Chemical reaction cartridge, method of producing chemical reaction cartridge, and mechanism for driving chemical reaction cartridge

• US 20050244308A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Hiramatsu, Hitoshi, Tanaami, Takeo, Katakura, Hisao, Mitsumori, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 8,961,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/180
• 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 35/7177 using rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00804 Plurality of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00833 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0621 Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• 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 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0861 Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• 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 3/502723 : characterised by venting arrangements
• 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

Abstract

A chemical reaction cartridge includes a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, in which a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction. At least a chamber into which the fluid substance is flowed has an air-release path which releases air from the chamber.

Claims

1. A chemical reaction cartridge comprising a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein at least a chamber into which the fluid substance is flowed has an air-release path which releases air from the own chamber.

10. A mechanism for driving the chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 1 or 2, comprising a pressurizing portions which simultaneously block all flow paths connected to the chambers holding the fluid substance.

12. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 10,

wherein the pressurizing portions are rollers used for moving the fluid substance.

14. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 10,

wherein at least one of the pressurizing portions is a shutter.

16. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 10,

wherein the fluid substance is blocked simultaneously at a plurality of places in one cartridge.

18. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 10,

wherein the fluid substance is blocked in accordance with each step of the chemical reaction.

20. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 10,

wherein at least one of the pressurizing portions is moved after blocking the fluid substance to change an inner pressure of the chambers.

22. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein the plurality of chambers are arranged at regular intervals of a pitch,

at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of inlet flow paths into which different fluid substances, and at least one outlet flow path, and

at least one of the chambers is a dummy chamber for adjusting a timing of transporting a predetermined fluid substance into the common chamber.

24. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 22, comprising a plurality of pressurizing portions provided in positions for blocking the flow path of the chambers,

wherein the plurality of pressurizing portions are simultaneously moved in one direction to transport a solution pitch by pitch.

26. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein an entrance for the fluid substance is constituted by a plurality of injection portions connected in its inside, and

the fluid substance is injected from one of the injection portions to release air from another injection portion.

28. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

an entrance for storing a predetermined amount of the fluid substances; and

a sucking portion which sucks the predetermined amount of the fluid substance stored in the entrance, into an inside.

30. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of inlet flow paths into which two or more kinds of different fluid substances respectively, and at least two outlet flow paths, and

when one fluid substances flows into or from the common chamber, an inlet flow path for another fluid substance and the outlet flow paths are blocked by the external force.

32. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 30,

wherein the flow paths into and from which the another fluid substance flows are formed in positions to be blocked by an external force used for transporting the one fluid substance.

34. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 30,

wherein the plurality of chambers have convex portions which are provided in the outside of the vessel and which are pressed down when the external force is applied, and

a flow path for transporting the one fluid substance are formed in concave portions between the convex portions.

36. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 30,

wherein the flow path into and from which the another fluid substance flows are simultaneously blocked by a wheel type pressurizing portion.

38. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 36,

wherein the wheel type pressurizing portion is moved or rotated and moved in a direction of an axis same with that of the pressuring portion for transporting the solution to block the flow path into and from which the another fluid substance flows.

40. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 30,

wherein an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path of the common chamber are radially formed from the common chamber, and

a pressurizing portion for transporting a solution through the flow paths is moved in directions of different axes in accordance with each flow path in a surface of the vessel.

42. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of inlet flow paths into which two or more kinds of different fluid substances flow respectively, and at least two outlet flow paths, and

a plurality of flow paths passing through the common chamber are arranged in each of rear and front surfaces of the cartridge.

44. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of flow paths through which two or more kinds of different fluid substances flow into and from the common chamber, and

the flow paths of the common chamber are arranged adjacently and linearly with the common chamber as its center, and

when one fluid substance flows into and from the common chamber, a flow path into which another fluid substance flows, the common chamber is blocked by the external force.

46. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 44,

wherein a pressurizing portion for transporting the fluid substances into the common chamber is arranged to clamp chambers containing a fluid substance to be transported and is moved in a linear direction in a surface of the vessel.

48. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein the plurality of chambers are arranged at regular intervals of a pitch,

at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of inlet flow paths into which two or more kinds of different fluid substances flow respectively, and at least two outlet flow paths, and

when one fluid substance flows into and from the common chamber, an inlet flow path into which another fluid substance flows are blocked by the external force.

50. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 48,

wherein a pressurizing portion for transporting the different fluid substances is a group of pressurizing portions which move independently.

52. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 50,

wherein the group of pressurizing portions move in at least two different directions in a surface of the vessel.

55. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 48,

wherein a direction of movement of the pressurizing portion to which the external force is applied and a direction of the flow path are different from each other in a surface of the vessel.

57. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 55,

wherein the direction of the flow path is at an angle of 90 degrees or lower with respect to the direction of the movement of the pressurizing portion.

59. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 48,

wherein a rigid body is formed on the vessel side of the flow path, and

an external force is applied on a part of the flow path so that a rigid body forming portion blocks the flow path entirely.

61. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 55,

wherein a rigid body is formed on the vessel side of the flow path, and

an external force is applied on part of the flow path so that a rigid body forming portion blocks the flow path entirely.

68. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 1 or 2,

wherein the external force is generated by pressing a two-dimensional plate from one direction of the elastic body side.

70. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 68,

wherein the two-dimensional plate has a curvature in a surface thereof which applies the external force on the flow path or the chambers.

2. A chemical reaction cartridge comprising a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein at least either of the flow path and the chambers is in zero volume before the fluid substance flows into the flow path or the chambers.

3. A method of producing a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 2, comprising the step of:

forming a non-adhesive portion non-adhesive to the flow path or the chambers when a rigid body and the elastic body are bonded to each other.

4. The method of producing a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 3,

wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed in such a manner that a non-adhesive substance is applied before bonding.

5. The method of producing a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 3,

wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed in such a manner that a corresponding region is masked or a substance not activated by plasma is applied to the corresponding region at a time of plasma adhesive treatment.

6. The method of producing a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 3,

wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed in such a manner that an adhesive agent is applied on a neighbor of a corresponding region but the adhesive agent is not applied on the non-adhesive portion.

7. The method of producing a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 3,

wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed as a non-adhesive surface in such a manner that an implantable material having at least one non-adhesive surface is embedded in the substrate.

8. The method of producing a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 3,

wherein the non-adhesive portion is formed in such a manner that an implantable material having at least one non-adhesive surface is set in a substrate or the elastic body hardened in advance and then a corresponding portion of the elastic body or substrate is molded by casting.

9. A mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge having a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein the mechanism comprises pressurizing portions which simultaneously block all input and output flow paths connected to the chambers holding the fluid substance.

11. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 9,

wherein the pressurizing portions are rollers used for moving the fluid substance.

13. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 9,

wherein at least one of the pressurizing portions is a shutter.

15. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 9,

wherein the fluid substance is blocked simultaneously at a plurality of places in one cartridge.

17. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 9,

wherein the fluid substance is blocked in accordance with each step of the chemical reaction.

19. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 9,

wherein at least one of the pressurizing portions is moved after blocking the fluid substance to change an inner pressure of the chambers.

21. A chemical reaction cartridge comprising a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein the plurality of chambers are arranged at regular intervals of a pitch,

at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of inlet flow paths into which different fluid substances, and at least one outlet flow path, and

at least one of the chambers is a dummy chamber for adjusting a timing of transporting a predetermined fluid substance into the common chamber.

23. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 21, comprising a plurality of pressurizing portions provided in positions for blocking the flow paths of the chambers, wherein the plurality of pressurizing portions are moved simultaneously in one direction to thereby transport solutions pitch by pitch.

62. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 21,

wherein a trap material for trapping a predetermined substance is permanently or temporarily fixed into the common chamber.

63. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 62,

wherein the predetermined substance is a biopolymer.

64. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 63,

wherein the biopolymer is DNA, RNA, protein, metabolite or sugar chain.

65. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 62,

wherein the trap material is provided as beads, a filter, a fiber or a column having a surface modified for trapping.

66. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 65,

wherein the beads are silica, magnetic beads, metal beads or resin beads.

25. A chemical reaction cartridge comprising a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein an entrance for the fluid substance is constituted by a plurality of injection portions connected in its inside, and

the fluid substance is injected from one of the injection portions to release air from another injection portion.

27. A chemical reaction cartridge comprising a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is being applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein the chemical reaction cartridge further comprises:

an entrance for storing a predetermined amount of the fluid substance; and

a sucking portion which sucks the predetermined amount of the fluid substance stored in the entrance, into an inside.

29. A chemical reaction cartridge comprising a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of inlet flow paths into which two or more kinds of different fluid substances flow respectively, and at least two outlet flow paths, and

when one fluid substance flows into and from the common chamber, an inlet flow path for another fluid substance and the outlet flow paths are blocked by the external force.

31. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 29,

wherein the flow paths into and from which the another fluid substance flows are formed in positions to be blocked by an external force used for transporting the one fluid substance.

33. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 29,

wherein the plurality of chambers have convex portions which are provided in the outside of the vessel and which are pressed down when the external force is applied, and

a flow path for transporting the one fluid substance are formed in concave portions between the convex portions.

35. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 29,

wherein a flow path into and from which the another fluid substance flows are simultaneously blocked by a wheel type pressurizing portion.

37. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 35,

wherein the wheel type pressurizing portion is moved or rotated and moved in a direction of an axis same with that of the pressuring portion for transporting the solution to block the flow path into and from which the another fluid substance flows.

39. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 29,

wherein an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path of the common chamber are radially formed from the common chamber, and

a pressurizing portion for transporting a solution through the flow path is moved in directions of different axes in accordance with each flow path in a surface of the vessel.

41. A chemical reaction cartridge comprising a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of inlet flow paths into which two or more kinds of different fluid substances flow respectively, and at least two outlet flow paths, and

a plurality of flow paths passing through the common chamber are arranged in each of rear and front surfaces of the cartridge.

43. A chemical reaction cartridge comprising a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of flow paths through which two or more kinds of different fluid substances flow into and from the common chamber,

the flow paths of the common chamber are arranged adjacently and linearly with the common chamber as its center, and

when one fluid substance flows into and from the common chamber, a flow path into which another fluid substance flows, the common chamber is blocked by the external force.

45. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 43,

wherein a pressurizing portion for transporting the fluid substance into the common chamber is arranged to clamp chambers containing a fluid substance to be transported and is moved in a linear direction in a surface of the vessel.

47. The chemical reaction cartridge comprising a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein the plurality of chambers are arranged at regular intervals of a pitch,

at least one of the chambers is a common chamber having a plurality of inlet flow paths into which two or more kinds of different fluid substances flow respectively, and at least two outlet flow paths, and

when one fluid substance flows into and from the common chamber, an inlet flow path into which another fluid substance flows are blocked by the external force.

49. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge defined in claim 47,

wherein a pressurizing portion for transporting the different fluid substances is a group of pressurizing portions which move independently.

51. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 49,

wherein the group of pressurizing portions move in at least two different directions in a surface of the vessel.

53. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 51,

wherein the two directions are perpendicular to each other.

54. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 47,

wherein a direction of movement of the pressurizing portion to which the external force is applied and a direction of the flow path are different from each other in a surface of the vessel.

56. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 54,

wherein the direction of the flow path is at an angle of 90 degrees or lower with respect to the direction of the movement of the pressurizing portion.

58. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 47,

wherein a rigid body is formed on the vessel side of the flow path, and

an external force is applied on a part of the flow path so that a rigid body forming portion blocks the flow path entirely.

60. The chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 54,

wherein a rigid body is formed on the vessel side of the flow path, and

an external force is applied on a part of the flow path so that a rigid body forming portion blocks the flow path entirely.

67. A mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge having a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein the external force is generated by pressing a two-dimensional plate from one direction of the elastic body side.

69. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 67,

wherein the two-dimensional plate has a curvature in a surface thereof which applies the external force on the flow path or the chambers.

71. A mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge having a vessel having at least one part made of an elastic body, wherein a plurality of chambers formed in the vessel so as to be connected or arranged connectably through a flow path, and an external force is applied to the elastic body from an outside of the vessel to move a fluid substance in the flow path or the chambers or in both the flow path and the chambers so as to perform a chemical reaction,

wherein the mechanism comprises:

a plurality of pressing portions which press the chemical reaction cartridge; and

a base portion provided with the pressing portions.

72. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 71,

wherein the plurality of chambers are arranged at regular intervals of a pitch, and

the pressing portions are arranged at regular intervals of a pitch equal to the pitch of the chambers.

73. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 71 or 72,

wherein the base portion has an opening portion into which an actuator is inserted.

74. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 71 or 72, further comprising:

a shutter which blocks the fluid substance moving in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of the pressing portions.

75. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 71 or 72,

wherein the pressing portions include:

a plurality of rollers which press the chemical reaction cartridge; and

a plurality of roller support portions which support the rollers respectively.

76. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 75,

wherein each of the roller support portions has a groove into which one of the rollers is inserted, and

the groove holds the roller to wrap the roller at a higher angle than 180°

.

77. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 75,

wherein each of the roller support portions has a roller stopper member in its side surface.

78. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 71 or 72,

wherein each of the pressing portions has an end portion having a curved surface for pressing the chemical reaction cartridge.

79. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 78,

wherein the curved surface is a circular curved surface or a non-circular curved surface.

80. The mechanism for driving a chemical reaction cartridge according to claim 78, further comprising:

a member which is provided between the chemical reaction cartridge and the pressing portions and which reduces friction.