Photographic illumination apparatus for biological matter has a perforated mask between the light source and the DNA chip with micro shutters operated by electronic control

摘要

Apparatus to give a photolithography illumination of biological matter having at least one light source (A), a perforated mask (H) with micro shutters and a control unit (I) to open and close the micro shutters independently of each other, is new. The light source gives a monochrome or continuous light in a wavelength range of 100-800 nm. The light source is a laser, light emitting diode, metal vapor lamp, gas discharge lamp, gas excitation lamp, incandescent lamp or an arc lamp. The perforated mask has a micro shutter array of semiconductor material of a classic semiconductor technology or through a lithographic plating structuring. The material to be illuminated is on a carrier (C) as a DNA chip, PNA chip or a peptide chip. The apparatus also has at least one detector which registers the illumination and/or reflected light from the target material and/or the fluorescence generated in the material by the illumination. The light is carried to the detector by an optic fiber or a bundle of optic fibers. The light source emits a spectrum of wavelengths to unmask nucleotides and the like, and peptide nucleic acid components for chain extension and to form oligomers. The perforated mask plate, with micro shutters, is between the light source and the substrate with controlled shutter opening and closing to allow light through or block its passage through each perforation hole, operated by an electronic control unit (I). The solid phase with the oligomer synthesis is positioned accurately and rigidly behind the perforated mask, in a chamber containing units for the supply of the required solutions to synthesize DNA or PNA and/or reagents for delivery to the solid phase. The solid phase is a carrier with the oligomer synthesis. An independent claim is included for the operation of the apparatus. where a perforated mask with controlled micro shutters gives a set pattern of illuminated points (D) and shadowed points (E) at the chip. After a successful oligomerizing on the DNA or PNA chip, a hybridizing action is effected with a target DNA.