	US 7,402,208 B2
	Method and equipment for producing biopolymer crystal
Akira Sanjoh, Kyoto-fu (Japan); Nobuo Kamiya, Hyogo (Japan); and Takaaki Hikima, Hyogo (Japan)
Assigned to Protein Wave Corporation, Kyoto-Fu (Japan); and Riken, Saitama (Japan)
Filed on Feb. 10, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/360,852.
Claims priority of application No. 2002-047799 (JP), filed on Feb. 25, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2003/0159641 A1, Aug. 28, 2003
Int. Cl. B01D 9/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 117—200 [117/201; 117/203; 117/206; 117/207; 117/901; 422/245.1]

6 Claims

1. A crystallizing apparatus for producing a biopolymer crystal from a solution containing a biopolymer comprising a crystal-growing chip having a plate shape and is made of a material allowing electromagnetic waves to permeate therethrough, and in which a circular frame is formed to retain a droplet of a solution containing a biopolymer and a biopolymer crystal produced in said droplet;

wherein said crystal-growing chip is placed in a well solution retention plate for sitting drop, and after having grown a biopolymer crystal within the droplet retained in said circular frame, said crystal-growing chip is taken out of said well solution retention plate while the biopolymer crystal being retained in said circular frame and is provided for use in crystallography;

wherein a plurality of said circular frames are formed in said crystal growing chip; and

wherein at least one auxiliary solution retention member of a conic configuration is disposed at an edge portion of said circular frame so that respective end portions may slightly protrude from an inner edge of the circular frame to be directed to a center of the circular frame, said at least one auxiliary solution retention member including a hydrophilic end portion, a circumferential surface of said at least one auxiliary solution retention member being hydrophobic, and at least the end portion of said at least one auxiliary solution retention member being dipped in the droplet on the retention part of said crystal growing chip.