Fluid handling device

• US 20090047180A1
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Original Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Inventors: Kawahara, Noriyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,785,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.50
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/025 Align devices or objects to ensure defined positions relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0618 for removable separation walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0681 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50855 using modular assemblies of strips or of individual wells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/809 Multifield plates or multicontainer arrays

Abstract

It is to make a separate component for preventing disengagement of a strip plate incorporated into a frame unnecessary, to allow attachment and detachment of the strip plate to and from the frame by a single operation, and to allow the strip plate and the frame to be smoothly attached and detached without the strip plate disengaging from the frame during a manual operation such as transportation and without specimens and the like within wells spilling when an external force is applied to attach and detach the strip plate to and from the frame.

In a fluid handling device 1, an eaves section 27 of a first side wall 5 is engaged with a recess 37 of a strip plate 3 including a plurality of wells using concavity and convexity. An eaves section 28 of a second side wall 6 is engaged with a recess 38 of the strip plate 3 using concavity and convexity. Slits are formed in a corner section of the second side wall 6 connecting to another side wall, so as to extend downwards from an upper end section 6c. The second side wall 6 is partially cut away from the other side wall and is more easily deformed than the first side wall 5.

Claims

1. A fluid handling device in which a plurality of rectangular planar-shaped strip plates on which a plurality of wells are formed in a single row or more are detachably incorporated into a frame having a square planar-shaped space surrounded by four continuous side walls, thereby arranging the wells in a form of a matrix, wherein:

the strip plate includes shoulder sections on one end section side and another end section side in a longitudinal direction that are placed on upper end sections of a pair of opposing side walls among the four side walls, and a concave-convex engaging section that engages with a locking section formed on a side surface positioned on the space side of the opposing pair of side walls among the four side walls using concavity and convexity;

when the strip plate is incorporated into the frame, the concave-convex engaging section engages with the locking section using concavity and convexity by the concave-convex engaging section deforming at least one side wall of the pair of side walls;

when the strip plate is removed from the frame, the engagement between the concave-convex engaging section and the locking section using concavity and convexity is released by the concave-convex engaging section deforming at least one side wall of the pair of side walls; and

a slit is formed on the frame near a corner between at least one side wall of the pair of side walls and another side wall connected to the one side wall, so as to extend from an upper end section to a lower end section of the one side wall.

2. A fluid handling device in which a plurality of rectangular planar-shaped strip plates on which a plurality of wells are formed in a single row or more are detachably incorporated into a frame having a square planar-shaped space surrounded by four continuous side walls, thereby arranging the wells in a form of a matrix, wherein:

the strip plate includes shoulder sections on one end section side and another end section side in a longitudinal direction that are placed on upper end sections of a pair of opposing side walls among the four side walls, and a concave-convex engaging section that engages with a locking section formed on a side surface positioned on the space side of the opposing pair of side walls among the four side walls using concavity and convexity;

when the strip plate is incorporated into the frame, the concave-convex engaging section engages with the locking section using concavity and convexity by the concave-convex engaging section deforming at least one side wall of the pair of side walls;

when the strip plate is removed from the frame, the engagement between the concave-convex engaging section and the locking section using concavity and convexity is released by the concave-convex engaging section deforming at least one side wall of the pair of side walls; and

a slit is formed on the frame near a corner between at least one side wall of the pair of side walls and another side wall connected to the one side wall, so as to extend from an upper end section to a lower end section of the other side wall.

3. A fluid handling device in which a plurality of rectangular planar-shaped strip plates on which a plurality of wells are formed in a single row or more are detachably incorporated into a frame having a square planar-shaped space surrounded by four continuous side walls, thereby arranging the wells in a form of a matrix, wherein:

the strip plate includes shoulder sections on one end section side and another end section side in a longitudinal direction that are placed on upper end sections of a pair of opposing side walls among the four side walls, and a concave-convex engaging section that engages with a locking section formed on a side surface positioned on the space side of the opposing pair of side walls among the four side walls using concavity and convexity;

when the strip plate is incorporated into the frame, the concave-convex engaging section engages with the locking section using concavity and convexity by the concave-convex engaging section deforming at least one side wall of the pair of side walls;

when the strip plate is removed from the frame, the engagement between the concave-convex engaging section and the locking section using concavity and convexity is released by the concave-convex engaging section deforming at least one side wall of the pair of side walls; and

a thin-walled section is formed on the frame near a corner between at least one side wall of the pair of side walls and another side wall connected to the one side wall, in a predetermined area from an upper end section to a lower end section of the one side wall.