Microchannel analyzing device having a filling confirmation region

• US 9,757,722 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PHC Holdings Corporation
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kijima, Tomohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Gakh, Yelena G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Adams, Michelle
• Application Number:
  US14/741,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20150273465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 has a main body and is configured to draw a sample liquid from a spot application section of the main body and transfer the sample liquid to a measurement chamber via a microchannel structure formed inside the main body by a centrifugal force. The spot application section has an inlet. The analyzing device includes a supplying capillary channel formed within the spot application section. The supplying capillary channel has an end connected to the inlet of the spot application section. The analyzing device also includes a holding chamber connected to another end of the supplying capillary channel and having a thickness sized to generate a capillary force to move the sample liquid. The holding chamber is formed between a first side wall and a second side wall. The first side wall and the second side wall define the holding chamber.

Claims

1. An analyzing device having a main body, the analyzing device being configured to draw a sample liquid from a spot application section of the main body and transfer the sample liquid to a measurement chamber of the main body via a microchannel structure formed inside the main body by a centrifugal force, the spot application section having an inlet, the analyzing device comprising:

a supplying capillary channel formed within the spot application section, the supplying capillary channel having an end connected to the inlet of the spot application section;

a holding chamber connected to another end of the supplying capillary channel, the holding chamber having a thickness sized to generate a capillary force to move the sample liquid, the holding chamber being formed between a first side wall and a second side wall;

the first side wall and the second side wall defining the holding chamber; and

a filling confirmation region formed at a trailing end of the holding chamber, the filling confirmation region being located centrally between the first side wall and the second side wall without contacting either the first side wall or the second side wall, the holding chamber being located between the filling confirmation region and the supplying capillary channel,

wherein the filling confirmation region has a thickness that is smaller than a thickness of a recessed portion located between the filling confirmation region and the first side wall, and

wherein the holding chamber has a uniform thickness.

2. The analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein

a confirmation window is formed on the main body in correspondence to the filling confirmation region.

3. The analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein

the main body comprises a cover substrate and a base substrate with an internal recess that makes up the holding chamber defined between the cover substrate and the base substrate,

the filling confirmation region is formed between the cover substrate and a protrusion that protrudes from the base substrate toward the cover substrate, and

the thickness of the filling confirmation region is formed between an upper end of the protrusion and the cover substrate, the thickness of the filling confirmation region being smaller than the thickness of the holding chamber;

the filling confirmation region being sized to allow a capillary force to act on the sample liquid contained in the filling confirmation region.

4. The analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein

the main body comprises a cover substrate and a base substrate with an internal recess that makes up the holding chamber defined between the cover substrate and the base substrate,

the recess portion is formed at a bottom of the base substrate, and

the thickness of the recess portion is measured between the base substrate and the cover substrate, the thickness of the recess portion being greater than the thickness of the holding chamber, the recess portion being sized to allow a capillary force to act on the sample liquid contained in the recess portion.

5. The analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein

a second recess having a thickness greater than the thickness of the filling confirmation region is provided between the filling confirmation region and the second side wall.

6. The analyzing device according to claim 5, wherein the main body comprises a cover substrate and a base substrate with an internal recess that makes up the holding chamber defined between the cover substrate and the base substrate, a protrusion protruding from the base substrate toward the cover substrate being formed between the filling confirmation region and the base substrate, the thickness of the filling confirmation region being formed between an upper end of the protrusion and the cover substrate, the thickness of the filling confirmation region being smaller than the thickness of the holding chamber;

the filling confirmation region being sized to allow a capillary force to act on the sample liquid contained in the filling confirmation region.

7. The analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing device is configured to move the sample liquid from the supplying capillary channel to the holding chamber and to the filling confirmation region by capillary force.

8. The analyzing device according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a cover substrate and a base substrate with an internal recess that makes up the holding chamber defined between the cover substrate and the base substrate, a protrusion protruding from the base substrate toward the cover substrate being formed between the filling confirmation region and the base substrate, the thickness of the filling confirmation region being formed between an upper end of the protrusion and the cover substrate, the thickness of the filling confirmation region being smaller than the thickness of the holding chamber;

the filling confirmation region being sized to allow a capillary force to act on the sample liquid contained in the filling confirmation region.

9. An analyzing system comprising:

the analyzing device of claim 1, and

an optical measurement unit that reads the sample liquid by irradiating light to the measurement chamber of the main body of the analyzing device.