Method for the production of a solution, associated arrangement and uses of the method and arrangement

• US 8,518,343 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Issued: 08/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Gumbrecht, Walter, Paulicka, Peter, Stanzel, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Xu, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/587,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20070212708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,045 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 422/425
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/00 Dissolving separating by dissolving B01D; dissolving to effect cooling F25D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/30 Micromixers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7135 Opening the seal between the compartments by application of heat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/25 including sample preparation

Abstract

Solid matter in a cavity is used to produce a solution of at least one solid matter in a solvent. The solid matter which is soluble in the solvent in initially covered and/or surrounded in the cavity by a medium which is insoluble in a solvent, such that dissolving of the solid matter is prevented. Subsequently the solvent is guided to the cavity and the medium which is insoluble in the solvent is treated in such a manner that contact is made between the solvent and the soluble solid matter, enabling the solid matter to dissolve in the solvent. Solutions including two or more solid matter can be produced in an advantageous manner.

Claims

1. A method for the production of a solution from at least one solid matter in a solvent, the solvent being supplied to a single cavity from a reservoir via a single microchannel, the method comprising:

storing the at least one solid matter, soluble in the solvent, in the single cavity in a solid state by receiving the at least one solid matter through the single microchannel or the single cavity;

introducing a medium in the single cavity, wherein the medium is paraffm that is insoluble in the solvent, and wherein the medium covers or encloses the at least one solid matter so that dissolution of the solid matter which is soluble in the solvent is prevented;

rinsing the single cavity by allowing a rinsing agent to flow through the single microchannel;

supplying the solvent, through the single microchannel, to the single cavity in which the at least one solid matter is stored; and

treating the medium, which is insoluble in the solvent, in such a way that contact between the solvent and the soluble solid matter, and consequently dissolving of the solid matter, which is in the solid state, in the solvent, occurs and the solution is produced.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein two solid matters are present, the first solid matter being kept in the cavity and the second solid matter being contained in the solvent, and

at least one of the first solid matter, which is soluble in the solvent, is at least one of covered and enclosed in the cavity with the medium which is insoluble in the solvent, so that dissolving of the first solid matter which is soluble in the solvent is prevented;

and

the second solid matter contained in the solvent is supplied to the cavity.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is performed using a fully integrated single-use unit, in which the at least one solid matter is kept in the cavity.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cavity is closed by valves.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein water is used as the solvent.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second solid matter is suspended in the solvent.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first solid matter is a PCR reagent.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the PCR reagent includes polymerases, nucleotides, primers, buffers and adjuvants.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the PCR reagent forms a film on the wall of the cavity.

10. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second solid matter is at least one of dissolved and suspended DNA to be amplified.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein DNA to be amplified are bonded to magnetic beads.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cavity is a PCR cavity, and the PCR cavity includes means for collecting the magnetic beads.

19. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the method is performed using a fully integrated single-use unit, in which the at least one solid matter is kept in the cavity.

20. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cavity is closed by valves.

21. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein water is used as the solvent.

22. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first solid matter is a PCR reagent.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the PCR reagent includes polymerases, nucleotides, primers, buffers and adjuvants.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the PCR reagent forms a film on the wall of the cavity.

25. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second solid matter is at least one of dissolved and suspended DNA to be amplified.

28. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein treating the medium includes dissolving or forming an emulsion.

29. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein treating the medium involves forming an emulsion wherein the medium is in the form of a suspension in the solvent.

13. A disposable product, comprising:

one microchannel configured to receive both a solvent and at least one solid matter which is soluble in the solvent; and

a cavity configured to receive and store the at least one solid matter, the at least the one solid matter being stored on a wall of the cavity and covered by a thin layer of a medium which is not soluble in the solvent,

wherein the medium, which is paraffin that is insoluble in the solvent, is treatable in such a way to permit contact between the solvent and the soluble solid matter, and consequently dissolving of the solid matter, which is in the solid state, in the solvent when a rinsing agent is introduced, to produce a solution.

14. The disposable product as claimed in claim 13, wherein the solvent is supplied to the cavity from a reservoir via the one microcharmel, the cavity being a PCR cavity suitable for thermocycling.

15. The disposable product as claimed in claim 14, further comprising means for thermocycling.

16. The disposable product as claimed in claim 14, wherein the PCR cavity is equipped with an inflow and an outflow.

17. The disposable product as claimed in claim 14, wherein the inflow and the outflow are equipped with valves.

18. A method, comprising:

using the disposable product as claimed in claim 13 in PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) for biochemical analyses.

26. An arrangement, comprising the disposable product of claim 13, wherein the arrangement produces the solution from the at least one solid matter in the solvent, the solvent being supplied to the cavity from the reservoir via the one microchannel.

27. An arrangement, comprising the disposable product of claim 14, wherein the arrangement produces the solution from the at least one solid matter in the solvent.

30. The disposable product as claimed in claim 13, wherein the medium is either dissolved in the solvent or a suspension in the solvent, when treated.

31. The disposable product as claimed in claim 13, wherein the medium is a suspension in the solvent when treated.