Analytical tool

• US 20060042941A1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Kusaka, Yasuhide, Sato, Yoshiharu, Morita, Yoshimitsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/403.10
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• 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: B01L 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52

Abstract

The present invention relates to an analytical tool (1) comprising a substrate (10), a capillary (13) which is formed on the substrate(10) and into which a sample liquid is to be loaded by movement of the sample liquid in the capillary. The substrate (10) is provided with a liquid movement preventer for preventing the sample liquid loaded into the capillary (13) from moving further. Preferably, the liquid movement preventer includes a stepped portion (18B) projecting from the substrate or a recess provided at the substrate.

Claims

1. An analytical tool comprising a substrate, a capillary which is formed on the substrate and into which a sample liquid is to be loaded by movement of the sample liquid in the capillary;

wherein the substrate is provided with a liquid movement preventer for preventing the sample liquid loaded into the capillary from moving further.

2. The analytical tool according to claim 1, wherein the liquid movement preventer includes a stepped portion projecting from the substrate.

3. The analytical tool according to claim 2, wherein the stepped portion comprises a conductive layer formed on the substrate and an insulating layer covering the conductive layer.

4. The analytical tool according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of electrodes provided on the substrate for applying voltage to the sample liquid.

5. The analytical tool according to claim 4, wherein the conductive layer is formed as a dummy electrode which does not contribute to the voltage application to the sample liquid.

6. The analytical tool according to claim 5, wherein the dummy electrode is formed simultaneously with the plurality of electrodes.

7. The analytical tool according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of electrodes include a detection electrode for detecting whether or not the sample liquid of an amount necessary for analysis is supplied into the capillary, and

wherein the conductive layer is provided by the detection electrode.

8. The analytical tool according to claim 4, further comprising an air vent for discharging air from the capillary in moving the sample liquid in the capillary,

wherein the insulating layer includes an opening which exposes part of the electrodes and which extends along the capillary;

and

wherein, as viewed in a thickness direction of the substrate, a most downstream point of the opening in a flow direction of the sample liquid is located on a same line or almost same line as a most upstream point of the air vent in the flow direction of the sample liquid.

9. The analytical tool according to claim 1, wherein the liquid movement preventer includes a recess provided at the substrate.

10. The analytical tool according to claim 9, wherein the recess comprises a through-hole penetrating through the substrate.

11. The analytical tool according to claim 10, further comprising an air vent for discharging air from the capillary in moving the sample liquid in the capillary,

wherein the air vent is arranged coaxially or generally coaxially with the through-hole in a thickness direction of the substrate.

12. The analytical tool according to claim 9, further comprising an air vent for discharging air from the capillary in moving the sample liquid in the capillary,

wherein, as viewed in a thickness direction of the substrate, a most upstream point of the recess in a flow direction of the sample liquid is located on a same line or almost same line as a most upstream point of the air vent in the flow direction of the sample liquid.