Microscopic body enclosing method, microscopic body detection method, and microscopic body detection device

A method of detecting a microscopic body enclosed in at least some of a plurality of cavities formed in a surface of a substrate and separated from each other, the method comprising:

• (1) a first step of arranging an insertion member above a cavity-formed surface of the substrate, determining relative positions of the insertion member and the substrate by a support section provided on the insertion member such that a bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate face each other, thereby providing a solution introduction space between the bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate, and
• providing a solvent discharge space that is in communication with the solution introduction space, the solvent discharge space being located
• above the bottom surface of the insertion member, and
• between the substrate and the insertion member, within the substrate, and/or within the insertion member;
• (2) a second step of introducing a first liquid into the solution introduction space, wherein the first liquid includes the microscopic body and a first solvent;
• (3) a third step of introducing a second liquid into the solution introduction space, wherein the second liquid includes a second solvent immiscible with the first solvent, discharging, into the solution discharge space, the first liquid introduced into the solution introduction space as a portion of the first liquid introduced into the solution introduction space and the cavities, and thereby forming, within the cavities, a droplet of the first liquid coated with the second liquid and containing the microscopic body;
• and
• (4) a fourth step of optically, electrically and/or magnetically detecting the microscopic body present in the droplet.

A method of optically detecting a microscopic body enclosed in at least some of a plurality of cavities formed in a surface of a substrate and separated from each other, wherein the microscopic body is optically detected on the basis of a change in absorbance and/or fluorescence of a chromogenic substrate, the method comprising:

• (1) a first step of arranging an insertion member above a cavity-formed surface of the substrate, determining relative positions of the insertion member and the substrate by a support section provided on the insertion member such that a bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate face each other, thereby providing a solution introduction space between the bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate, and
• providing a solvent discharge space that is in communication with the solution introduction space, the solvent discharge space being located
• above the bottom surface of the insertion member, and
• between the substrate and the insertion member, within the substrate, and/or within the insertion member;
• (2) a second step of introducing a first liquid including the microscopic body, the chromogenic substrate, and a first solvent into the solution introduction space;
• (3) a third step of introducing a second liquid into the solution introduction space, wherein the second liquid includes a second solvent immiscible with the first solvent, discharging, into the solution discharge space, the first liquid introduced into the solution introduction space as a portion of the first liquid introduced into the solution introduction space and the cavities, and thereby forming, within the cavities, a droplet of the first liquid coated with the second liquid and containing the microscopic body;
• and
• (4) a fourth step of detecting a change in absorbance and/or fluorescence of the chromogenic substrate present in the droplet.

A microscopic body detection device comprising:

• a substrate including a surface having a plurality of cavities formed therein so as to be separated from each other such that microscopic bodies are enclosed in the cavity;
• and
• an insertion member arranged above a cavity-formed surface of the substrate,
• the insertion member including a support section for determining a relative position of the insertion member relative to the substrate,
• a solution introduction space being provided between the cavity-formed surface of the substrate and a bottom surface of the insertion member, arranged above the cavity-formed surface to face the cavity-formed surface,
• a solution discharge space being provided that is in communication with the solution introduction space, the solution discharge space being provided
• above the bottom surface of the insertion member, and
• between the substrate and the insertion member, within the substrate, and/or within the insertion member, and
• a flow passage being formed in the insertion member and/or the substrate, the flow passage having an outlet in the solution introduction space.