LIQUID TRANSFER DEVICE

• US 20090321262A1
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamakawa, Hironobu, Tsukada, Nobuhiro, Harada, Kunio, Adachi, Sakuichiro, Enoki, Hideo
• Granted Patent: US 8,128,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/600
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3021 the components to be mixed being combined in a single independent droplet, e.g. these droplets being divided by a non-miscible fluid or consisting of independent droplets
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3031 using electro-hydrodynamic [EHD] or electro-kinetic [EKI] phenomena to mix or move the fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0819 Microarrays; Biochips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/089 Virtual walls for guiding liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0415 electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0427 Electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502792 for moving individual droplets on a plate, e.g. by locally altering surface tension
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence

Abstract

Provided is a liquid transfer device which controls electrically liquid position. The surface of the liquid transfer device is provided with unevenness in order to solve a problem of having a large number of electrodes for controlling voltage. The number of electrodes for controlling voltage can be halved by utilization of restoring force of liquid to a spherical shape by surface tension, in addition to electrical force.

Claims

1. A liquid transfer device characterized by comprising:

a first substrate;

a plurality of electrodes arranged at the one surface of said first substrate;

a second substrate arranged by facing to the one surface of said first substrate;

one common electrode arranged on the surface of said second substrate, facing to the one surface of said first substrate;

an insulation membrane installed at least on a part of the surface of said common electrode, and provided with a plurality of concave parts and a plurality of convex parts on the surface; and

a voltage application means for applying voltage to said common electrode and plurality of electrodes.

4. The liquid transfer device according to claims 1, characterized in that a part of said convex parts is positioned facing to said electrode.

5. The liquid transfer device according to claims 1, characterized in that said concave parts are, at the center of the concave parts, substantially asymmetric to the surface perpendicular to a liquid transfer direction.

6. The liquid transfer device according to claims 1, characterized in that said concave parts have a width, which becomes narrower toward one direction.

7. The liquid transfer device according to claims 1, characterized in that said concave parts have a difference in cross-sectional area of a liquid transfer direction, in at least a part.

8. The liquid transfer device according to claims 1, characterized in that said concave parts are arranged corresponding to a region between adjacent one electrode and the other electrode of plurality of electrodes.

9. The liquid transfer device according to claims 1, characterized by further comprising a light source and a detection part, wherein said concave parts are arranged corresponding to a region between adjacent one electrode and the other electrode of plurality of electrodes, and light emitted from said light source passes through said concave parts, and is detected at said detection part.

10. The liquid transfer device according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising a hydrophobic membrane positioned at least on a part of said insulation membrane.

12. The liquid transfer device according to claims 1, characterized in that liquid to be transferred is deformed by said concave parts and said convex parts, and said liquid to be transferred is mixed.

2. A liquid transfer device characterized by comprising:

a first substrate;

a plurality of electrodes arranged at the one surface of said first substrate;

a second substrate arranged by facing to the one surface of said first substrate;

one common electrode arranged on the surface of said second substrate, facing to the one surface of said first substrate, and provided with a plurality of concave parts and a plurality of convex parts on the surface; and

a voltage application means for applying voltage to said common electrode and plurality of electrodes.

11. The liquid transfer device according to claim 2, characterized by further comprising a plurality of insulation membranes covering each of said electrodes and said common electrode, and a hydrophobic membrane positioned at least on a part of each of said plurality of insulation membranes.

3. A liquid transfer device characterized by comprising:

a first substrate;

a plurality of electrodes arranged at the one surface of said first substrate;

a second substrate arranged by facing to the one surface of said first substrate;

one common electrode arranged on the surface of said second substrate, facing to the one surface of said first substrate;

an insulation membrane installed at least on a part of the surface of said common electrode;

a hydrophobic membrane installed at least on a part of the surface of said insulation membrane, and provided with a plurality of concave parts and a plurality of convex parts on the surface; and

a voltage application means for applying voltage to said common electrode and plurality of electrodes.