FLUID HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20160008806A1
• Filed: 07/06/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Original Assignee: Enplas Corporation
• Inventors: INOUE, Hayato
• Granted Patent: US 9,987,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• 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 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502738 characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001

Abstract

A fluid handling device includes: a first channel through which liquid flows by capillarity; a liquid reservoir which communicates with an upstream end of the first channel and stores liquid; a liquid introduction part which communicates with the liquid reservoir and includes a taper part whose diameter decreases from an opening part toward the liquid reservoir; a stop valve disposed on a downstream end of the first channel and including a step part where a cross-sectional area of the channel in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which liquid flows discontinuously increases; and a second channel which communicates with a downstream end of the first channel, the second channel being a channel through which fluid flows.

Claims

1. A fluid handling device comprising:

a first channel through which liquid flows by capillarity;

a liquid reservoir which communicates with an upstream end of the first channel and stores liquid;

a liquid introduction part which communicates with the liquid reservoir and includes a taper part whose diameter decreases from an opening part toward the liquid reservoir;

a stop valve disposed on a downstream end of the first channel and including a step part where a cross-sectional area of the channel in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which liquid flows discontinuously increases; and

a second channel which communicates with a downstream end of the first channel, the second channel being a channel through which fluid flows.

2. The fluid handling device according to claim 1, wherein the downstream end of the first channel opens at an internal wall of the second channel.

3. The fluid handling device according to claim 1, wherein, in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which liquid flows through a connecting part between the liquid reservoir and the liquid introduction part, an area of an opening part of the connecting part is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the liquid reservoir.

6. The fluid handling device according to claim 2, wherein, in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which liquid flows through a connecting part between the liquid reservoir and the liquid introduction part, an area of an opening part of the connecting part is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the liquid reservoir.

4. A method of using a fluid handling device, the fluid handling device including:

a first channel through which liquid flows by capillarity;

a liquid reservoir which communicates with an upstream end of the first channel and stores liquid;

a liquid introduction part which communicates with the liquid reservoir and includes a taper part whose diameter decreases from an opening part toward the liquid reservoir;

a stop valve disposed on a downstream end of the first channel and including a step part where a cross-sectional area of the channel in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which liquid flows discontinuously increases; and

a second channel which communicates with a downstream end of the first channel, the second channel being a channel through which fluid flows, the method comprising;

pressing liquid into the liquid reservoir and a part of the first channel from a pipette tip that is inserted to the liquid introduction part in a state where the pipette tip is closely fitted to the taper part, and

advancing the liquid in the first channel to the stop valve by capillarity by removing the pipette tip from the liquid introduction part, wherein;

A<

C<

A+B is satisfied,

where A represents a volume of the liquid reservoir, B represents a volume of the first channel, and C represents a volume of the liquid pressed into the liquid reservoir and the part of the first channel from the pipette tip.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, when the liquid is pressed in, the liquid is supplied to the first channel up to a position of 80% or greater of the first channel, from the upstream end to the downstream end of the first channel.