Analytical tool

• US 7,771,575 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Original Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc
• Inventors: Kusaka, Yasuhide, Sato, Yoshiharu, Morita, Yoshimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): NOGUEROLA, ALEXANDER STEPHAN
• Application Number:
  US10/532,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20060042941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,484 Days
• Field of Search: 2044031-40315, 422 55- 58
• US Class Current: 204/403.02
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0684 Venting, avoiding backpressure, avoid gas bubbles
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502746 characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles B01L3/502738 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52

Abstract

The present invention relates to an analytical tool (1) comprising a substrate (10), a capillary (13) which is formed on the substrate (10) and into which a sample liquid is to be loaded by movement of the sample liquid in the capillary. The substrate (10) is provided with a liquid movement preventer for preventing the sample liquid loaded into the capillary (13) from moving further. Preferably, the liquid movement preventer includes a stepped portion (18B) projecting from the substrate or a recess provided at the substrate.

Claims

1. An analytical tool comprising:

a substrate;

a cover stacked on the substrate via a spacer;

a capillary formed between the substrate and the cover, the capillary including an introduction port for taking a sample liquid into the capillary;

a stepped portion projecting from the substrate for preventing the sample liquid in the capillary from moving further; and

a reagent portion provided in the capillary between the introduction port and the stepped portion;

wherein the stepped portion is greater in height with respect to the substrate than the reagent portion,

wherein the cover is formed with an air vent hole for discharging air from the capillary when the sample liquid moves in the capillary,

wherein the stepped portion is located at a position corresponding to an edge portion of the air vent hole for preventing the sample liquid in the capillary from moving beyond the edge portion to flow out through the air vent hole.

2. The analytical tool according to claim 1, wherein the stepped portion comprises a conductive layer formed on the substrate and an insulating layer covering the conductive layer.

3. The analytical tool according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of electrodes provided on the substrate for applying voltage to the sample liquid.

4. The analytical tool according to claim 3, wherein the conductive layer is formed as a dummy electrode which does not contribute to the voltage application to the sample liquid.

5. The analytical tool according to claim 4, wherein the dummy electrode is formed simultaneously with the plurality of electrodes.

6. The analytical tool according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of electrodes include a detection electrode for detecting whether or not the sample liquid of an amount necessary for analysis is supplied into the capillary, and

wherein the conductive layer is provided by the detection electrode.

7. The analytical tool according to claim 3,

wherein the insulating layer includes an opening which exposes part of the electrodes and which extends along the capillary;

and

wherein, as viewed in a thickness direction of the substrate, a most downstream point of the opening in a flow direction of the sample liquid is located on a same line or almost same line as a most upstream point of the air vent hole in the flow direction of the sample liquid.