Fluid feeding system, fluid feeding method and flow channel unit
First Claim
1. A fluid feeding system comprising:
- a flow channel unit comprising at least a flow channel for feeding a sample fluid containing a sample to a sensor surface for detecting reaction of said sample, an inlet opening for introducing said sample fluid into said flow channel, an outlet opening for draining said sample fluid out of said flow channel, and pipette catchers formed at said inlet and outlet openings; and
a fluid feeding apparatus comprising a pipette head having a couple of pipettes for sucking and ejecting said sample fluid, a device for moving said pipette head to said flow channel unit as positioned removably on a designated stage, and pressing ends of said pipettes onto said pipette catchers, to inject said sample fluid into said flow channel, wherein either said ends of said pipettes or said pipette catchers are formed from a soft material so as to be deformed resiliently when said ends of said pipettes are pressed onto said pipette catchers.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid feeding system consists of a flow channel member and a fluid feeding apparatus. The flow channel member has at least a flow channel for feeding a fluid to a sensor surface. Pipette catchers are formed at inlet and outlet openings of the flow channel. The fluid feeding apparatus comprises a movable pipette head having a couple of pipettes, a head moving mechanism and pumps for sucking and ejecting the fluid through the pipettes. To inject the fluid into the flow channel, ends of the pipettes are pressed onto the pipette catchers. The pipette catchers are formed from a soft material, so that they are deformed resiliently when the ends of the pipettes are pressed onto the pipette catchers, thereby ensuring water-tightness between the pipettes and the flow channel, without the need for fitting the pipettes in the inlet and outlet openings.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A fluid feeding system comprising:
-
a flow channel unit comprising at least a flow channel for feeding a sample fluid containing a sample to a sensor surface for detecting reaction of said sample, an inlet opening for introducing said sample fluid into said flow channel, an outlet opening for draining said sample fluid out of said flow channel, and pipette catchers formed at said inlet and outlet openings; and
a fluid feeding apparatus comprising a pipette head having a couple of pipettes for sucking and ejecting said sample fluid, a device for moving said pipette head to said flow channel unit as positioned removably on a designated stage, and pressing ends of said pipettes onto said pipette catchers, to inject said sample fluid into said flow channel, wherein either said ends of said pipettes or said pipette catchers are formed from a soft material so as to be deformed resiliently when said ends of said pipettes are pressed onto said pipette catchers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A fluid feeding method for feeding a fluid to a flow channel by use of pipettes, comprising steps of:
-
positioning a flow channel unit on a stage, said flow channel unit comprising said flow channel, an inlet opening for introducing said fluid into said flow channel, an outlet opening for draining said fluid out of said flow channel, and pipette catchers formed at said inlet and outlet openings;
moving a pipette head to said flow channel unit as positioned on said stage, said pipette head having a couple of pipettes for sucking and ejecting said fluid;
pressing ends of said pipettes onto said pipette catchers, wherein either said ends of said pipettes or said pipette catchers are formed from a soft material so as to be deformed resiliently according to a pressure applied thereto; and
injecting said fluid into said flow channel through said pipettes while said ends of said pipettes being pressed onto said pipette catchers.
-
- 9. A flow channel unit comprising at least a flow channel for feeding a sample fluid containing a sample to a sensor surface for detecting reaction of said sample, an inlet opening for introducing said sample fluid into said flow channel, an outlet opening for draining said sample fluid out of said flow channel, and pipette catchers formed at said inlet and outlet openings, for catching ends of pipettes while said sample fluid is being injected into said flow channel through said pipettes, wherein said pipette catchers are formed from a soft material so as to be deformed resiliently when said ends of said pipettes are pressed onto said pipette catchers.
Specification