Chemical analyzer and structure for chemical analysis

• US 20040197233A1
• Filed: 04/01/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yokobayashi, Toshiaki, Nagaoka, Yoshihiro, Takenaka, Kei
• Application Number:
  US10/814,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20040197233A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/81
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71 Feed mechanisms with proportioning B01F35/80
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/712 for feeding fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/714 for feeding predetermined amounts B01F35/88 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7172 using capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71725 using centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71805 using valves, gates, orifices or openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/028 Modular arrangements
• 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 2200/16 Reagents, handling or storing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0803 Disc shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0874 Three dimensional network
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0694 vents used to stop and induce flow, backpressure valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00356 Holding samples at elevated temperature (incubation)
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00504 combined with carousels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0436 : with pre-packaged reagents, i.e. test-packs
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/025 : having a carousel or turntable for reaction cells or cuvettes

Abstract

An analyzer and a structure for analysis with high performance are provided which can reduce contamination between the reagents when the valve components or a plurality of reagents are included.

The present invention is a chemical analyzer to which a sample is introduced and into which a structure for holding a reagent reacting with the above described sample is housed, including a mechanism for detecting the above described sample after the above described reaction; in which the above described structure includes a reagent cartridge having reagent storing parts for storing a plurality of reagents, a connection part to which the above described reagent cartridge is connected, and a channel cartridge having reagent channels through which a plurality of the above described reagents flow, a sample channel through which the above described testing object flows, and a reaction region where the above described reagent is reacted with the above described testing object.

Claims

1. A chemical analyzer to which a sample is injected and in which a reagent for reacting with said sample is stored, comprising:

a housing part for housing a structure having a reaction region for reacting said sample with said reagent; and

a mechanism for detecting said sample after said reaction,

wherein said structure comprises;

a reagent cartridge having a reagent storing part for storing the reagent;

a connection part to which said reagent cartridge is connected; and

a channel cartridge having a reagent channel through which said reagent flows, a sample channel through which said sample flows, and said reaction region which is in communication with said reagent channel and said sample channel.

2. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said structure is rotatably mounted within said housing part, said sample contains nucleic acid, said channel cartridge has a capturing part for capturing the nucleic acid from said sample, and said detection mechanism is disposed at an outside of said structure.

3. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a first storing portion of said reagent storing part of said reagent cartridge communicates with a second storing portion of said reagent storing part of said reagent cartridge via said reagent channel or said sample channel formed in said channel cartridge when said regent cartridge and said channel cartridge are attached to said housing part.

4. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said reagent cartridges are provided, and a first reagent cartridge is retained at a lower temperature than a second regent cartridge before being contained within said housing part.

5. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said reagent cartridges are provided, and a first reagent cartridge is retained at a lower temperature than a second regent cartridge before being contained within said housing part, and a volume of said first reagent cartridge is smaller than a volume of said second reagent cartridge.

6. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said channel cartridge is provided with a reagent storing part for storing a reagent, and said channel cartridge is retained at a lower temperature than said regent cartridge before being contained within said housing part.

7. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said reagent cartridges are provided, and a first reagent cartridge is disposed facing toward a first region of said channel cartridge and a second reagent cartridge is disposed facing toward a second region of said channel cartridge.

8. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said reagent cartridges are provided, and said second reagent cartridge is disposed facing toward said channel cartridge and a first reagent cartridge is disposed facing toward said second reagent cartridge.

9. The chemical analyzer according to claim 1, wherein said channel cartridge is provided with an inlet into which said sample is injected, and said inlet is provided so as to be covered with said reagent cartridge at a time of mounting the reagent cartridge when viewing from a building-up direction

10. A structure for a chemical analysis, comprising:

an introduction part of a sample including a certain chemical substance;

a reagent storing part for storing a reagent reacting with said sample; and

a capturing part for capturing said chemical substance from the reagent reacted with said reagent,

wherein said structure comprises a reagent cartridge having reagent storing parts for storing a plurality of reagents, a connection part to which said reagent cartridge can be connected, and a channel cartridge having reagent channels through which said reagents flow, a sample channel through which said sample flows, and said reaction region which is in communication with said reagent channel and said sample channel.

11. A channel structure, comprising:

a connection part which can connect to a reagent structure having a reagent storing part for storing a reagent;

a reagent channel through which said reagent supplied via said connection part flows;

a sample channel through which a sample containing a certain chemical substance flows;

a reaction region through which said reagent channel and said sample channel are in communication with each other; and

a capturing part for capturing said chemical substance from said sample which has reacted with said reagent.

12. A channel structure, comprising:

a connection part which is connectable to a reagent structure having a reagent storing part for storing a reagent and to which the reagent within said reagent storing part is supplied;

an inlet for injecting a sample containing a certain chemical substance;

a separation part for separating a separated sample containing a gene which is a testing object from the sample injected from said inlet;

a first reaction part for introducing a first reagent supplied from a first connecting portion of said connection part and said separated sample to allow them to react with each other;

a gene capturing part for capturing said gene from said separated sample after said reaction;

a washing reagent channel for introducing a washing reagent supplied from a second connecting portion of said connection part into said gene capturing part;

an eluent channel for introducing an eluent supplied from a third connecting portion of said connection part into said gene capturing part; and

a retaining part for retaining said eluted gene.

13. A reagent structure, comprising:

a connection part which is connectable to a channel structure having a reagent channel through which a reagent flows, a sample channel through which a sample containing a certain chemical substance flows, and said reaction region through which said reagent channel and said sample channel are in connection with each other;

a reagent storing part for storing said reagent; and

a channel for introducing said stored reagent into said channel structure.