DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CHEMICAL, BIOCHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL ANALYSIS, RE-ACTION, ASSAY AND MORE

• US 20090181463A1
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NCL New Concept Lab GmbH
• Original Assignee: NCL New Concept Lab GmbH
• Inventors: Chen, Guo Jun
• Granted Patent: US 10,105,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/150
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0627 Sensor or part of a sensor is integrated
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0829 Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0241 Drop counters; Drop formers making arrays for combinatorial libraries B01J19/0046; automation of dispensing for analysis G01N35/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/0275 Interchangeable or disposable dispensing tips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50857 using arrays or bundles of open capillaries for holding samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/0346 Capillary cells; Microcells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6482 Sample cells, cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/0303 Optical path conditioning in cuvettes, e.g. windows; adapted optical elements or systems; path modifying or adjustment G01N21/031 - G01N21/15 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/645 Specially adapted constructive features of fluorimeters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

The invention is directed to a device and a method for carrying out experiments of chemical, biochemical, biological and physical analysis, reaction and assay employing a reaction unit, in a preferred embodiment comprising: a capillarity reaction chamber, non-capillarity zone and bottom structure, which can use capillary action to quantitatively take up by itself and hold liquid in the reaction chamber. A multi-unit plate, which contains a number of reaction units on a plate frame, can be used for parallel experiments in conjunction with reservoir plate, waster pad, and liquid transfer guider.

Claims

1. Method for carrying out experiments of chemical, biochemical, biological, physical analysis, reaction and assay comprising the following process steps:

a) load a quantitative amount of a liquid into a reaction chamber of a reaction unit or take up a quantitative amount of a liquid into a reaction chamber of a reaction unit by using capillary force of the reaction chamber;

b) hold the amount of the liquid in the reaction chamber of the reaction unit by means of capillary force of the reaction chamber;

c) perform action with the liquid in the reaction chamber;

d) if necessary repeat at least one of the previous steps.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the action consists in dispensing liquid by using a higher capillary force.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the higher capillary force is provided by an absorbent material.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein the action consists in dispensing liquid from the reaction chamber by using at least one out of the group of the following process steps:

centrifugation, positive air pressure, vacuum, spotting, pipette.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the liquid is dispensed by a pipette which comprises a vent structure to allow air to freely go through during taking up a quantitative amount of a liquid into a reaction chamber of a reaction unit by using the capillary force of the reaction chamber.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the action consists in analyzing the liquid inside a reaction chamber.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the analyzing comprises at least one out of the group of the following process steps:

optical density, fluorescence, luminescence, electric potential, electrical conductivity, pH, temperature.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein during analysis in the reaction unit a light beam passes through the liquid sample only.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the action consists in at least one out of the group of the following process steps:

molecule interaction, complex formation, complex dissociation, chemical and biological reaction.

10. Method according claim 1, wherein the action consists in exchanging of at least one substance inside a reaction chamber with another liquid through open structure.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein an array of reaction units with reaction chambers is used to perform parallel testing.

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein the reaction unit comprises at least one reaction chamber with a first channel having a diameter to provide capillary force to fill up the first channel to a certain length.

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein during the take up of the quantitative amount of liquid a mechanical vibration is applied to facilitate the take up.

14. Method according to claim 1, wherein the take up of the quantitative amount of liquid is supported by structures which attract a certain amount of liquid to a side surface of the reaction chamber.

26. Method of claim 14, wherein the side surface is a rough surface or a narrowing gap.

15. A reaction unit comprising

a reaction chamber with a tubular shape suitable to take up a quantitative amount of liquid by capillary force and

an adjacent second chamber acting as a delimiting zone to delimit the quantitative amount of liquid taken up by the reaction chamber.

16. The reaction unit according to claim 15, wherein reaction chamber comprises a lower opening to take up and release liquid and the second chamber comprises an upper opening for venting.

17. The reaction unit according to claim 15, wherein the reaction chamber and the second chamber are arranged coaxially to each other or at an angle to each other.

18. The reaction unit according to claim 15, wherein the reaction chamber is rotation-symmetric with an inner side surface having a cylindrical or conical or parabolic shape.

19. The reaction unit according to claim 15, wherein the reaction chamber has a square, rectangular, triangular, round, circular, oval, star-like cross-section or a combination to influence the capillary force attracting the liquid.

20. The reaction unit according to claim 15, wherein the inner surface of the reaction chamber has a rough surface structure to increase to surface area.

21. The reaction unit according to claim 15, wherein a reaction chamber and the second chamber are delimited by a transition area.

22. The reaction unit according to claim 15, wherein said reaction unit has a capillarity reaction chamber being open to a non-capillarity zone, where liquid will not occupy under capillary action when filling up the reaction chamber and which has open structure at least allowing air to pass through while liquid transfers into or from the reaction chamber, and/or a bottom structure, through which liquid can flow into or out of the reaction chamber under the capillary action.

23. The reaction unit according to claim 15, wherein the reaction unit contains at least one out of the group of the following means:

electrode, optical fibre, ultrasound device, thermometer.

24. The reaction unit according to claim 15, wherein the reaction unit comprises a plurality of reaction chambers arranged in an array with at least one row and at least one column.

25. The reaction unit according to claim 24, wherein the reaction chambers have different sizes suitable to take up different volumes of liquid.