Method for the Production of a Solution, Associated Arrangement and Uses of the Method and Arrangement

• US 20070212708A1
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Paulicka, Peter, Gumbrecht, Walter, Stanzel, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 8,518,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/00 Dissolving separating by dissolving B01D; dissolving to effect cooling F25D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7135 Opening the seal between the compartments by application of heat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation

Abstract

Solid matter in a cavity is used to produce a solution of at least one solid matter in a solvent. The solid matter which is soluble in the solvent in initially covered and/or surrounded in the cavity by a medium which is insoluble in a solvent, such that dissolving of the solid matter is prevented. Subsequently the solvent is guided to the cavity and the medium which is insoluble in the solvent is treated in such a manner that contact is made between the solvent and the soluble solid matter, enabling the solid matter to dissolve in the solvent. Solutions including two or more solid matter can be produced in an advantageous manner.

Claims

1. A method for the production of a solution from at least one solid matter in a solvent, the solvent being supplied to a cavity from a reservoir via at least one microchannels, method comprising:

storing the at least one solid matter, soluble in the solvent, in the cavity and at least one of covering and enclosing the at least one solid matter with a medium which is insoluble in the solvent, so that dissolving of the solid matter which is soluble in the solvent is prevented;

using a rinsing agent to flow through the cavity;

supplying the solvent to the cavity; and

the medium, which is insoluble in the solvent, in such a way that contact between the solvent and the soluble solid matter, and consequently dissolving of the solid matter in the solvent, occurs and the solution is produced.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein two solid matters are present, the first solid matter being kept in a cavity and the second solid matter being contained in the solvent, and wherein:

at least one of the first solid matter, which is soluble in the solvent, is at least one of covered and enclosed in the cavity with a medium which is insoluble in the solvent, so that dissolving of the solid matter which is soluble in the solvent is prevented; and

the solvent contained in the second solid matter is supplied to the cavity.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is performed using a fully integrated single-use unit, in which the at least one solid matter is kept in a cavity.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity is closed by valves.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein water is used as the solvent.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second solid matter is suspended in the solvent.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first solid matter is a PCR reagent.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the PCR reagent includes polymerases, nucleotides, primers, buffers and adjuvants.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the PCR reagent forms a film on the wall of the cavity.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second solid matter is at least one of dissolved and suspended DNA to be amplified.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein DNA to be amplified are bonded to magnetic beads.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the PCR cavity includes means for collecting magnetic beads.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medium, which is not soluble in the solvent, is paraffin.

22. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the method is performed using a fully integrated single-use unit, in which the at least one solid matter is kept in a cavity.

23. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cavity is closed by valves.

24. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein water is used as the solvent.

25. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first solid matter is a PCR reagent.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the PCR reagent includes polymerases, nucleotides, primers, buffers and adjuvants.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the PCR reagent forms a film on the wall of the cavity.

28. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second solid matter is at least one of dissolved and suspended DNA to be amplified.

29. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medium, which is not soluble in the solvent, is paraffin.

14. A disposable product, comprising:

at least one microchannel or at least one microcavity for receiving at least one solid matter which is soluble in a solvent, the at least the one solid matter being located on a wall of the at least one microchannel or microcavity and covered by a thin layer of a medium which is not soluble in the solvent, wherein the medium, which is insoluble in the solvent, is treatable in such a way to permit contact between the solvent and the soluble solid matter, and consequently dissolving of the solid matter in the solvent when a rinsing agent is introduced, to produce a solution.

15. The disposable product as claimed in claim 14, wherein the solvent is supplied to a cavity from a reservoir via at least one microchannel or microcavity, the cavity being a PCR cavity suitable for thermocycling.

16. The disposable product as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for thermocycling.

17. The disposable product as claimed in claim 15, wherein the PCR cavity is equipped with an inflow and an outflow.

18. The disposable product as claimed in claim 15, wherein the inflow and the outflow are equipped with valves.

19. A method, comprising:

using the disposable product as claimed in claim 14 in PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) for biochemical analyses.

20. A method, comprising:

using the disposable product as claimed in claim 14 for the quantitative dissolving of dry reagents to produce a reagent for an analysis device.

30. An arrangement for producing a solution from at least one solid matter in a solvent, the solvent being supplied to a cavity from a reservoir via at least one microchannel, comprising the disposable product of claim 14.

31. An arrangement for producing a solution from at least one solid matter in a solvent, the solvent being supplied to a cavity from a reservoir via at least one microchannel, comprising the disposable product of claim 15.

21. (canceled)