Analyzing device, analyzing apparatus using the device, and analyzing method

• US 9,134,286 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Company Limited (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Saiki, Hiroshi, Tagashira, Kouzou
• Primary Examiner(s): Gakh, Yelena G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US12/740,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20100255589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,513 Days
• Field of Search: 422/72
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150061 Means for enhancing collection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150251 Collection chamber divided into at least two compartments, e.g. for division of samples injection syringes having more than one chamber A61M5/19; syringes for injection of two or more media A61M5/2448, A61M5/284; sample preparation for further analysis A61B5/150755
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150343 Collection vessels for collecting blood samples from the skin surface, e.g. test tubes, cuvettes sampling from within body cavities A61B5/150015, A61B5/150045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150755 Blood sample preparation for further analysis, e.g. by separating blood components or by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/027 for microfluidic devices
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/06 Fluid handling related problems
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0605 Metering of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/0621 Control of the sequence of chambers filled or emptied
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/046 Function or devices integrated in the closure
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/047 Additional chamber, reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0803 Disc shape
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0816 Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0825 Test strips
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0883 : Serpentine channels
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0406 : capillary forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0409 : centrifugal forces
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2400/0688 : surface tension valves, capillary stop, capillary break
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502 : with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures centrifugal-type cuvettes G01N21/07; analysis by separation into components G01N30/00; automatic analysers G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5021 : Test tubes specially adapted for centrifugation purposes centrifuges B04B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 : characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• 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 3/502738 : characterised by integrated valves microvalves F16K99/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00237 : Handling microquantities of analyte, e.g. microvalves, capillary networks
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/0449 : using centrifugal transport of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/07 : Centrifugal type cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/02 : Food
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 : provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/111666 : Utilizing a centrifuge or compartmented rotor

Abstract

An analyzing device including a capillary cavity and an inlet protruding circumferentially outward from an axial center. The capillary cavity and the inlet are connected by a guide section formed so as to extend circumferentially inward and on which a capillary force acts. A sample liquid collected from a leading end of the inlet is transferred to a separation cavity. A bent section and a recess are formed at a connected section of the guide section and the capillary cavity so as to change the direction of a passage.

Claims

1. An analyzing device having a microchannel structure, the analyzing device comprising:

an axial center around which the microchannel structure is rotationally driven;

a sample inlet;

a guide section, in which a capillary force acts, extending from the sample inlet toward the axial center, the guide section having a first end and a second end with the second end connected to the sample inlet, the first end is positioned closer to the axial center than the second end;

a first cavity, in which a capillary force acts, configured to measure a certain amount of sample liquid;

a bent section, in which a capillary force acts, connecting the first end of the guide section to the first cavity;

a receiving cavity, in which a capillary force does not act, located adjacent to the first cavity and configured to receive a sample liquid from the first cavity; and

a second cavity connected to the receiving cavity and extending along a side of the guide section and a side of the first cavity, the second cavity being directly opened to air,

wherein a sample liquid is transferred from the sample inlet to the receiving cavity in a continuous flow pathway by a centrifugal force caused by rotating the analyzing device about the axial center, the flow pathway is a capillary pathway with a constant depth from the guide section to the first cavity, the bent section being configured to change a direction of the flow pathway from a direction extending toward the axial center to a direction extending away from the axial center.

2. The analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein when the analyzing device is rotated about the axial center, a sample liquid retained in the guide section and the first cavity is divided at the position of the bent section by action of a centrifugal force, thereby allowing the sample liquid retained in the first cavity to be transferred to the receiving cavity, and the sample liquid retained in the guide section to be scattered toward the sample inlet.

3. The analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein a wall of the first cavity has a recessed portion recessed away from the axial center, the bent section being formed closer to the axial center than the recessed portion of the wall of the first cavity.

4. The analyzing device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a protective cap configured to hold a sample liquid scattered from the sample inlet.

5. The analyzing device according to claim 1, further comprising an internal measurement spot where a sample component after treatment in the receiving cavity is transferred for measurement.

6. An analyzing apparatus, comprising:

the analyzing device according to claim 5;

a rotation driving unit that rotates the analyzing device around the axial center; and

an analysis unit configured to access and analyze a reactant inside the analyzing device based on a solution transferred by the rotation driving unit,

wherein a sample liquid in the first cavity is transferred to the receiving cavity by a rotation of the rotation driving unit.

7. An analyzing method comprising rotating the analyzing device of claim 1 around the axial center.

8. An analyzing method, comprising:

spot applying a sample liquid to a sample inlet of the analyzing device of claim 1; and

rotating the analyzing device about the axial center, thereby;

transferring the sample liquid from the sample inlet to the receiving cavity by a centrifugal force caused by rotation of the analyzing device, and

allowing the sample liquid to pass through the continuous capillary flow pathway.