Biochip

• US 20040047769A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaami, Takeo
• Granted Patent: US 7,622,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/102
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention provides a biochip comprising, in sequence from one end of a blood collection bag formed into a flat, pouch-like shape using a flexible material:

a rubber-like plug which is mounted so as to airtightly close the opening of said blood collection bag and through which a syringe needle is pierced;

a collection block for retaining blood collected through said syringe needle pierced through said plug;

a preprocessing block for isolating targets from said blood; and

a junction for combining said targets isolated in said preprocessing block with a plurality of previously prepared probes.

Claims

1. A biochip comprising, in sequence from one end of a blood collection bag formed into a flat, pouch-like shape using a flexible material:

a rubber-like plug which is mounted so as to airtightly close the opening of said blood collection bag and through which a syringe needle is pierced;

a collection block for retaining blood collected through said syringe needle pierced through said plug;

a preprocessing block for isolating targets from said blood; and

a junction for combining said targets isolated in said preprocessing block with a plurality of previously prepared probes.

2. The biochip of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said blood collection bag in which a substrate is located is formed using a material transparent to excitation light and fluorescent light.

3. The biochip of claim 1 or 2 configured so that blood collected into said collection block is fed into said preprocessing block as said blood collection bag is squeezed in the direction from said collection block toward said preprocessing block and that blood which has undergone preprocessing is further fed to said substrate.

4. The biochip of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said preprocessing block isolates DNA, RNA or protein from blood in said collection block as a sample.

5. The biochip of claim 4, wherein said isolated DNA, RNA or protein is detected by means of fluorescence, colorimetry or electric current.

6. The biochip of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein pockets that lead to said preprocessing block are formed on the sides thereof, said pockets are filled with solutions for preprocessing purposes, plug valves are formed in junctions connecting to said preprocessing block, and when said pockets are squeezed so as to pressurize said solutions, said plug valves open and said solutions in said pockets are fed into said preprocessing block.

7. The biochip of claim 6, wherein a plurality of said pockets are arranged in different positions and, when said blood collection bag is squeezed, solutions fed from said pockets flow into said preprocessing block with a time difference.

8. The biochip of claim 7, wherein said blood collection bag is squeezed across the overall width thereof at a time or a plurality of locations of said blood collection bag are squeezed separately, so that blood or a solution is transferred.

9. The biochip of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein a pocket for preserving waste liquid is formed in the innermost section of said blood collection bag.

10. The biochip of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, wherein said collection block of said blood collection bag is provided with means for expanding said collection block by pulling the jacket thereof outward.

11. The biochip of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein said sample is prepared by liquefying a testpiece isolated from an affected area by means of, for example, homogenization.