METHOD FOR PRODUCING AT LEAST ONE PATTERN ON A CARRIER SURFACE OF A CARRIER

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing at least one pattern (2) on a carrier surface (7) of a carrier (3), wherein the method comprises the following steps: a. adding a first fluid (4) to the carrier surface (7) and b. adding a second fluid (5), wherein the second fluid (5) is immiscible with the first fluid (4) and at least partially covers the first fluid (4) and c. adding at least one object (6) above the carrier surface (7), d. generating the pattern (2) by a relative movement between the object (6) and the carrier (3) in which a force is exerted on the object (6) from a force generating means (28), wherein the force transmission from the force generating means (28) on the object (6) is contactless and the pattern (2) is generated by a portion of the second fluid (15) wetting the carrier surface (7).

Claims

1. A method for producing at least one pattern (2) on a carrier surface (7) of a carrier (3), wherein the method comprises the following steps: a. adding a first fluid (4) to the carrier surface (7), b. adding a second fluid (5), wherein the second fluid (5) is immiscible with the first fluid (4) and at least partially covers the first fluid (4), c. adding at least one object (6) above the carrier surface, and d. generating the pattern (2) by a relative movement between the object (6) and the carrier (3) in which a force is exerted on the object (6) from a force generating means (28), wherein the force transmission from the force generating means (28) on the object (6) is contactless and the pattern (2) is generated by a portion of the second fluid (15) wetting the carrier surface (7).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the object (6) and the carrier (3) are moved relative to one another in such a way that the first fluid is displaced in such a way that the part of the second fluid (15) wets the carrier surface (7).

3. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that a. the force acting on the object (6) is directed in such a way that the object (6) is moved in one direction, in particular in the direction of the carrier surface (7), and/or a contact pressure of the object (6) on the carrier surface is changed, and/or that b. the force acting on the object (6) is directed in such a way that the object (6) is moved in a different direction, in particular parallel to the carrier surface (7).

4. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the force acting on the object (6) is generated by applying a force field, in particular a magnetic field, and the object (6) is moved by changing the force field, in particular the magnetic field.

5.-10. (canceled)

11. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the object (6) has a hydrophobic or oleophilic section (29) and a hydrophilic or oleophobic section (30), and in that a. the pattern (2) is generated when, during the relative movement between the object (6) and the carrier (3), the hydrophobic or oleophilic section (29) of the object (6) displaces the first fluid (4) in such a way that the part of the second fluid (15) wets the carrier surface (7), and/or that b. a pattern (2) generated by the object (6) is removed if, during the relative movement between the object (6) and the carrier (3), the hydrophilic or oleophobic section (30) of the object (6) faces closer towards the carrier surface (7) than the hydrophobic or oleophilic section (29) and/or the hydrophilic or oleophobic section (30) is in contact with the carrier surface (7).

12.-13. (canceled)

14. The method according to any claim 1, characterised in that the pattern (2) has a closed area which has at least one cell (1) and/or at least one particle.

15. (canceled)

16. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that a. at least one remaining region (8) having no cell (1) is removed, and/or in that b. a reagent is introduced into the region (2) having in particular a cell (1) or a particle, and/or in that c. the region (2) having in particular a cell (1) or a particle is at least partially sucked out or filled up.

17. The method according to any claim 1, characterised in that a. a plurality of patterns (2) are generated, wherein the patterns (2) have the same or different cross-sections, and/or in that b. a plurality of patterns (2) are generated which differ from one another in their formation along a normal to the carrier surface (7).

18. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that a plurality of objects (6) are added to the interior of the carrier (3), which generate a plurality of patterns, in particular simultaneously.

19.-20. (canceled)

21. A device (10) for receiving a carrier for receiving a first fluid (4) and a second fluid (5), wherein the second fluid (5) is immiscible with the first fluid (4) and at least partially covers the first fluid (4), and for generating at least one pattern (2) on a carrier surface (7) of the carrier (3), with at least one force generating means (28) for generating a force acting on at least one object (6), wherein the object (6) can be arranged above the carrier surface (7) and wherein the force generating means (28) is arranged and designed in such a way that a contactless force transmission can be implemented from the force generating means (28) to the object (6) and wherein the pattern (2) can be generated by a relative movement between the object (6) and the carrier and by wetting the carrier surface (7) with part of the second fluid (15).

22. (canceled)

23. The device (10) according to claim 21, characterised in that the device (10) has a control device (31) which causes a relative movement between the object (6) and the carrier (3) by controlling a force field generated by the force generating means (28) and/or by changing a force field generated by the force generating means (28), and the control device (31) controls the force generating means (28) in such a way that the force which can be exerted by the force generating means (28) on the object (6) is directed in such a way that a. the object (6) is moved in one direction, in particular in the direction of the carrier surface (7), and/or that b. the object (6) is moved in a different direction, in particular parallel to the carrier surface (7).

24. (canceled)

25. The device (10) according to claim 21, characterised in that the device (10) has a plurality of force generating means (28) which are arranged in the form of a matrix or ring.

26. The device (10) according to claim 21, characterised in that the device (10) has a holder (13) for receiving the carrier (3), wherein a. the force generating means can be arranged in such a way that the holder (13) is located between the object (6) and the force generating means (28), and/or that b. the force generating means (28) and the holder (13) are movable relative to each other.

27. (canceled)

28. The device (10) according to claim 21, characterised by an optical detection device (25) for detecting at least one item of cell information of a cell located in the first fluid (4) and/or at least one piece of particle information of a particle located in the first fluid (4).

29. (canceled)

30. The device (10) according to claim 28, characterised in that a. the optical detection device (25) has an imaging device (11) for producing an image of the carrier surface (7), or in that b. the optical detection device (25) has an imaging device (11) for producing an image of the carrier surface (7) and an evaluation device (12), which determines the item of cell information and/or item of particle information on the basis of the image.

31. The device (10) according to claim 21, characterised by a. a removal device (14) for removing the remaining region (8) of the first fluid (4) having no cells, or by b. a removal device (14) for at least partially sucking off a remaining region (8) which has no cells of the first fluid (4).

32.-33. (canceled)

34. The device (10) according to claim 31, characterised in that a. the object (6) is magnetic or magnetisable, or that b. the object (6) has a permanent magnet.

35. The device (10) according to claim 31, characterised in that the object (6) has a lower density than the first fluid (4) and/or the second fluid (5).

36. The device (10) according to claim 31, characterised in that the object (6) has a hydrophilic or oleophobic section (30) and a hydrophobic or oleophilic section (29).

37. (canceled)

38. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising commands that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of claim 1.

39.-40. (canceled)

Description

[0068] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEWS

[0069] The subject matter of the invention is shown schematically in the figures, wherein elements that are the same or have the same effect are mostly provided with the same reference symbols. In the figures:

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a carrier with a first fluid and a second fluid,

[0071] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a part of a system according to the invention according to a first embodiment before a pattern is generated,

[0072] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a part of the system according to the invention according to the first embodiment, in which a pattern is generated according to a first mode of operation,

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a part of the system according to the invention according to the first embodiment, in which a pattern is generated according to a second operating mode,

[0074] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a part of the system according to the invention according to a second embodiment, in which the object is moved relative to the carrier,

[0075] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a part of the system according to the invention according to a second embodiment, in which a pattern is generated,

[0076] FIG. 7 shows a side view of part of the system according to the invention according to a second embodiment, in which a pattern is removed,

[0077] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a part of the system according to the invention according to a third embodiment, in which several objects are used to generate patterns,

[0078] FIG. 9 shows a top view of force generating means array, and

[0079] FIG. 10 shows a top view of a carrier after a plurality of patterns have been generated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] FIG. 1 shows a carrier 3 which is designed as a container. The carrier 3 contains a first fluid 4 and a second fluid 5 which is immiscible with the first fluid 4. The first fluid 4 contains a plurality of cells 1. Designs are also conceivable in which the first fluid 4 alternatively or additionally contains particles. The first fluid 4 and the second fluid 5 are added to the carrier 3. The first fluid 4 can preferably be added before the second fluid 5. The second fluid 5 is arranged on the first fluid 4 and completely covers this within the carrier 3.

[0081] FIG. 2 shows a side view of part of a system 20 according to the invention before a pattern is generated. The system 20 has a device 10 and the carrier 3. In addition, the system 20 has an object 6 that is added to the carrier 3. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the carrier 3 is arranged on a holder 13 of the device 10. The object 6 is positioned above the carrier surface 7. The object 6 is positioned in such a way that it is not in contact with the first and/or second fluid 4, 5. The object 6 can have a Teflon layer and is therefore hydrophobic. In addition, the object 6 is magnetic. The object 6 is designed as a sphere in the exemplary embodiment. However, the object 6 can also have other configurations.

[0082] The device 10 has an optical detection device 25. The optical detection device 25 has an imaging device 11, by means of which an optical image of the carrier 3, in particular a carrier surface 7, can be generated. The imaging device 11 and the object 6 face each other with respect to the holder 13 of the device 10. In addition, the optical detection device 25 has an evaluation device 12. The imaging device 11 is electrically connected to the evaluation device 12. The evaluation device 12 serves to determine items of cell information, such as the position of the cells 1 located in the first fluid 4 on the carrier surface 7.

[0083] The device 10 also has a force generating means 28, by means of which a force acting on the object 6 can be generated. The force generating means 28 and the object 6 are arranged and designed in such a way that the transmission of force from the force generating means 28 to the object 6 is contactless. In this case, the force generating means 28 can have an electromagnet, by means of which an electromagnetic force is exerted on the object 6. As a result, the force is transmitted to the object 6 via a magnetic field generated by the force generating means 28. The force generating means 28 and the object 6 are opposite each other with respect to the holder 13. In particular, the carrier surface 7 is arranged between the force generating means 28 and the object 6. There is therefore no fixed and/or rigid connection between the force generating means 28 and the object 6.

[0084] The device 10 has a displacement device 26 which can move the optical detection device 25 and/or the holder 13 and/or the force generating means 28 along at least one of the directions x, y, z. In particular, the moving device 26 can move the force generating means 28 and/or the carrier 3 on the basis of the cell information determined by the evaluation device 12 in order to produce a pattern 2 described in more detail below.

[0085] The device 10 also has a removal device 14. The patterns generated and/or other sections can be sucked off by means of the removal device 14.

[0086] The device 10 also has a control device 31. The control device 31 is electrically connected to the moving device 26, the optical detection device 25, the force generating means 28 and the removal device 14.

[0087] FIG. 3 shows a side view of part of the system 20 according to the invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the removal device 14 has been omitted in comparison with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a pattern 2 is generated according to a first mode of operation of the object 6. The flow of creating the pattern is explained below.

[0088] The object 6 is fed into an interior of the carrier 3 in such a way that it is in contact with the second fluid 5 and is arranged above the carrier surface 7. Before a force is exerted by the force generating means 28 on the object 6, the cell information is determined by means of the optical detection device 25. In particular, the sections of the carrier surface 7 in which the cells 1 are arranged are determined.

[0089] The control device 31 then controls the force generating means 28 in such a way that the magnetic field generated by the force generating means exerts a force on the object 6, which causes the object 6 to move in the opposite direction to the y-direction towards the carrier surface 7. The object 6 displaces the first fluid 4 in such a way that part of the second fluid 5 wets the carrier surface 7. After wetting the carrier surface 7 with a portion of the second fluid 5, the object 6 and the support are moved relative to one another in the x and/or z direction in order to produce the desired pattern. In particular, a pattern 2 is generated which at least partially, in particular completely, encloses the cell 1. The relative movement between the object 6 and the carrier 3 in the directions x and/or z is achieved in that the force generating means 28 and/or the carrier 3 are moved relative to one another. The force generating means 28 and/or the carrier 3 can be moved by the moving device 26. When the relative movement between the object 6 and the carrier 3 occurs along z and/or x directions, the first fluid 4 is also displaced by the object 6, so that the second fluid 5 wets the carrier surface 7.

[0090] In this operating mode, the object 6 presses the part of the second fluid 5 in the direction of the carrier surface 7 until the part of the second fluid 5 wets the carrier surface 7. The object 6 comes into direct contact with the carrier surface 7. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the part of the second fluid 5 is arranged between the object 6 and the carrier surface 7.

[0091] With the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the pattern 2 is fluidically separated from a remaining section 18 by means of the part of the second fluid 15, wherein the remaining section 18 has the first fluid 4 with the plurality of cells 1. The fluidic separation takes place such that the first fluid 4 located in the region 2 is not fluidically connected to the first fluid 4 located in the remaining section 18.

[0092] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a part of the system 20 according to the invention according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, wherein with the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the removal device 14 is also omitted. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a pattern 2 is generated according to a second mode of operation of the object 6. The flow of creating the pattern is explained below.

[0093] After the object 6 has been added to the interior of the carrier 3 and before a force is exerted on the object 6 by the force generating means 28, the cell information is determined by means of the optical detection device 25. In particular, the sections of the carrier surface 7 in which the cells 1 are arranged are determined.

[0094] The control device 31 then controls the force generating means 28 in such a way that a force acts on the object 6 which causes the object 6 to move in the opposite direction to they direction in the direction of the carrier surface 7. In the second operating mode, the object 6 is moved in such a way that, when it moves, it passes through the second fluid 5 and displaces the first and second fluids 4, 5. In this case, the object 6 comes into direct contact with the carrier surface 7.

[0095] After the object 6 contacts the carrier surface 7, the object 6 and the carrier 3 are moved in the direction x and/or z relative to one another in order to generate the pattern 2. In particular, a pattern is generated that encloses the cell 1 at least partially, in particular completely. During the relative movement between the object 6 and the carrier 3 along the x and/or z direction, the first fluid 4 is also displaced. Part of the second fluid 5 flows, in particular along the object, into the section of the first fluid 4 displaced by the object 6, and thus wets the carrier surface 7.

[0096] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a part of the system 20 according to the invention according to a second embodiment. The system 20 shown in FIG. 5 differs from the systems 20 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 in the design of the object 4. The object shown in FIG. 5 has a hydrophobic section 29 and a hydrophilic section 30.

[0097] The control device 31 controls the force generating means 28 in such a way that a force directed in the direction of the carrier surface 7 acts on the object 6. However, a field strength of the force field generated by the force generating means 28 is not sufficiently high for the object 6 to be moved in the opposite direction to the direction y to such an extent that it contacts the carrier surface 7 or that part of the second fluid 5 wets the carrier surface 7. However, the field strength is sufficiently strong that the object 6 is also moved when the force generating means 28 is moved in the x and/or z direction. The object 6 can thus be moved into the desired position in the carrier 3 by moving the force generating means 28 by means of the moving device 26.

[0098] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a part of the system 20 according to the invention according to a second embodiment, in which a pattern 2 is generated. After the object 6 has been moved into the desired position according to the method described in FIG. 5, the control device 31 causes the magnetic field generated by the force generating means 28 to be reversed. This causes the object 6 to rotate. In particular, the object rotates in such a way that the hydrophobic section 29 points towards the carrier surface 7. Thus, the hydrophobic section 29 is arranged closer to the carrier surface 7 than the hydrophobic section 30.

[0099] Then, as already described in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the control device 31 controls the force generating means 28 such that the object 6 is moved in the direction counter toy, so that the part of the second fluid 15 wets the carrier surface 7. The object 6 and the carrier 3 are then moved relative to one another in the x and/or z direction in order to produce the pattern 2.

[0100] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a part of the system 20 according to the invention according to the second embodiment, in which a pattern which has already been generated is removed. The control device 31 controls the force generating means 28 such that a magnetic field causing the hydrophilic portion 30 of the object 6 to face toward the carrier surface 7 is generated. Thus, the hydrophilic section 30 is arranged closer to the carrier surface 7 than the hydrophobic section 29. The control device 31 then controls the force generating means 28 in such a way that a force acts on the object 6 such that the object 6 is moved in the direction of the carrier surface 7 until the object 6 contacts the carrier surface 7. The object 6 and the carrier 3 are then moved relative to one another in the x and/or z direction in order to remove the pattern 2. The part of the second fluid 15 that wets the carrier surface 7 dissolves when the hydrophilic section 30 of the object 6 comes into contact with the wetted point of the carrier surface 7.

[0101] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a part of the system 20 according to the invention according to a third embodiment. The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiment in that a plurality of objects 6 have been added to the carrier 3. Another difference is that there is a force generating means array 27 in the device 10 according to the third embodiment. The force generating means array 27 has a plurality of force generating means 28 which are arranged in a matrix on a plate 23 of the force generating means array 27. The force generating means array 27 makes it possible for a plurality of objects 6 to be controlled independently of one another, in particular simultaneously. For this purpose, the control device 31 controls the individual force generating means 28 in such a way that different forces can act on the objects in different directions.

[0102] The control device 31 can control the force generating means array 27 such that the objects 6 are moved within the carrier 3. In particular, the control device 31 can control the generated magnetic fields in such a way that the objects are moved, in particular in the x and/or z direction. In this embodiment, it is not necessary for the carrier 3 and the force generating means 27 to be moved relative to one another in order to move the object 6, in particular in order to generate the pattern 2.

[0103] FIG. 9 shows a top view of the force generating means array 27. The matrix-like arrangement of the force generating means 28 on the plate 23 can be seen from the top view. The individual force generating means 28 can each be designed as an electromagnet and have a coil and a core.

[0104] FIG. 10 shows a top view of a carrier 3 after a plurality of patterns 2, namely the first pattern 22, the second pattern 16 and the third pattern 17, have been generated. The arrangement of the cells 1 in the carrier 3 shown in FIG. 6 differs from the arrangement of the cells 1 in the carrier 3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8. The three patterns 2 are designed as closed areas.

[0105] As can be seen from FIG. 10, the three patterns 2 differ in their cross-section. In addition, the three patterns 2 differ from one another in their design and volume. The first pattern 22 has a circular shape, the second pattern 16 has a rectangular shape and the third pattern 17 has a triangular shape. A remaining region 8 was removed by means of the removal device 14.

[0106] The second pattern 16 can be divided into two sub-regions 9. This can occur when the object 6 displaces the first fluid 4 of the second pattern 16. As a result, another part of the second fluid 15 wets the carrier surface 7. The other part of the second fluid 15 separating the two sub-regions 9 is shown in FIG. 10 by a dashed line.

[0107] The patterns 2 shown in FIG. 10 can be generated using one of the methods described above.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0108] 1 Cell

[0109] 2 Pattern

[0110] 3 Carrier

[0111] 4 First fluid

[0112] 5 Second fluid

[0113] 6 Object

[0114] 7 Carrier surface

[0115] 8 Remaining region having no cells

[0116] 9 Sub-region

[0117] 10 Device

[0118] 11 Imaging device

[0119] 12 Evaluation device

[0120] 13 Holder

[0121] 14 Removal device

[0122] 15 Part of the second fluid

[0123] 16 Second pattern

[0124] 17 Third pattern

[0125] 18 Remaining section

[0126] 20 System

[0127] 21 Fourth part of the second fluid

[0128] 22 First pattern

[0129] 23 Plate

[0130] 25 Optical detection device

[0131] 26 Moving device

[0132] 27 Force generating means array

[0133] 28 Force generating means

[0134] 29 Hydrophobic section of the object

[0135] 30 Hydrophilic section of the object

[0136] 31 Control device

[0137] x, y, z Direction