Analyzing instrument, analyzing device, and method of manufacturing analyzing implement

• US 20040216516A1
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Sato, Yoshiharu
• Granted Patent: US 7,047,795 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/64.56
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/143 Quality control, feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An analyzing instrument (2) according to the present invention includes a capillary (6), a sample liquid inlet (42), and a liquid introduction controller for a controlled pattern of introduction of the sample liquid into the capillary. The capillary (6) preferably includes a common passage (60) and a plurality of individual passages (61-63) connecting to the common passage. In this arrangement, the liquid introduction controller selects for each of the individual passages (61-63) whether or not the sample liquid is introduced therein. The liquid introduction controller includes, for example, one or more through-holes (51-53) each communicating with e.g. the individual passages (61-63). The liquid introduction controller preferably selects for each of the individual passages (61-63) whether or not the sample liquid is introduced therein, by a selection whether or not the corresponding one of the through-holes (61-63) is opened or closed.

Claims

1. An analyzing instrument comprising:

a capillary for a sample liquid to move through and stay;

a sample liquid inlet for introduction of the sample liquid into the capillary; and

a liquid introduction controller for a controlled pattern of the introduction of sample liquid into the capillary.

2. The analyzing instrument according to claim 1, further comprising:

a common passage in the capillary; and

a plurality of individual passages in the capillary connecting to the common passage,

wherein the liquid introduction controller selects for each of the individual passages whether or not the sample liquid is introduced therein.

3. The analyzing instrument according to claim 2, wherein the liquid introduction controller includes one or more through-holes.

4. The analyzing instrument according to claim 2, wherein the liquid introduction controller includes a plurality of through-holes,

each through-hole communicating with a corresponding one of the individual passages.

5. The analyzing instrument according to claim 4, wherein the liquid introduction controller selects for each of the individual passages whether or not the sample liquid is introduced therein, by a selection whether or not the corresponding through-hole is opened or closed.

6. The analyzing instrument according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of detecting electrodes each corresponding to one of the individual passages for detection of the introduction of sample liquid into the individual passage,

wherein each through-hole is right above the corresponding detecting electrode.

7. The analyzing instrument according to claim 4, wherein the liquid introduction controller selects for each of the individual passages whether or not the sample liquid is introduced therein, by a selection of a location at which the corresponding through-hole is formed.

8. The analyzing instrument according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of detecting electrodes each corresponding to one of the individual passages for detection of the introduction of sample liquid into the individual passage,

wherein each of those through-holes corresponding to the individual passage to which the sample liquid is to be introduced is right above the corresponding detecting electrode,

each of those through-holes corresponding to the individual passage to which the sample liquid is not to be introduced being closer to the sample liquid inlet than is an end on the sample liquid inlet side of the corresponding detecting electrode.

9. The analyzing instrument according to claim 4, wherein the through-holes are formed in a cover laminated to a substrate via a spacer.

10. The analyzing instrument according to claim 2, wherein the capillary is formed by a substrate, a spacer and a cover laminated to the substrate via the spacer,

the spacer including a recess for formation of an inner space of the capillary, and one or more projections extending toward the sample liquid inlet for formation of the individual passages.

11. The analyzing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the sample liquid inlet includes a through-hole, the pattern of introduction of the sample liquid being controlled by a selection whether or not the through-hole is opened or closed.

12. The analyzing instrument according to claim 1, further comprising one or more detecting electrodes each for detection of the introduction of sample liquid at a location in the capillary,

the liquid introduction controller includes one or more through-holes communicating with the capillary, the locations in the capillary to which the sample liquid is to be introduced being selected by a selection of locations at which said one or more through-holes are formed.

13. The analyzing instrument according to claim 1, further comprising one or more detecting electrodes each for detection of the introduction of sample liquid at a location in the capillary,

wherein the liquid introduction controller includes one or more through-holes communicating with the capillary, locations in the capillary to which the sample liquid is to be introduced being selected by a selection for each of said one or more through-holes whether the through-hole is opened or closed.

14. An analyzing device to which an analyzing instrument is attached for analysis of a sample liquid supplied to the analyzing instrument,

the analyzing instrument including:

a capillary for a sample liquid to move through and stay;

a sample liquid inlet for introduction of the sample liquid into the capillary; and

a liquid introduction controller for a controlled pattern of the introduction of sample liquid into the capillary, the analyzing device including a detector for detection of the pattern of introduction of sample liquid in the capillary.

15. The analyzing device according to claim 14, wherein the analyzing instrument further includes:

one or more detecting electrodes for measurement of an electrical physical quantity for detection purpose as necessary information for the detection of the pattern of introduction of sample liquid in the capillary; and

a measuring electrode for measurement of an electrical physical quantity for analysis purpose as necessary information for calculating a concentration of a target component in the sample liquid,

the analyzing device further comprising;

a measurer for the measurement of the electrical physical quantity for detection purpose and the electrical physical quantity for analysis purpose;

a storage for storage of information about a plurality of calibration curves indicating a relationship between the electrical physical quantity for detection purpose and the concentration level of the target component in sample liquid;

a selector for selection of information about a target calibration curve, from the information about the calibration curves; and

an arithmetic processor for calculation of the concentration level of the target component based on the electrical physical quantity for analysis purpose and the calibration curve information selected by the selecting means.

16. The analyzing device according to claim 15,

wherein the analyzing instrument further includes:

a common passage in the capillary; and

a plurality of individual passages in the capillary connecting to the common passage, and

wherein the detector detects for each of the individual passages whether or not the sample liquid has been introduced therein.

17. The analyzing device according to claim 16, wherein each of the detecting electrodes corresponds to one of the individual passages for measurement by the detector of the electrical physical quantity for detection purpose as information necessary for detecting whether or not the sample liquid has been introduced into the individual passage.

18. The analyzing device according to claim 17, wherein the detector makes a determination for each of the electrical physical quantities obtained by the measurer through the detecting electrode whether or not the quantity has exceeded a threshold value, thereby making a determination whether or not the sample liquid has been introduced therein for each of the individual passages.

19. The analyzing device according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of switches for individual selection for each of the detecting electrodes whether to be or not to be electrically conducted with the measurer.

20. A method of manufacturing an analyzing instrument comprising:

a capillary for a sample liquid to move through and stay;

a sample liquid inlet for introduction of the sample liquid into the capillary; and

a liquid introduction controller for a controlled pattern of the introduction of sample liquid into the capillary,

the method including a step of filling selected ones of the through-holes in accordance with the pattern of introduction of the sample liquid into the capillary.

21. The method of manufacturing the analyzing instrument according to claim 20,

wherein the analyzing instrument further includes:

a sample liquid inlet for introduction of the sample liquid into the capillary, a common passage in the capillary; and

a plurality of individual passages in the capillary connecting to the common passage, each of the individual passages communicating with a corresponding one of the through-holes in the individual passages, and

wherein the step of filling the through-holes includes closing of those through-holes which correspond to those individual passages into which the sample liquid is not to be introduced.

22. A method of manufacturing an analyzing instrument comprising:

a capillary for a sample liquid to move through and stay;

a sample liquid inlet for introduction of the sample liquid into the capillary;

a common passage in the capillary;

a plurality of individual passages located farther away from the sample liquid inlet than is the common passage and connected to the common passage; and

a plurality of through-hole for a selection for each of the individual passages whether to introduce or not to introduce the sample liquid there in;

the method including;

a step of forming a first through-hole corresponding to the individual passage into which the sample liquid is not to be introduced, closer to an incoming end of said individual passage for communication with said individual passage; and

a step of forming a second through-hole corresponding to the individual passage into which the sample liquid is to be introduced, farther from an incoming end of said individual passage for communicating with said individual passage.

23. The method of manufacturing the analyzing instrument according to claim 22, wherein

the analyzing instrument further comprising a plurality of detecting electrodes each corresponding to one of the individual passages for detection of the introduction of sample liquid into the individual passage,

the first through-hole being formed closer to the incoming end of the individual passage than is an end of the corresponding detecting electrode,

the second through-hole being formed right above the corresponding detecting electrode.