FLUID HANDLING DEVICE, FLUID HANDLING METHOD, AND FLUID HANDLING SYSTEM

• US 20140166113A1
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Original Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Inventors: Ono, Koichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,901,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0093 Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors laboratory containers with capillary fluid transport in microfabricated channels or chambers B01L3/5027
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00783 Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00833 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0086 Dimensions of the flow channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00885 Thin film heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0867 Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/18 Means for temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0655 pinch valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50273 characterised by the means or forces applied to move the fluids micropumps F04B19/006, of the membrane type F04B43/043
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85938 Non-valved flow dividers

Abstract

A fluid handling device (100) comprises: a first channel (130); a second channel (140); a communication section (150); an air introduction path (160); and an air reservoir (190). The first enamel (130) and the second channel (140) are channels through which a fluid (210) can move by capillary action. The communication section (150) connects the first channel (130) and the second channel (140) with each other, and has a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second channel (140). The air introduction path (160) communicates with the first channel (130). The air reservoir (190) communicates with the air introduction path (160).

Claims

1. A fluid handling device comprising:

a first channel through which a fluid can move by capillary action;

a second channel through which the fluid can move by the capillary action;

a communication section that connects the first channel and the second channel with each other, and has a cross-sectional area smaller than a cross-sectional area of the second channel;

an air introduction path communicating with the first channel; and

an air reservoir communicating with the air introduction path.

2. The fluid handling device according to claim 1, wherein

the air reservoir is formed so as to reduce a capacity thereof, when being pressed from outside.

3. The fluid handling device according to claim 1, further comprising a heating section on the inside of the air reservoir for heating air inside the air reservoir.

4. A fluid handling method in which a fluid is handled using the fluid handling device according to claim 1, comprising:

introducing the fluid into the first channel and the communication section;

pushing some of the fluid inside the first channel and the communication section to the second channel by pushing a volume of air inside the air reservoir toward the first channel through the air introduction path; and

moving the fluid in the second channel by the capillary action.

5. The fluid handling method according to claim 4, wherein

a volume of air inside the air reservoir is pushed toward the first channel by pressing the air reservoir from outside.

6. The fluid handling method according to claim 4, wherein

a volume of air inside the air reservoir is pushed toward the first channel by heating the air inside the air reservoir.

7. A fluid handling system comprising:

the fluid handling device according to claim 1; and

a valve opening portion that presses the air reservoir of the fluid handling device from outside or heats the air inside the air reservoir of the fluid handling device.