Microfluidic system, sample analysis device, and target substance detection/measurement method

• US 20070120903A1
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Takagi, Fumio
• Granted Patent: US 7,863,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/027 electrostatic forces between substrate and tip
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0439 ultrasonic vibrations, vibrating piezo elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0487 fluid pressure, pneumatics
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0268 using pulse dispensing or spraying, eg. inkjet type, piezo actuated ejection of droplets from capillaries
• 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: B01L 3/563 Joints or fittings in general F16L; Separable fluid transfer means to transfer fluids between at least two containers, e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A microfluidic system includes a plate-shaped microfluidic chip having a flow path, a liquid introduction tube for supplying liquid to the flow path, the liquid introduction tube having an end communicating with an end of the flow path and its other end that can be soaked in the liquid that is to be supplied to the flow path, and a liquid discharge head communicating with the other end of the flow path for discharging liquid that has passed through the flow path.

Claims

1. A microfluidic system comprising:

a plate-shaped microfluidic chip having a flow path;

a liquid introduction tube for supplying liquid to the flow path, the liquid introduction tube having an end communicating with an end of the flow path and its other end that can be soaked in the liquid that is to be supplied to the flow path; and

a liquid discharge head communicating with the other end of the flow path for discharging liquid that has passed through the flow path.

2. The microfluidic system according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic chip can be detached from the liquid introduction tube and the liquid discharge head.

3. The microfluidic system according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic chip is made of transparent material.

4. The microfluidic system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid introduction tube and the liquid discharge head communicate with the flow path in the same principal surface of the plate-shaped microfluidic chip.

5. The microfluidic system according to claim 4, wherein the microfluidic chip is formed by layering and bonding two plates, at least one of which has a groove used as a flow path in a surface, and either of which has through holes respectively at positions corresponding to both ends of the flow path;

the liquid introduction tube directly or indirectly communicates with one of the through holes; and

the liquid discharge head directly or indirectly communicates with the other through hole.

6. The microfluidic system according to claim 1, wherein the flow path has a dam section having a narrower flow path diameter than other parts of the flow path.

14. A method for detecting or measuring a target substance in a sample solution by using the microfluidic system according to claim 6, comprising:

soaking an end of the liquid introduction tube opposite the end connected to the flow path in a solution containing beads each having a size preventing the beads passing through the dam section, with a substance having affinity for the target substance being immobilized to the surface of the beads,

activating the liquid discharge head, introducing the solution containing the beads into the flow path in the microfluidic chip, and damming the beads at the dam section;

soaking an end of the liquid introduction tube opposite the end connected to the flow path in the sample solution;

activating the liquid discharge head and introducing the sample solution into the flow path in the microfluidic chip to bring the sample solution in sufficient contact with the beads dammed at the dam section; and

detecting or measuring binding between the target substance and the substance having affinity for the target substance that has been immobilized to the bead surface.

15. The target substance detection/measurement method according to claim 14, further comprising, after bringing the sample solution in contact with the beads and before detecting or measuring binding, soaking the end of the liquid introduction tube opposite the end connected to the flow path in cleaning liquid and activating the liquid discharge head.

16. The target substance detection/measurement method according to claim 14, further comprising, after bringing the sample solution in contact with the beads and before detecting or measuring binding, soaking an end of the liquid introduction tube opposite the end connected to the flow path in a solution containing a labelled substance having affinity for the target substance, activating the liquid discharge head, and binding the target substance with the labelled substance.

17. The target substance detection/measurement method according to claim 14, wherein the liquid discharge head is operated to sequentially discharge droplets at 2-10 kHz.

7. A sample analysis device equipped, when used, with a plate-shaped microfluidic chip having a flow path, comprising a liquid introduction tube capable of, when the sample analysis device is equipped with the microfluidic chip, communicating with one end of the flow path, a liquid discharge head capable of, when the sample analysis device is equipped with the microfluidic chip, communicating with the other end of the flow path, and fixing means being capable of integrally fixing the microfluidic chip, the liquid introduction tube, and the liquid discharge head.

8. The sample analysis device according to claim 7, further comprising an optical detection system capable of detecting a reaction occurring in the flow path.

9. The sample analysis device according to claim 7, further comprising sucking means capable of sucking gas or liquid in the liquid discharge head via a nozzle of the liquid discharge head.

10. A plate-shaped microfluidic chip having a flow path attached, when used, to the sample analysis device according to of claim 7, wherein, when being attached to the sample analysis device, one end of the flow path can communicate with the liquid introduction tube and the other end can communicate with the liquid discharge head.

11. The microfluidic chip according to claim 10 made of transparent material.

12. The microfluidic chip according to claim 10, formed by layering and bonding two plates, at least one of which has a groove used as the flow path on a surface, and either of which has through holes respectively at positions corresponding to both ends of the flow path.

13. The microfluidic chip according to claim 10, wherein the flow path has a dam section having a narrower flow path diameter than other parts of the flow path.