Method and apparatus for producing three-dimensional structure
AssigneeMatsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
InventorsHisao Nagai, Hidehiro Yoshida, Takayuki Furukawa, Takashi Inoue
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Abstract
The present invention aims to produce a three-dimensional structure having a high aspect ratio by using inkjet printing techniques or the like. Specifically, a three-dimensional structure is produced by ejecting a liquid drop of a solution, which contains a solvent and polymer particles dispersed in the solvent while having a viscosity of not more than 100 cps, from a nozzle onto a substrate; then evaporating the solvent and melting the polymer particles by irradiating the liquid drop with light; and then depositing the molten polymer particles on the substrate. The present invention can be applied to production of biochips and the like.
Claims16
A method for producing a three-dimensional structure, comprising the steps of:
- discharging droplets of a solution that includes a solvent and polymer particles dispersed in the solvent and has a viscosity of 100 cps or lower from a nozzle to a substrate;
- radiating light to the droplets to evaporate the solvent included in the droplets, and to melt the polymer particles included in the droplets;
- and
- depositing the molten polymer particles onto the substrate.
An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional structure, comprising:
- a nozzle that discharges droplets of a solution that includes a solvent and polymer particles dispersed in the solvent towards a substrate;
- a vibration part that vibrates the solution;
- a light source that radiates light to the droplets of a solution discharged from the nozzle;
- and
- a drive mechanism that moves the nozzle or the substrate in an XYZ direction,
- wherein the light source is disposed above or beside a discharge port of the nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.