Cell transfer apparatus

A cell transfer apparatus for transferring cells scattered in a first container to a second container, the cell transfer apparatus comprising:

• a head to which a suction tip configured to suction and discharge the cells is attached, the head including a generating mechanism configured to generate suction force and discharge force in a distal end opening of the suction tip;
• a movement mechanism configured to cause the head to perform horizontal movement and up-and-down movement;
• a cell recognition unit that includes a camera that is configured to capture an image of the first container in which the cells are scattered, and the cell recognition unit is configured to perform position recognition on the cells based on the image;
• and
• a controller configured to control the head and the movement mechanism to perform a transfer operation of the cells based on a result of the position recognition,
• wherein
• the controller is configured to control the suction tip to gradually suction a set quantity of target cells from among the cells scattered in the first container, the set quantity being set in advance to two or more,
• after causing the head to move to the second container, the controller is configured to cause the suction tip to discharge the set quantity of the target cells that is suctioned by the suction tip into a same location in the second container,
• the first container includes a plurality of accommodation sections each having a recess capable of accommodating the cells, and the cells are stored in at least some of the accommodation sections such that the cells are sporadically held in the first container, and
• in the first container, the controller is configured to perform a suction operation of causing the suction tip to suction a first target cell accommodated in a first accommodation section among the plurality of accommodation sections, then causing the suction tip to move to a second accommodation section different from the first accommodation section, and causing the suction tip to suction a second target cell accommodated in the second accommodation section.