Biochip

• US 7,622,082 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaami, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEVKOVICH, NATALIA A
• Application Number:
  US10/237,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20040047769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,632 Days
• Field of Search: 422/102, 422/103, 422/104
• US Class Current: 422/505
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/10 Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/042 Caps; Plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0481 squeezing of channels or chambers
• 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 3/505 flexible containers not provided for above
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention provides a biochip comprising, in sequence from one end of a blood collection bag formed into a flat, pouch-like shape using a flexible material:

• • a rubber-like plug which is mounted so as to airtightly close the opening of said blood collection bag and through which a syringe needle is pierced;
  • a collection block for retaining blood collected through said syringe needle pierced through said plug;
  • a preprocessing block for isolating targets from said blood; and
  • a junction for combining said targets isolated in said preprocessing block with a plurality of previously prepared probes.

Claims

1. A biochip, comprising:

a blood collection bag;

a plug made from flexible material which airtightly closes an opening of the blood collection bag;

said blood collection bag having formed in sequence from one end of said blood collection bag to another end;

a collection block directly connected to said plug;

a preprocessing block in communication with said collection block,

a junction in communication with said preprocessing block, wherein the junction includes a substrate having a plurality of probes arranged in arrays,

a pocket formed on a side of said preprocessing block in which solution is encapsulated and said pocket is in communication with said preprocessing block via a passage;

wherein said blood collection bag is formed of compressible material;

wherein said collection block, preprocessing block, pocket, and junction are positioned so that compression directed from said collection block toward said preprocessing block causes blood to flow from said collection block through said communication to said preprocessing block, and simultaneously said compression causes the solution encapsulated in said pocket to flow into said preprocessing block and further flows said blood and solution in said processing block through the communication with the junction;

wherein said passage is formed at a furthest downstream position of the pocket.

2. The biochip of claim 1, wherein said blood collection bag is formed using a material transparent to excitation light and fluorescent light.

3. The biochip of claim 2 wherein said collection block is in fluid communication with said preprocessing block and said preprocessing block is in fluid communication with said junction;

and,

means for communicating a fluid by application of said compression which is applied to said fluid wherein said fluid enters said collection block through said opening proceeds through said collection block to said preprocessing block and proceeds through said preprocessing block to said junction.

4. The biochip of claim 3, wherein said preprocessing block comprises means for isolating one or more of the group consisting of DNA, RNA and protein.

5. The biochip of claim 1, further comprising:

a plug valve formed in said passage;

wherein said plug valve opens and said solution in said pocket is fed into said preprocessing block upon application of said compression to said pocket.

6. The biochip of claim 5, comprising a plurality of said pockets which are arranged in different positions so that upon application of said compression, solutions are fed from said pockets flow into said preprocessing block at different times.

7. The biochip of claim 1, further comprising:

a waste liquid pocket in communication with said junction.

8. The biochip of claim 7, wherein said collection block of said blood collection bag is provided with at least two hooks located on opposite outer side surfaces of the blood collection bag for expanding the collection block by pulling said hooks in opposite directions so as to create negative pressure within said blood collection bag.

9. A biochip comprising:

a bag including;

a collection block for retaining liquid in the bag formed using a flexible material;

a preprocessing block adjacent to said collection block;

a first pocket connected to said preprocessing block via a passage, which is filled with a first solution for preprocessing purposes;

wherein said collection block and said first pocket are formed of compressible material and are positioned so that compression on said collection block and said first pocket toward said preprocessing block causes said liquid to be fed to said preprocessing block and said first solution to be fed into said preprocessing block;

wherein said passage is formed at a furthest downstream position of the first pocket;

wherein said liquid in said preprocessing block is fed to a junction by compression directed from said collection block toward said preprocessing block and wherein the junction includes a substrate having a plurality of probes arranged in arrays.

10. The biochip according to claim 9, wherein said first pocket is formed on one side of said preprocessing block;

and further comprising;

a second pocket which is filled with a second solution and is formed on another side of said preprocessing block and leading to said preprocessing block,

wherein a position of said first pocket fitted to said preprocessing block is different from a position of said second pocket fitted to said preprocessing block; and

wherein said first pocket and said second pocket are formed of compressible material so that uniform compression directed from said collection block toward said preprocessing block, causes said first solution and second solution to be fed into said preprocessing block consecutively.