WO2008127012A1

WO2008127012A1 - Method for focus adjustment about bio-chip

Info

Publication number: WO2008127012A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/002005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Soo-Kyung Kim; Won-Hyung Cho
Original assignee: Nanostorage Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-04-12
Filing date: 2008-04-10
Publication date: 2008-10-23
Also published as: KR20080092854A; KR100992553B1

Abstract

A focus adjusting method for a biochip is disclosed. The focus adjusting method includes: 1) scanning a disk in which at least one biochip is installed and storing scanning information on an entire area of the disk: 2) judging a data area and a disk area based on the scanning information; 3) calculating a location value of the data area; 4) adjusting a focus of a scanner prior to the data area, based on the location value of the data area; and 5) recording or reproducing information on the biochip by using the scanner of which focus is adjusted. According to the present invention, a data acquisition error is prevented by acquiring data after previously calculating a data area and a non-data area and thus rapidly adjusting a focus in the data area.

Description

Description METHOD FOR FOCUS ADJUSTMENT ABOUT BIO-CHIP

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a focus adjusting method for a biochip, and more particularly, to a focus adjusting method for a biochip, that prevents a data acquisition error by acquiring data after previously calculating a data area and a non-data area and thus rapidly adjusting a focus in the data area. Background Art

[2] A biochip market was formed in the mid 1990s and has grown increasingly in recent years.

[3] According to biomaterials, a biochip can be classified into a DNA chip using DNA probes, a protein chip using proteins such as enzymes, antigens/antibodies and bacteri- orhodopsins, a cell chip using cells, and a lab-on-a-chip. The lab-on-a-chip is used when processing a large quantity of samples and has a meaning of "a laboratory on a chip" since all pretreatments including separation, refining and amplification of samples and their analysis are implemented on a single chip.

[4] One example of an analyzing method using the biochip is to check whether diseases or symptoms exist by analyzing revelation of a fluorescent material caused by the reaction of protein contained in blood or urine of an inspector, after reacting the blood or urine on a biochip. The biochip is integrated with protein and a fluorescent material that act on specific diseases or symptoms. The biochip for diagnosing specific diseases or symptoms is called a diagnostic kit. The diagnostic kit has been widely used because of its rapidity and accuracy. The above-described analysis method using the biochip has been implemented through eyes of an analyzer or a microscope.

[5] However, the visual inspection through the analyzer's eyes that depends solely on judgment of an analyzer requires great skill and the reliability of an inspection result may be decreased due to errors in an analysis result varying according to analyzers.

[6] Furthermore, the accuracy of analysis is lowered by inner or outer factors such as fatigue of an analyzer (or inspector), analysis circumstances, etc.

[7] Although the inspection using the microscope may increase the reliability compared with the inspection by analyzer's eyes, it requires much time and manpower.

[8] Recently, a method labeled with a fluorescent material has been mainly used for a biochip detecting method. Namely, a degree of selective coupling is monitored after reacting a sample solution labeled with the fluorescent material to a biomaterial fixed on a substrate under a general coupling reaction condition.

[9] The monitored time (that is, an analysis time of the biochip) depends on the size of a cell constituting the biochip. The size of the cell is determined according to a used purpose by the accuracy and capacity of desired information and ranges from a few m to several hundred m. Therefore, the analysis time of commercially available biochip products takes a few minutes to several tens of minutes.

[10] To monitor the coupling degree on a given cell of the above-described biochip, a fluorescence confocal scanner has been used.

[11] Although the fluorescence confocal scanner is excellent in sensitivity and accuracy, it is high in cost and occupies large volume.

[12] Especially, since the fluorescence confocal scanner is suitable for a chip that requires accuracy of 1 m or less or monitors a large quantity of information, it is difficult to widely use the biochip.

[13] Moreover, since the fluorescence confocal scanner scans fluorescence images and then shows real images, it takes much time to scan and analyze the images.

[14] To use the biochip as a diagnosis sensor or a sensor for environment/food monitoring, a biosensor type which is easy to carry and can analyze samples on the spot is desirable. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a biochip that is low in cost and can process samples at high speed. To solve such a problem, there are Korean Pat. Nos. 2004-83150, 2004-31057, and 2005-25948, entitled "BIOCHIP READER AND DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME", "METHOD FOR SCANNING BIOCHIP USING MO TYPE AND SCANNER", "CELL PATTERNING DEVICE FOR BIOCHIP", respectively, that are assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

[15] The above patent applications describe that information contained in a biochip is scanned while a circular disk in which a plurality of biochips are loaded rotates. However, they are disadvantageous in that data is acquired not in a data area but in an area passing the data area due to a scanning deviation between a disk area and a biochip area.

[16] That is, focusing is started only when a scanner approaches in the biochip area from the disk area and information is acquired after a data area start point due to a time deviation in the rotation of the disk and focusing. Accordingly, an error in data acquisition occurs. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[17] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a focus adjusting method for a biochip, that prevents a data acquisition error by acquiring data after previously calculating a data area and a non-data area and thus rapidly adjusting a focus in the data area. Advantageous Effects

[18] According to the present invention, a data acquisition error is prevented by acquiring data after previously calculating a data area and a non-data area and thus rapidly adjusting a focus in the data area. [19] Further, a data acquisition time is shortened by obtaining data after a location of a data area is previously confirmed. [20] Furthermore, a focus adjusting time is shortened and vibration generated when a focus is adjusted is minimized, since the focus is previously adjusted through a sensing means before a scanner approaches a biochip area within the biochip area and a disk area out of the entire area of a disk.

Brief Description of the Drawings [21] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [22] Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a focus adjusting method for a biochip according to the present invention; [23] Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating a disk in which biochips are installed according to the present invention; [24] Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a disk in which biochips are installed according to the present invention; [25] Fig. 4 is a graph illustrating a disk area scanned at a low speed according to the present invention; [26] Fig. 5 is an enlarged graph of a biochip interval and a disk interval in a scanning area shown in Fig. 3;

[27] Fig. 6 is a graph illustrating a biochip interval and a disk interval including focus information according to the present invention. [28] Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating a biochip holder area and a biochip area according to the present invention; [29] Fig. 8 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a disk shown in Fig. 7; and [30] Fig. 9 is a plan view illustrating a disk according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [31] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a focus adjusting method includes: 1) scanning a disk in which at least one biochip is installed and storing scanning information on an entire area of the disk: 2) judging a data area and a disk area based on the scanning information; 3) calculating a location value of the data area; 4) adjusting a focus of a scanner prior to the data area, based on the location value of the data area; and 5) recording or reproducing information on the biochip by using the scanner of which focus is adjusted.

[32] The steps 1) and 2) acquire focus information on a biochip area and the disk area by scanning the disk in which the biochip is installed. The step 3) discriminates between a location for the data area and a location for the disk area out of the entire area of the disk, based on the scanning information obtained from the steps 1) and 2).

[33] The disk area further includes focus information on a gap interval between the disk area and a biochip area.

[34] The step 3) applies a value obtained by dividing a sum of a start interval and an end interval of the data area out of a biochip scanning interval to the disk area or a gap interval. The steps 1) and 2) separately scan a scanning interval and a non-scanning in terval in the entire area of the disk. The steps 1) to 3) cause the scanner to acquire focus information on the entire area of the disk while the disk rotates at a low speed.

[35] The steps 4) and 5) record or reproduce information on the biochip by more increasing a rotation speed of the disk than a rotation speed at the steps 1) to 3), based on data on the entire area of the disk acquired in the steps 1) to 3).

[36] The step 2) separately judges a biochip holder area based on the scanning information, and the biochip holder area is replaced by the judged biochip area.

[37] A sensing means for confirming the disk area and the data area on the disk is provided, and the sensing means causes the scanner to adjust the focus prior to a start point of the data area. The sensing means comprises a first sensor and a first signal generator for confirming the number of rotations of the disk, and a second sensor and a second signal generator for confirming respective data area during rotation of the disk. The second signal generator is provided between the respective data areas.

[38] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[39] Referring to Fig. 1, a focus adjusting method for a biochip includes scanning and storing the entire area of a disk (SlO), judging a data area and a disk area (S20), calculating a location value of the data area (S30), adjusting a focus of a scanner (S40), and scanning the biochip (S50).

[40] In the first step SlO, focus information is acquired by scanning the entire area of a disk 10 shown in Fig. 2 by a scanner. That is, the entire area of the disk is scanned by operating the scanner under the state that the disk 10 rotates at a low speed, and focus information for the entire area of the disk is acquired and stored.

[41] For example, a laser beam emitted from the scanner is irradiated onto the entire area of the disk and focus values for the entire area of the disk are acquired and stored. The stored focus values include focus values for a biochip interval 110, a disk interval 120, and a non-scanning interval 200.

[42] In second step S20, the biochip interval 110 and the disk area interval 120 are judged based on the focus information acquired by scanning the entire area of the disk. As shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 4, the irradiated laser beam is reflected in the biochip interval out of the scanned entire area of the disk but it passes through the disk interval. Therefore, focus values in the disk interval and the biochip interval are different and this is judged by a scanning location and time according to the rotation speed of the disk.

[43] Meanwhile, the disk interval 120 has focus information similar to the biochip interval

110 because their surface form is similar to each other. However, a minute gap occurs when a biochip 20 is inserted into the disk 10. Namely, since there is a gap interval 122 that focus information is remarkably lowered at a boundary between the biochip interval 110 and the disk interval 120, focus information for the gap interval 122 is separately measured and stored in the disk interval 120.

[44] For example, the entire area of the disk is divided into the biochip interval 110 and the disk interval 120 and the divided biochip interval and disk interval are separately stored.

[45] In the third step S30, a focus value in the disk interval 120 is adjusted based on information of the disk interval and biochip interval judged in the second step S20. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the biochip interval 110 acquired in the second step S20 includes a data area 112 for recording/reproducing data. When scanning the biochip, information on the data area can be confirmed through the entire scanning value. Namely, a start interval FA2 and an end interval FAl of the data area out of the biochip interval 120 can be calculated. In this case, the scanner focuses a track location for recording data or a reproducing location in the data area to determine a location for the data area. A value obtained by adding and dividing values of the start interval FA2 and the end interval FAl except for the data area 112 within the biochip interval is applied to an area where the scanner is not focused.

[46] The above-described process may be applicable to the disk interval 120. Although not shown in the drawings, there is a time point that focus information is abruptly varied due to a deviation of a gap 12, as illustrated in Fig. 3, formed by inserting the biochip 10 into the disk 20 even when the disk interval 120 has the same focus information as the biochip interval 110. In this case, the gap interval 122 can be focused by applying a value obtained by adding and dividing the values of the start interval FA2 and the end interval FAl of the data area.

[47] In the fourth step S40, the entire area of the disk is scanned based on focus information on the disk interval 120 and the biochip interval 110 acquired in the third step S30 and focus information obtained in the biochip interval. That is, focus in- formation on respective intervals of the disk is inputted through the focus information on the entire area of the disk that is previously obtained in step S30 and then the scanner moves toward the biochip interval. Accordingly, a focus time in the biochip interval is shortened, thereby preventing an error in the data interval of the biochip interval while recording/reproducing bioinformation.

[48] In the fifth step S50, a recording/reproducing operation is performed at the same time when the scanner enters the data area 112 after a focus of the scanner is adjusted in step S40.

[49] For example, focus information on the entire area of the disk is previously acquired and a focus of the scanner is adjusted before the scanner is located in a data managing area. As illustrated in Fig. 6, since the focus of the scanner has already been adjusted when the scanner arrives in the data area, a focus adjusting time of the scanner is shortened and bioinformation can be recorded/reproduced rapidly and accurately. That is, a deviation of focus information in the biochip interval and the disk interval is minutely adjusted and thus a focus adjusting time is shortened. As a result, an error at the data area is prevented and rapid focusing is possible because the focus of the scanner has been adjusted before the scanner arrives in the biochip interval from the disk interval.

[50] A detailed description of the scanner will be omitted since it is a well known to those skilled in the art.

[51] Referring to Fig. 7 or Fig. 8, a plurality of biochip holders 130 in which the biochips

20 are installed is formed on the disk 10. In some case, the biochips are installed in only a part of the biochip holders 130. If the biochips are installed in the biochip holders 130, the above scanning method is applied and a focus is adjusted. However, if the biochips are not installed in the biochip holders 130 and thus the biochip holders 130 remain as empty spaces, a biochip holder area is separately judged based on the scanning information acquired in step SlO, and the biochip holder area 132 is replaced by the judged biochip area and then focused.

[52] Similarly to replacing the gap interval 122 by the data interval 119, the disk interval

120, the biochip interval 110 and the holder area 132 are judged under the state that the entire area of the disk is scanned. In this case, the biochip holder area 132 has the same focus value as the disk area 120 as illustrated in Fig. 4. A value calculated when scanning the biochip interval 110 is applied to the biochip holder area 132 in which the biochips are not installed. That is, a focus is previously adjusted, vibration generated during focus adjustment is minimized and a focus adjusting time is shortened.

[53] As illustrated in Fig. 9 or Fig. 10, the disk 10 further includes a sensing means 300 for confirming a location of the biochip area 110. The sensing means 300 causes the scanner to adjust a focus in the disk area 120 before the data area 110 is started. To this end, the sensing means 300 includes a first sensor 310 and a first signal generator 311 that confirm the number of rotations of the disk and a second sensor 320 and second signal generators 320a, 320b, , 32On that confirm each data area 110 during disk rotation. The second signal generators are provided between respective data areas.

[54] For example, when rotating the disk to acquire/reproduce actual data under the state that the data area 110 and the disk area 120 are judged out of the entire area of the disk after scanning the disk 10, the rotating state of the disk is confirmed by the first sensor 310 and the first signal generator 311, and start and end points of the data area are confirmed by the second sensor 320 and the second signal generators 320a, 320b, and 32On. That is, if the first and second sensors 310 and 320 sense signals under the state that the first sensor 310 and the first signal generator 311 approximates to each other and the second sensor 320 and the second signal generator 320a approximates to each other, that location is determined as a start location of the first data area. If the first and second signal generators 311 and 320a deviate from the first and second sensors 310 and 320, respectively by rotating the disk, the second signal generator 320b is located toward the second sensor 320. At this time, an area between the second signal generators 320a and 320b is determined as the data area and the second signal generator 320b is determined as a start location of the second data area interval. The above sensing operations are repeated, and if the first signal generator 311 senses the first sensor 310 twice, an area between the second signal generators 32On and 320a is confirmed as the last data area and thus the data area interval and the disk area can be confirmed. Therefore, the focus of the scanner can be previously adjusted when the scanner moves to the data area from the disk area.

[55] Moreover, the data area and the disk area can be confirmed by using the first and second sensors and the first and second signal generators and data in the data area can be stored. The first and second signal generators may use sensor dogs or plates, and the first and second sensors may use photosensors. The first and second signal generators are provided on the disk.

[56] Hereinafter, an operational state of the present invention is described.

[57] A scanner (not shown) and a focusing module (not shown) are located at the upper side of the disk 10. The scanner and the focusing module can move in horizontal and vertical directions as well known in the art.

[58] First, the disk 10 rotates at a low speed while a laser beam is irradiated through the scanner. Then the scanner irradiates the laser beam on a first scanning interval 100a and a laser beam signal entered by reflecting the irradiated laser beam through the rotating disk is applied to the focusing module, thereby adjusting a focus and acquiring focus information on a scanning interval. In this case, biochips are installed in the disk at regular intervals based on an outer circumference and a plurality of chips for recording/reproducing bioinformation is installed in the biochip 20.

[59] Next, irradiation of the laser beam is stopped after acquiring the focus information on the first scanning interval. The scanner and the focusing module pass through a second non-scanning interval 200a and a second scanning interval 100b is repeatedly scanned in the above-described way to obtain and store information on the scanning interval. Information on the biochip holder area in which the biochips are not installed is separately acquired and stored.

[60] Similarly, a third scanning interval 100c and nth scanning interval lOOn are repeatedly scanned to acquire and store focus information on those scanning intervals. Non-scanning intervals 200a, 200b, 200c and 20On alternate with the scanning intervals and the respective intervals correspond to the number of chips provided in the biochip.

[61] Next, information on the biochip interval 110 and the disk interval 120 among the focus information acquired from the scanning intervals is judged to replace the focus information on the biochip interval with the focus information on the disk interval. The scanning information on the biochip holder area is replaced with the scanning information on the biochip interval. That is, since the focus information on the disk interval and the biochip holder is not uniform and not accurate because the irradiated laser beam is not accurately reflected in the disk interval and the biochip holder, there is a big difference between focus information for the scanner and a focus value for the biochip interval. Therefore, the focus module in the disk interval and the biochip holder has a specific focus value by applying the focus information acquired in the biochip interval to the disk interval and the biochip holder area. Then a focus adjusting time can be shortened when the focus module approaches the biochip interval.

[62] For example, the biochip interval is divided into a chip area in which data is actually recorded/reproduced and a non-chip area. There is a deviation between a focus value for the non-chip area and a focus value for the chip area. Accordingly, focus values of a start area and an end area of the chip are added to each other and the added focus value is applied to the disk interval. Then the scanner approaches the data area with the previously adjusted focus. Consequently, a focusing time is shortened and a focusing error is prevented.

[63] Meanwhile, when the disk interval has the same focus information as the biochip interval, a boundary between the biochip interval and the disk interval is confirmed through focus information on the gap interval between the disk and the biochip. Since the focusing information on the gap interval has a non-uniform value relative to the focus information on the biochip interval, a value obtained by adding and dividing the start interval FA2 and the end interval FAl of the biochip interval is applied to the gap interval. Therefore, a focus can be adjusted before the scanner approaches the biochip interval.

[64] Next, focus values for the biochip interval and the disk interval are applied to the scanner and the focusing module. Scanning is performed based on the applied information while the disk rotates. A data recording/reproducing time in the biochip is shortened by more increasing a rotation speed of the disk than a rotation speed during the first scanning. Since the focus value for the entire area of the disk is applied to the scanner and the focusing module, the scanner can be shifted in a focus adjusted state even in a non-data area and a focus can be rapidly adjusted in the data area, thereby recording/reproducing data while the disk rotates at a high speed.

[65] While the focus information acquired in the scanning interval based on the first scanning interval has been described, focus information for the second, third, and nth scanning intervals may be achieved in the same way.

[66] Furthermore, data may be included in the data area by confirming the data area and the disk area using the first and second sensors and the first and second signal generators.

[67] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] A focus adjusting method for a biochip, comprising:

1) scanning a disk in which at least one biochip is installed and storing scanning information on an entire area of the disk:

T) judging a data area and a disk area based on the scanning information;

3) calculating a location value of the data area;

4) adjusting a focus of a scanner prior to the data area, based on the location value of the data area; and

5) recording or reproducing information on the biochip by using the scanner of which focus is adjusted.

[2] The focus adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the steps 1) and 2) acquire focus information on a biochip area and the disk area by scanning the disk in which the biochip is installed.

[3] The focus adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the step 3) discriminates between a location for the data area and a location for the disk area out of the entire area of the disk, based on the scanning information obtained from the steps 1) and T).

[4] The focus adjusting method according to claim 3, wherein the disk area further includes focus information on a gap interval between the disk area and a biochip area.

[5] The focus adjusting method according to claim 3, wherein the step 3) applies a value obtained by dividing a sum of a start interval and an end interval of the data area out of a biochip scanning interval to the disk area or a gap interval.

[6] The focus adjusting method according to claim 2, wherein the steps 1) and T) separately scan a scanning interval and a non-scanning interval in the entire area of the disk.

[7] The focus adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the steps 1) to 3) cause the scanner to acquire focus information on the entire area of the disk while the disk rotates at a low speed.

[8] The focus adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the steps 4) and 5) record or reproduce information on the biochip by more increasing a rotation speed of the disk than a rotation speed at the steps 1) to 3), based on data on the entire area of the disk acquired in the steps 1) to 3).

[9] The focus adjusting method according to claim 2, wherein the step T) separately judges a biochip holder area based on the scanning information.

[10] The focus adjusting method according to claim 9, wherein the biochip holder area is replaced by the judged biochip area. [11] The focus adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein a sensing means for confirming the disk area and the data area on the disk is provided. [12] The focus adjusting method according to claim 11, wherein the sensing means causes the scanner to adjust the focus prior to a start point of the data area. [13] The focus adjusting method according to claim 12, wherein the sensing means comprises: a first sensor and a first signal generator for confirming the number of rotations of the disk; and a second sensor and a second signal generator for confirming respective data area during rotation of the disk. [14] The focus adjusting method according to claim 13, wherein the second signal generator is provided between the respective data areas.