Device for transporting liquid and system for analyzing

• US 20060254933A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Harada, Kunio, Yamazaki, Isao, Adachi, Sakuichiro, Enoki, Hideo
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/777
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/08 using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/004 based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

In a device for transporting liquid, liquid to be transported is enclosed by an oil droplet, which is fractionated with air, for manipulation. Moreover, as a method for supplying liquids wherein a plurality of liquids are enclosed by an oil droplet sequentially and treated, liquid enclosed by an oil droplet is formed by associating one oil with one liquid in a liquid introducing section. According to the present invention, even in the case where a plurality of liquids are manipulated, it is possible to manipulate stably without affecting other liquids. Moreover, it is possible to treat as a liquid enclosed by an oil droplet successively in the device for transporting liquid, thereby allowing the invention to be applied to a system for analyzing easily.

Claims

1. A device for transporting liquid, comprising:

a first substrate;

a plurality of first electrodes provided on the first substrate;

a first insulating film covering the plurality of first electrodes;

at least one introducing section for introducing a first liquid and a second liquid;

a drain section for draining the first liquid and the second liquid; and

an electric conduction means for applying a voltage to at least a part of the plurality of first electrodes;

wherein

the second liquid is immiscible with the first liquid, and the electric conduction means applies a voltage, through at least a part of the plurality of first electrodes, to a fractured first liquid such that a compound of the fractured first electrode and a second liquid moves along the plurality of first electrodes, the second liquid containing the fractured first liquid and being fractured.

2. The device for transporting liquid according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second substrate facing to the first substrate;

a second electrode provided on the second substrate; and

a second insulating film covering the second electrode, wherein

the electric conduction means applies a voltage to the fractured first liquid by applying a voltage to between at least a part of the plurality of first electrodes and the second electrode.

3. The device for transporting liquid according to claim 1, wherein when stopping the application of the voltage, the electric conduction means will stop the same after coupling at least a part of the plurality of first electrodes to the earth.

4. The device for transporting liquid according to claim 1, wherein the introducing ports are a first introducing section and a second introducing section corresponding to each of the first liquid and the second liquid.

5. A system for analyzing, comprising:

a first unit comprising a means for supplying a first liquid, and a means for supplying a second liquid;

a second unit comprising an introducing section into which the first liquid is introduced from the means for supplying the first liquid, a drain section for draining the first liquid, a liquid-transporting passage which is provided with a plurality of electrodes and which joints the introducing section to the drain section, a measurement section provided in at least a part of the liquid-transporting passage, and a voltage application means for applying a voltage to at least a part of the plurality of electrodes;

a third unit comprising a detection system for detecting the measurement section; and

a fourth unit for draining liquid from the drain section, wherein

the second liquid is immiscible with the first liquid, and the first unit fractionates the second liquid such that the second liquid contains a fractionated first liquid, and supplies it to the second unit, and

the voltage application means applies a voltage to at least a part of the plurality of electrodes as to move a compound of a fractured first liquid and a second liquid along the liquid-transporting passage, the compound containing the fractured first liquid and being fractionated.

6. The system for analyzing according to claim 5, wherein the means for supplying the first liquid has a container for storing the first liquid, and a first probe which sucks and discharges the first liquid, wherein when the first probe is in contact with the second liquid which is introduced into the introducing section, it introduces the first liquid to the inside of the introduced second liquid.

7. The system for analyzing according to claim 6, wherein the means for supplying the second liquid has a second probe which sucks and discharges the second liquid.

8. The system for analyzing according to claim 6, wherein the first probe has a water-repellent film provided in at least a part of the external surface thereof.

9. The system for analyzing according to claim 5, further comprising a dispense probe which dispenses the first liquid and the second liquid, wherein

the means for supplying the first liquid has a first container for storing the first liquid,

the means for supplying the second liquid has a second container for storing the second liquid, and

after sucking the second liquid from the second container, the dispense probe sucks the first liquid and introduces the sucked second liquid and first liquid into the second unit.

10. The system for analyzing according to claim 5, further comprising a flow cell, and a flow cell probe to be jointed thereto, wherein

the means for supplying the first liquid has a first container for storing the first liquid and a first probe for sucking and discharging the first liquid,

the means for supplying the second liquid has a second container for storing the second liquid, and a second probe for sucking and discharging the second liquid, and

the flow cell probe, into which the first liquid and the second liquid are introduced from the first probe and the second probe, respectively, introduces the compound into the second unit by means of a liquid flow of the second liquid.

11. The system for analyzing according to claim 5, wherein

the means for supplying the first liquid has a the first container for storing the first liquid,

the means for supplying the second liquid has a second container for storing the second liquid, and

a liquid supplying section for supplying the second liquid, after sucking the second liquid from the second container, sucks the first liquid to form the compound and introduces the compound into the second unit.

12. The system for analyzing according to claim 5, wherein the voltage application means applies the voltage as to move a plurality of the compounds, and wherein the periphery of each of the plurality of compounds is filled with gas.

13. A system for analyzing, comprising:

a first unit comprising a means for supplying a first liquid, and a means for supplying a second liquid;

a second unit comprising;

a first introducing section into which the first liquid is introduced from the means for supplying the first liquid;

a second introducing section into which the second liquid is introduced from the means for supplying the second liquid;

a drain section for draining the first liquid;

a liquid-transporting passage which is provided with a plurality of electrodes and which joints the first introducing section to the drain section;

a measurement section provided in at least a part of the liquid-transporting passage; and

a voltage application means for applying a voltage to at least a part of the plurality of electrodes;

a third unit comprising a detection system arranged adjacent to the measurement section; and

a fourth unit for draining liquid from the drain section, wherein

the second liquid is immiscible with the first liquid;

the means for supplying the first liquid discharges the first liquid as to fractionate the same;

the means for supplying the second liquid discharges the second liquid as to fractionate the same;

the voltage application means applies a voltage to at least a part of the plurality of electrodes so as to move the first liquid from the first introducing section to the second introducing section along the liquid-transporting passage, the first liquid being fractured by the means for supplying the first liquid, and also as to move the first liquid along the liquid-transporting passage, the first liquid being contained by at least a part of the second liquid which is introduced into the second introducing section.

14. The system for analyzing according to claim 13, wherein the first unit has a means for supplying a plurality of the first liquids and a plurality of the first introducing sections.

15. The system for analyzing according to claim 13, wherein the means for supplying the first liquid has a first probe which sucks and discharges the first liquid, and the means for supplying the second liquid has a second probe which sucks and discharges the second liquid.

16. The system for analyzing according to claim 15, wherein the first probe discharges the first liquid to the first introducing section, and the second probe discharges the second liquid to the second introducing section.

17. The system for analyzing according to claim 13, wherein the voltage application means applies a voltage as to transport a first liquid which is contained by at least a part of a second liquid, the second liquid being introduced into a plurality of the second introducing sections, and as for the first liquid which is contained by at least a part of a second liquid, the second liquid being introduced into a plurality of the second introducing sections, the periphery of the second liquid which contains the first liquid is filled with gas.