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  Apparatus for manufacturing biochip and method for manufacturing biochip tip array moduleThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080035485. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Field of the Invention [0002]The invention relates to apparatus for manufacturing a biochip, and more particularly to an apparatus for manufacturing a biochip with high density array tips. [0003]2. Description of the Related Art [0004]Diagnostic arrays are used in biomedical testing, research, and others to identify unknown samples of materials such as DNA, protein, antibodies and the like. In a typical diagnostic process, a diagnostic test strip array is prepared by depositing a number of discrete drops of liquids at known points on a solid substrate to form a predetermined pattern (array) of diagnostic probes. A plurality of probes has a known tendency to react with a particular substance. [0005]High throughput screening methods for synthesizing (e.g., using combinatorial chemistry methods) and screening large numbers of these compounds for biological and physicochemical properties are desired. For example, a conventional method uses an array of pins dipped into the wells of a microtitre plate, for transferring an array of samples to a substrate, such as a porous membrane. [0006]U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,934 discloses an apparatus for preparation of a substrate containing a plurality of sequences. Photoremovable groups are attached to a surface of a substrate. Selected regions of the substrate are exposed to light so as to activate the selected areas. A monomer is provided to the substrate to bind at the selected areas. The process is repeated using a variety of monomers until sequences of a desired length are obtained. [0007]U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,802 (Hayes et al.) teaches arrays of electromechanical dispensers to form extremely fine drops of fluid and locate them precisely on substrate surfaces in miniature arrays, wherein a positioning support such as an X-Y table, moves the dispensing devices and substrate surfaces relative to each other to locate the drops on the substrates. The valving scheme, however, is cumbersome and requires purging each time a switch is made to a different reagent. This wastes time and reagent and is more expensive to build, since a network of valves and tubing must be provided. [0008]U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,522 uses a specially designed mechanical robot, which produces a probe spot on the microarray by dipping a pin head into a fluid containing an off-line synthesized DNA and then spotting it onto the slide at a predetermined position. Because a microarray contains a very large number of different probes, this technique, although highly flexible, is very slow. Although the speed can be employing multiple pin-heads and spotting multiple slides before washing can increase the speed, production throughput remains very low. [0009]Therefore, it is necessary to develop a novel method and apparatus of manufacturing a biochip array. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010]Apparatuses for manufacturing biochips are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing a biochip from a substrate comprises a tip, a reservoir tank, and a conduit connecting the tip and the reservoir tank. When the substrate is placed over the tip, an agent in the reservoir tank can be applied to the substrate by moving upward and downward the reservoir tank with respect to the tip array. [0011]Another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing a biochip from a substrate comprises a tip array, a reservoir tank for storing an agent, a conduit connecting the tip and the reservoir tank, and a pressure controller connecting to the reservoir tank to control the pressure of the reservoir tank. [0012]Methods of for manufacturing a biochip tip array module are also provided. An exemplary embodiment of a method comprises the following steps. A substrate is provided. A photoresist layer is formed on the substrate. First and second exposures are performed to the photoresist layer with a first and a second photo-mask respectively. The exposed photoresist layer is then developed to form a photoresist pattern thereon, wherein the photoresist pattern has a plurality of photoresist pillars arranged in an array. A metal layer is formed on the substrate outside the photoresist pillars to form a metal structure. The photoresist pillars and the substrate are removed to leave the metal structure for forming a tip array module, wherein the tip array module comprises a plurality of tips arranged in an array. [0013]A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014]The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for manufacturing a biochip according to an embodiment of the invention. [0016]FIGS. 2a-2h are cross sections showing a method of manufacturing a biochip tip array module according to an embodiment of the invention. [0017]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of producing probe spots by moving the reservoir tank upward. [0018]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of moving the reservoir tank downward after producing probe spots. [0019]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of biochip with probe spots. [0020]FIG. 6 shows the dimension of a probe spot of an agent. [0021]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus of manufacturing a biochip according to another embodiment of the invention. Continue reading... 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