Analysis system

• US 20030006141A1
• Filed: 07/09/2001
• Published: 01/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greiner Bio-One Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Greiner Bio-One Incorporated
• Inventors: Knebel, Gunther, Gerlach, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 6,835,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/601
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0421 electrophoretic flow
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5085 for multiple samples, e.g. microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00148 Test cards, e.g. Biomerieux or McDonnel multiwell test cards
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44704 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44782 of a plurality of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/44791 Microapparatus sample containers with integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0272 Adaptations for fluid transport, e.g. channels, holes

Abstract

The invention relates to an analysis system comprising a main body (1) with a surface, at least one analysis unit (6) consisting of at least two reservoirs (10) placed in flow connection by at least one passage (13, 14) being provided in the main body (1). Two electrical conductors (23, 24) are provided in the main body (1) or on the surface, a first respective end region thereof being connected respectively to one of the at least two reservoirs (10) and a respective second end region of the conductors (23, 24) being connected to or constituting a contact point (9) on the surface of the main body (1).

Claims

1. Analysis system comprising a main body with a surface, at least one analysis unit consisting of at least two reservoirs placed in flow connection by at least one passage being provided in the main body, characterised in that two electrical conductors are provided in the main body or on the surface, a first respective end region thereof being connected respectively to one of the at least two reservoirs and a respective second end region of the conductors being connected to or constituting a contact point on the surface of the main body.

2. Analysis system according to claim 1, characterised in that the main body comprises a base plate and a cover plate, the base plate and the cover plate being joined to one another by surfaces.

3. Analysis system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the conductors are connected to the main body by a connection method, being selected from a group of connection methods consisting of bonding, vapour deposition, insertion in recesses and integral moulding.

4. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least a part of the reservoir floor constitutes the conductor.

5. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first end region of the conductor is provided in the form of an electrode which extends between the reservoir floor and an underside of the base plate.

6. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conductor constitutes at least a part of the reservoir wall.

7. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact points are designed to have a contact surface with a specific internal diameter and the reservoirs an opening with a specific internal diameter and the internal diameter of the contact surface is greater than the internal diameter of the openings of the reservoirs.

8. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the contact points are disposed at one common end region of the main body only.

9. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the conductors are made from a material selected from a group of materials consisting of metal, electrically conductive plastics, conductive paste and electrically conductive varnish.

10. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the main body is designed to a size used as standard for a microtitre plate.

11. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that several analysis units are provided in a layout used as standard for a microtitre plate.

12. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a predeterminable number of analysis units is provided, the number being selected from group consisting of the figures solving the mathematical formula 3×

2^N, where N is a whole number.

13. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that 96 analysis units are provided.

14. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the passage is designed as a micro-passage.

15. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the analysis unit is designed to have four reservoirs and two respective reservoirs are connected to a passage and each of the two passages is connected to the other by means of a common intersection region.

16. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the four reservoirs are laid out in a pattern used as standard for a microtitre plate.

17. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a row width of the four reservoirs is the same as a half value of a row width of the analysis units.

18. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base plate and the cover plate are made from plastics, being selected from a group of plastics consisting of polymethacrylate, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polysulphone and cyclo-olefin copolymer.

19. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base plate or the cover plate is designed so as to be at least partially opaque.

20. Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one passage is provided by means of recesses in at least one of the surfaces of the base plate and the cover plate and at least those parts of the surfaces of the base plate and the cover plate immediately surrounding the reservoirs and the passages are joined to one another in a fluid-tight seal by a joining method selected from a group of joining methods consisting of bonding, applying polymerisable bonding agents, adhesion by temporary treatment with a solvent, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding and laser welding.