Patent ID: 9476814
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: B01L,G01N,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A carrier-enclosed transformable container processing method, comprising: supporting, on a carrier-enclosed head, two or more carrier-enclosed transformable containers, each comprising: a containing part capable of containing liquid and gas at the inside thereof, the containing part comprising a wall, the wall comprising a transformable wall face capable of undergoing a predetermined transformation without substantially changing the internal surface area of the wall in its entirety, and a non-transformable wall face connected to the transformable wall face; an orifice part connected to the containing part at an end thereof opposite the transformable wall face and capable of accommodating the inflow and outflow of a liquid to and from the containing part caused by the expansion and contraction, respectively, of the inside of the containing part, which expansion and contraction are caused by the transformation of the transformable wall face, wherein the orifice part is not changed or moved by the transformation of the transformable wall face; a predetermined carrier particle enclosed inside the non-transformable wall face in a substantially stationary state and to which a predetermined substance is bonded or bondable; and an enclosing portion capable of enclosing the carrier particle in the containing part so that the carrier particle can contact the inflow and outflow of the liquid through the orifice part, to and from the containing part, while remaining in the substantially stationary state; moving the carrier-enclosed head and inserting the orifice parts of the two or more carrier-enclosed transformable containers into respective holders of a holder group, the carrier-enclosed head comprising support portions that support the two or more carrier-enclosed transformable containers, and one or more moveable members capable of simultaneously transforming the transformable wall faces of the respective containing parts; transforming, using the one or more moveable members, the transformable wall faces of the respective containing parts to suck liquids containing one or more of the predetermined substances from the holders into the respective carrier-enclosed transformable containers, and to discharge the liquids therefrom, so that the substances are bonded or bondable to the carrier particles at predetermined positions; and analyzing the carrier particles to determine the presence, structure, and/or nature of the one or more predetermined substances by bringing a predetermined marked substance into contact with the carrier particles in the carrier-enclosed transformable containers, wherein the carrier particles are enclosed inside the non-transformable wall faces in such a manner that the positions of the carrier particles, and the occurrence of the marked substance thereon, can be specified from outside the non-transformable wall faces.