the sample liquid reached a position adjacent to the nozzle hole; and delivering the sample liquid as droplets onto the object by discharging the sample liquid from the nozzle hole.

1 . A device that manufactures a biochip by delivering in drops a sample liquid containing a biological material onto a prescribed object, comprising:
 a droplet discharging head having a cavity and a nozzle hole provided in communication with the cavity, and which discharges liquid from the nozzle hole according to a drive signal;   a liquid housing unit connected to the cavity via a flow channel and which houses the sample liquid and a retention liquid that has roughly the same specific gravity as the sample liquid and which separates without getting mixed with the sample liquid;   a table that supports the object;   a drive unit that relatively moves the droplet discharging head and the table; and   a sensor that detects that the sample liquid reached a position adjacent to the nozzle hole of the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The biochip manufacturing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects the fluorescence emitted from a fluorescent material mixed into the sample liquid. 
     
     
         3 . The biochip manufacturing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a pair of electrodes provided near the nozzle hole of the droplet discharging head, and detects the dielectric constant of the sample liquid or the retention liquid interposed between the electrodes.