Patent ID: 8921282

Claim:
A segmented process apparatus for a microplate, comprising: a predetermined microplate provided with a number of wells set in array; one or more nozzle heads provided with a plurality of nozzles set in array, the array of nozzles comprising either two or more nozzle columns where the nozzles are aligned in a column direction, or two or more nozzle rows where the nozzles are aligned in a row direction; a suction and ejection mechanism for sucking and ejecting a gas via the nozzles; and a moving means which allows relative movement between said microplate and the nozzle heads, wherein tips of all of the nozzles provided on each nozzle head are provided in such a manner that the tips can be inserted into the wells in a part of said microplate all together, and the row intervals and column intervals of said nozzles in array are respectively same as the row intervals and column intervals of said wells in array, and a magnetic force means comprising at least two magnets spaced at the row interval or the column interval of said nozzles; wherein the magnetic force means is provided in such a manner that the two magnets are movable toward and away from said nozzles along either: a first straight line that runs either in the column direction or in the row direction so as to run between either two of the nozzle columns or two of the nozzle rows, or a curve that shows a second straight line when projected on a horizontal surface, wherein the curve runs either in the column direction or in the row direction so as to run between either the two of the nozzle columns or the two of the nozzle rows, wherein either the first straight line or the curve passes in the vicinity of each of said nozzles without crossing either of said nozzles, so that it is possible to apply a magnetic field to and remove a magnetic field from inside each of the nozzles provided on said nozzle head all together, wherein the two magnets are movable toward said nozzles along either the first straight line or the curve to insert the two magnets between either the two of the nozzle columns or the two of the nozzle rows, and wherein, after the two magnets have been moved along either the first straight line or the curve and inserted between either the two of the nozzle columns or the two of the nozzle rows, one of the two magnets is positioned between, and adjacent, respective first nozzles in either the two of the nozzle columns or the two of the nozzle rows, and the other of the two magnets is positioned between, and adjacent, respective second nozzles in either the two of the nozzle columns or the two of the nozzle rows.