Analytical system, and analytical method and flow structure thereof

• US 7,914,753 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Tseng, Chin-Tai, Huang, Chien-Chih, Tsai, Hsiao-Chung, Ko, Cheng-Yu, Hsieh, Wen-Pin, Tsai, Chung-Hsien
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sasaki; Shogo
• Application Number:
  US12/326,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20090298092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 422/72, 422/100, 436/180, 436/177, 494/85, 435/287.1, 435/288.3
• US Class Current: 422/506
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0621 Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/087 Multiple sequential chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0887 Laminated structure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0412 using additionally coriolis 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
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502753 characterised by bulk separation arrangements on lab-on-a-chip devices, e.g. for filtration or centrifugation separation in general B01D; microapparatus for analysis using electrophoresis G01N27/44791; sample preparation G01N1/28
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/07 Centrifugal type cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54386 Analytical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25375 Liberation or purification of sample or separation of material from a sample [e.g., filtering, centrifuging, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

An analytical system includes a working fluid, a uniform dividing unit and a separating unit. The working fluid includes a first component and a second component with different characteristics. The uniform dividing unit is utilized to uniformly divide the working fluid and relatively rotated with respect to a reference axis. Under a capillarity force as well as the result of Coriolis force and siphon force, the first component can be separated from the second component by the separating unit.

Claims

1. A flow structure for performing separation of a tested specimen comprising a first component and a second component with different characteristics therebetween, comprising:

a main body rotatable about a reference axis penetrating a center thereof;

a first compartment formed at the center of the main body;

a second compartment formed in the main body radially outward of the first compartment relative to the reference axis and communicated with the first compartment, wherein the first compartment and second compartments are arranged such that when the tested specimen is disposed in the first compartment, an amount of the tested specimen is transmitted from the first compartment to the second compartment;

a third compartment formed in the main body radially outward of the second compartment relative to the reference axis and communicated with the second compartment, comprising a first cushion region and a second cushion region communicated with the first cushion region, wherein the second compartment and the third compartment are arranged such that rotation of the main body in a first direction for a first predetermined period of time causes the tested specimen located in the second compartment to be transmitted to the first and second cushion regions of the third compartment, and wherein the third compartment is configured such that rotation of the main body in the first direction for a second predetermined period of time subsequent to the first period of time causes the separation of the first and second components of the tested specimen located at the first cushion region such that the second cushion region is filled with the separated first component;

a fourth compartment formed in the main body and communicated with the third compartment, wherein the third compartment and the fourth compartment are arranged such that the first component of the tested specimen located at the second cushion region is transmitted to the fourth compartment when rotation of the main body is stopped for a particular period of time, and wherein the fourth compartment is configured such that rotation of the main body in a second direction different than the first direction causes the separated first component located at the fourth compartment to be transmitted outwardly relative to the reference axis by an acting force, so that the first component is completely separated from the second component;

a fifth compartment communicated with the fourth compartment, wherein the separated first component located at the fourth compartment is outwardly transmitted to the fifth compartment by the acting force; and

a sixth compartment communicated with the fifth compartment.

2. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a first channel communicating the first compartment and the second compartment.

3. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second channel communicating the second compartment and the third compartment.

4. The flow structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second channel is radially distributed with respect to the reference axis.

5. The flow structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second channel comprises a capillary channel.

6. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third compartment and the fourth compartment are arranged such that the first component of the tested specimen located at the second cushion region of the third compartment is automatically transmitted to the fourth compartment under a capillary function when the rotation of the main body is stopped.

7. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cushion region of the third compartment comprises a linear capillary channel.

8. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fourth compartment comprises a linear capillary channel.

9. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cushion region follows the first cushion region in a flow path, and the first cushion region and the second cushion region of the third compartment define an angle such that the second cushion region turns radially inward relative to the reference axis.

10. The flow structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the angle is not greater than 30 degrees.

11. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second cushion region of the third compartment and the fourth compartment define an angle turning radially outward relative to the reference axis.

12. The flow structure as claimed in claim 11, wherein the angle is not less than 90 degrees.

13. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a V-shaped transitive channel disposed between the second cushion region of the third compartment and the fourth compartment.

14. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second compartment and the first cushion region of the third compartment are radially distributed with respect to the reference axis.

15. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sixth compartment is communicated with the first cushion region of the third compartment to form a looped flow path between the third, fourth, fifth and sixth compartments.

16. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a base surface, and the first compartment, the second compartment, the first cushion region and the second cushion region of the third compartment and the fourth compartment are formed on the base surface of the main body.

17. The flow structure as claimed in claim 16, wherein the depths of the slotted structures of the second cushion region of the third compartment and the fourth compartment are less than that of the first compartment and the first cushion region of the third compartment.

18. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first cushion region of the third compartment comprises a first region communicated with the second compartment and a second region communicated with the first region, and the first compartment and the second compartment define a channel-depth difference.

19. The flow structure as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first cushion region of the third compartment further comprises a middle region located and connected between the first region and the second region, and the first region and the middle region as well as the second region and the middle region define channel-depth differences, respectively.

20. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the acting force comprises a Coriolis force generated by Coriolis acceleration.

21. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is arranged such that rotation thereof for the first predetermined period of time causes the tested specimen to move by an accelerating motion with respect to the reference axis.

22. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body is arranged such that rotation thereof for the second predetermined period of time causes the tested specimen is moved by a uniform velocity motion with respect to the reference axis.

23. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a specific gravity of the first component is different from that of the second component.

24. The flow structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a base surface, the first compartment, the second compartment, the first cushion region and the second cushion region of the third compartment, the fourth compartment and the fifth compartment are formed on the base surface of the main body, and the fifth compartment is radially further from the reference axis than the first compartment, the second compartment, the third compartment and the fourth compartment.

25. A flow structure, comprising:

a main body rotatable about a reference axis penetrating a center thereof;

a first compartment formed at the center of the main body;

a plurality of second compartments formed in the main body radially outward of the first compartment relative to the reference axis, each respectively in communication with the first compartment;

a plurality of third compartments, each of the plurality of third compartments formed in the main body and comprising a first cushion region in communication with a respective second compartment and a second cushion region communicated with the first cushion region, wherein the first cushion region is extended radially outwards relative to the reference axis, the second cushion region of the third compartment is substantially extended radially inwards relative to the reference axis, such that the first cushion region and the second cushion region of the third compartment form a first V-shaped path;

a plurality of fourth compartments, each of the plurality of fourth compartments formed in the main body in communication with a respective second cushion region via a respective V-shaped transitive channel and substantially extended radially outwards relative to the reference axis, wherein the second cushion region of the respective third compartment, the respective transitive channel and the respective fourth compartment form a second V-shaped path, such that each respective of the first cushion region and the second cushion region of the third compartment, the transitive channel and the fourth compartment define a flow path from the first cushion region to the fourth compartment that first extends radially outward relative to the reference axis via the first cushion region, then turns radially inwards relative to the reference axis via the second cushion region, and then turns radially outwards relative to the reference axis via the fourth compartment, wherein the flow path does not return to the first compartment; and

a plurality of fifth compartments, each of the plurality of fifth compartments formed in the main body in communication with a respective fourth compartment; and

a plurality of sixth compartments, each of the plurality of sixth compartments formed in the main body in communication with a respective fifth compartment.

26. The flow structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the main body comprises a base surface, the first compartment, the plurality of second compartments, the plurality of third compartments, the plurality of fourth compartments and the plurality of fifth compartments are formed on the base surface of the main body, and the plurality of fifth compartments are radially further from the reference axis than the first compartment, the plurality of second compartments, the plurality of third compartments and the plurality of fourth compartments.

27. The flow structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first compartment and the plurality of second compartments are arranged such that a tested specimen comprising a first component and a second component with different characteristics therebetween is transmitted from the first compartment to each of the plurality of second compartments when the tested specimen is disposed in the first compartment, the plurality of second compartments and the plurality of third compartments are arranged such that rotation of the main body in a first direction for a first predetermined period of time causes the tested specimen located at each one of the plurality of second compartments to be transmitted to a respective one of the plurality of third compartments, rotation of the main body in the first direction for a second predetermined period of time causes separation of the first and second components of the tested specimen located at the first cushion region of each of the plurality of third compartments such that second cushion region of each of the plurality of third compartments is filled with the separated first component, wherein the first predetermined period of time is prior to the second predetermined period of time;

wherein third compartment and the fourth compartment are arranged such that the first component of the tested specimen located at the second cushion region of each of the plurality of third compartments is transmitted to a respective one of the plurality of fourth compartments via the respective transitive channel when rotation of the main body is stopped for a particular period of time; and

wherein the plurality of fourth compartments are configured such that the separated first component located at each of the plurality of fourth compartments is outwardly transmitted by an acting force to a respective one of the plurality of fifth compartments when the main body rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, such that the first component is completely separated from the second component.

28. The flow structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the main body comprises a base surface, and the first compartment, the plurality of second compartments, the plurality of third compartments and the plurality of fourth compartments are formed on the base surface of the main body.

29. The flow structure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first compartment is communicated to each of the plurality of second compartments by a respective first channel, and each of the second compartments is communicated to a respective third compartment by a respective second channel.

30. A flow structure, comprising:

a main body rotatable about a reference axis penetrating a center thereof;

a first compartment formed at the center of the main body;

a plurality of first path portions formed in the main body radially outward of the first compartment relative to the reference axis, each of the plurality of first path portions comprising a second compartment communicated with the first compartment; and

a plurality of second path portions formed as looped paths communicated with a corresponding one of the plurality of second compartments, each of the plurality of second path portions comprising;

a third compartment comprising a first cushion region communicated with the corresponding second compartment and a second cushion region communicated with the first cushion region, wherein the first cushion region is extended outwards relative to the reference axis, and the second cushion region is substantially extended inwards relative to the reference axis; and

a fourth compartment communicated with the second cushion region of the third compartment via a transitive channel and substantially extended outwards relative to the reference axis;

a fifth compartment communicated with the fourth compartment; and

a sixth compartment communicated with the fifth compartment and the first cushion region of the third compartment.

31. The flow structure as claimed in claim 30, wherein the main body comprises a base surface, wherein the first path portions and second path portions are formed on the base surface of the main body, and wherein each fifth compartment is radially further from the reference axis than the first compartment, each second compartment, each third compartment and each fourth compartment.

32. The flow structure as claimed in claim 30, wherein the flow structure is utilized to perform separation of a tested specimen comprising a first component and a second component with different characteristics therebetween, the tested specimen is transmitted from the first compartment to each second compartment when the tested specimen is disposed in the first compartment, rotation of the main body in a first direction causes the tested specimen located at each second compartment to be transmitted to the plurality of third compartment communicated thereto at a first predetermined period of time, separation of the first and second components of the tested specimen located at the first cushion regions of each third compartment is performed at a second predetermined period of time, wherein the first predetermined period of time is prior to the second predetermined period of time, and the second cushion regions of each third compartment is filled with the separated first component;

wherein the first component of the tested specimen located at the second cushion regions of each third compartment is transmitted to the fourth compartment communicated thereto via the transitive channels when rotation of the main body is stopped with respect to the reference axis and delayed after a particular period of time, wherein the separated first component located at each fourth compartment is outwardly transmitted by an acting force via each fourth compartment when rotation of the main body that was stopped begins to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction, such that the first component is completely separated from the second component; and

wherein the separated first component located at each fourth compartment is outwardly transmitted to the fifth compartment communicated thereto by the acting force when rotation of the main body that was stopped begins to rotate in the second direction, such that the first component is completely separated from the second component.

33. The flow structure as claimed in claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of first path portions further comprises a first channel communicated between the first compartment and the second compartment and a second channel communicated between the second compartment and the corresponding third compartment.