MICROCHIP

• US 20150139866A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Hidetoshi, Segawa, Yuji, Kajihara, Junji, Kojima, Kensuke, Watanabe, Toshio, Matsumoto, Masahiro
• Application Number:
  US14/401,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20150139866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/417
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0642 Filling fluids into wells by specific techniques
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0864 comprising only one inlet and multiple receiving wells, e.g. for separation, splitting
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/123 Flexible; Elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502707 characterised by the manufacture of the container or its components by shaping or joining plastic parts B29C59/00, B29C65/00; by laminating B32B37/00; manufacture of microstructural devices in general B81C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"

Abstract

Provided is a microchip which enables to easily confirm, from the outside of the microchip, filling of a solution into an analysis region.

The microchip includes: an introduction part for introducing a liquid; an analysis region in which a substance contained in the liquid or a reaction product of the substance is analyzed; an indication region to indicate that the analysis region has completely been filled with the liquid; and a flow channel to connect the introduction part, the analysis region, and the indication region. In the microchip, the flow channel is configured in such a manner that an amount of time it takes for the liquid introduced from the introduction part to reach the indication region is longer than an amount of time it takes for the liquid introduced from the introduction part to fill up the analysis region.

Claims

1. A microchip including:

an introduction part configured to introduce a liquid;

an analysis region configured to perform an analysis of a substance contained in the liquid or a reaction product of the substance;

an indication region configured to indicate that the analysis region has completely been filled with the liquid; and

a flow channel configured to connect the introduction part, the analysis region, and the indication region,

wherein the flow channel is configured in such a manner that an amount of time it takes for the liquid introduced from the introduction part to reach the indication region is longer than an amount of time it takes for the liquid introduced from the introduction part to fill up the analysis region.

2. The microchip according to claim 1, wherein the flow channel includes an introduction flow channel configured to connect the introduction part and the analysis region, and a discharge flow channel configured to connect the analysis region and the indication region.

3. The microchip according to claim 1,

wherein the flow channel includes the introduction flow channel configured to connect the introduction part and the analysis region, and a branch flow channel configured to diverge from the introduction flow channel to be connected with the indication region, and

the flow channel is configured in such a manner that a flow channel length from a communication part, located between the branch flow channel and the introduction flow channel, to the indication region is longer than a flow channel length from the communication part to the analysis region.

4. The microchip according to claim 1,

wherein the flow channel includes the introduction flow channel configured to connect the introduction part and the analysis region, and the branch flow channel configured to diverge from the introduction flow channel to be connected with the indication region, and

the flow channel is configured in such a manner that an introduction pressure of the liquid to be introduced into the branch flow channel is higher than an introduction pressure of the liquid to be introduced into the introduction flow channel, at the communication part between the branch flow channel and the introduction flow channel.

5. The microchip according to claim 2, wherein a pigment material is placed in the indication region.

6. The microchip according to claim 5, wherein the pigment material is solid phased.

7. The microchip according to claim 2, wherein an uneven structure is provided on at least one surface of the indication region.

8. The microchip according to claim 7, wherein the uneven structure formed on the one surface includes a surface which is not parallel or is not perpendicular to the one surface.

9. The microchip according to claim 5, wherein the analysis region has a communication part between the analysis region and the discharge flow channel at a position opposite to a communication part between the analysis region and the introduction flow channel.

10. The microchip according to claim 9, wherein the one introduction flow channel is connected with a plurality of the analysis regions.

11. The microchip according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of the analysis regions is connected with the one indication region via the discharge flow channel.

12. The microchip according to claim 10, wherein the one indication region is connected with all the analysis regions via the discharge flow channel.