Fluid dispenser, fluid dispensing method and assay apparatus for assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection
First Claim
1. A fluid dispenser for dispensation and introduction of sample fluid to a sensing surface of a sensor unit including a flow channel having plural orifices, and said sensing surface positioned in said flow channel for detecting reaction of sample in said sample fluid, said fluid dispenser comprising:
- a pipette device group, having plural pipette devices for accessing respectively said orifices;
plural pumps, connected respectively with said pipette devices, for pressurization to dispense said sample fluid through said pipette devices, or for decompression to aspirate said sample fluid through said pipette devices; and
a pump controller for driving said pumps in a manner independent from one another.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple pipette assembly is used for the purpose of sample immobilization for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, and dispenses and introduces sample fluid of a sample to a sensing surface of a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a flow channel having first and second orifices, and the sensing surface, positioned in the flow channel, for detecting the reaction of the sample. First and second pipette devices access the orifices. First and second pumps are connected with respectively the pipette devices, for pressurization to dispense the sample fluid through the pipette devices, or for decompression to aspirate the sample fluid through the pipette devices. The pumps are driven in a manner independent from one another. While the first and second pipette devices move away from the sensor unit, the pumps are caused to decompress a space in the first and second pipette devices and the flow channel.
32 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A fluid dispenser for dispensation and introduction of sample fluid to a sensing surface of a sensor unit including a flow channel having plural orifices, and said sensing surface positioned in said flow channel for detecting reaction of sample in said sample fluid, said fluid dispenser comprising:
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a pipette device group, having plural pipette devices for accessing respectively said orifices;
plural pumps, connected respectively with said pipette devices, for pressurization to dispense said sample fluid through said pipette devices, or for decompression to aspirate said sample fluid through said pipette devices; and
a pump controller for driving said pumps in a manner independent from one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A fluid dispensing method of dispensation and introduction of sample fluid of a sample to a sensing surface for assay of reaction of said sample, wherein a flow channel is positioned with said sensing surface disposed therein, and has plural orifices, said fluid dispensing method comprising steps of:
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setting one of plural pipette devices in each of said orifices, for dispensing said sample fluid through at least a first one of said pipette devices, and for aspirating air or fluid through at least a second one of said pipette devices, to introduce said sample fluid to said sensing surface; and
causing said plural pipette devices to aspirate to decompress a space in said plural pipette devices and said flow channel, said plural pipette devices being caused to move away from said sensor unit while said plural pipette devices aspirate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An assay apparatus for assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection by use of a sensor unit, said sensor unit including a flow channel having plural orifices, and a dielectric medium, positioned on said flow channel, and overlaid with a thin film for detecting reaction of sample in sample fluid within said flow channel, said assay apparatus including a light source for applying illuminating light to said sensor unit in a form to satisfy a total reflection condition, and a photo detector for detecting said illuminating light reflected by said sensor unit, to output an electric signal by conversion, said assay apparatus comprising:
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a pipette device group, having plural pipette devices for accessing respectively said orifices;
plural pumps, connected with respectively said pipette devices, for pressurization to dispense said sample fluid through said pipette devices, or for decompression to aspirate said sample fluid through said pipette devices; and
a pump controller for driving said pumps in a manner independent from one another.
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19. A fluid dispenser for dispensation and introduction of a sample to a sensing surface in a sensor unit, wherein said sensor unit includes a flow channel with first and second orifices, and said sensing surface positioned inside said flow channel for detecting reaction of said sample, said fluid dispenser comprising:
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a pipette device group, having first and second pipette devices for being set at respectively said first and second orifices;
a dispensing pump for causing said first pipette device to dispense said sample;
an aspirating pump for causing said second pipette device to aspirate said sample; and
a speed controller for controlling speeds of said dispensing and aspirating pumps to cancel a finite difference between a dispensing flow rate and an aspirating flow rate, said dispensing flow rate being associated with said first pipette device and said dispensing pump and per unit time, and said aspirating flow rate being associated with said second pipette device and said aspirating pump and per unit time. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. An assay apparatus for assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection, in which a sensor unit is used and includes a flow channel with first and second orifices, and a sensing surface positioned inside said flow channel, having a thin film, for detecting reaction of a sample, said assay apparatus comprising:
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a fluid dispenser for dispensation and introduction of said sample to said sensing surface, and including;
(A) a pipette device group, having first and second pipette devices for being set at respectively said first and second orifices;
(B) a dispensing pump for causing said first pipette device to dispense said sample;
(C) an aspirating pump for causing said second pipette device to aspirate said sample;
(D) a speed controller for controlling speeds of said dispensing and aspirating pumps to cancel a finite difference between a dispensing flow rate and an aspirating flow rate, said dispensing flow rate being associated with said first pipette device and said dispensing pump and per unit time, and said aspirating flow rate being associated with said second pipette device and said aspirating pump and per unit time; and
a light source for emitting illuminating light toward said thin film; and
a photo detector for detecting said illuminating light reflected by said thin film.
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23. A fluid dispensing method of dispensing a sample to a sensing surface in a sensor unit, wherein said sensor unit includes a flow channel with first and second orifices, and said sensing surface positioned inside said flow channel for detecting reaction of said sample, said fluid dispensing method comprising steps of:
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setting first and second pipette devices at respectively said first and second orifices, said first and second pipette devices constituting a pipette device group; and
controlling speeds of dispensing and aspirating pumps to cancel a finite difference between a dispensing flow rate and an aspirating flow rate, said dispensing flow rate being associated with said first pipette device and said dispensing pump and per unit time, and said aspirating flow rate being associated with said second pipette device and said aspirating pump and per unit time.
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Specification