Flow channel device and sensor unit for assay in utilizing attenuated total reflection

• US 7,901,643 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden; Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sasaki; Shogo
• Application Number:
  US11/329,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20060153742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 422/100, 436/180, 356/445
• US Class Current: 422/417
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2200/026 Fluid interfacing between devices or objects, e.g. connectors, inlet details
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0654 Lenses; Optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0809 rectangular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• 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 3/5025 for parallel transport of multiple samples
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/50853 with covers or lids
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/05 Flow-through cuvettes G01N21/09 takes precedence; handling fluid samples G01N1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/553 and using surface plasmons fluorescence excitation G01N21/648; enhanced Raman G01N21/658
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/2575 Volumetric liquid transfer

Abstract

A sensor unit for use in a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay includes a flow channel device, which causes a sample fluid of a sample to flow on a sensing surface lying on a prism. The flow channel device includes a rigid device body part having an opposing surface positioned opposite to the sensing surface. A flow recess is formed in the opposing surface, closed by the prism to constitute a flow channel, for covering the sensing surface. A sealant portion is overlaid on an edge portion of the opposing surface and the flow recess in the device body part. The sealant portion tightens closing between the device body part and the prism. Also, the sealant portion projects over the opposing surface of the device body part in a state before contacting the prism. In addition, the sealant portion is formed from material having a small non-specific adsorption.

Claims

1. A flow channel member comprising:

a body having a first surface which contacts a sensing surface for detecting reaction of a sample, and a second surface;

a flow recess provided in said body having at least one edge portion which covers said sensing surface, thereby forming a flow channel between the first and the second surface to let a sample fluid of said sample flow on said sensing surface;

wherein said flow channel member further comprises a coating layer, formed from a soft elastic material having a small non-specific adsorption, disposed on the inner wall of said flow recess, and wherein the body is made of a more rigid material than said soft elastic material;

wherein said coating layer comprises a projecting sealant portion which extends beyond the edge portion of said body, and is resiliently deformed by the contacting pressure between said sensing surface and said body, thereby sealing said flow channel;

wherein said body and said coating layer are integrally formed together by two color molding; and

wherein said rigid material is a first resin and said soft material is a second resin.

2. The flow channel member as defined in claim 1, wherein said projecting sealant portion has a thickness equal to or more than 0.1 mm and equal to or less than 1.0 mm.

3. The flow channel member as defined in claim 1, further comprising first and second orifices provided at the second surface of said body, wherein said flow channel is in a substantially U-shape.

4. The flow channel member as defined in claim 1, wherein said soft material is amorphous polyolefin elastomer, and said rigid material is crystalline polyolefin.

5. The flow channel member as defined in claim 1, wherein said flow channel and said sensing surface are adapted for assay of said sample by utilizing attenuated total reflection, and said sensing surface is constituted by a prism.

6. A flow channel member comprising:

a body having a first surface which contacts a sensing surface for detecting reaction of a sample, and a second surface;

a flow recess provided in said body having at least one edge portion which covers said sensing surface, thereby forming a flow channel between the first and the second surface to let a sample fluid of said sample flow on said sensing surface;

wherein said flow channel member further comprises a coating layer, formed from a soft elastic material having a small non-specific adsorption, disposed on the inner wall of said flow recess, and wherein the body is made of a more rigid material than said soft elastic material;

wherein said coating layer comprises a projecting sealant portion which extends beyond the edge portion of said body, and is resiliently deformed by the contacting pressure between said sensing surface and said body, thereby sealing said flow channel;

wherein said body and said coating layer are integrally formed together by insert molding; and

wherein said rigid material is a metal and said soft material is a resin.

7. A flow channel member as defined in claim 6, wherein said projecting sealant portion has a thickness equal to or more than 0.1 mm and equal to or less than 1.0 mm.

8. A flow channel member as defined in claim 6, further comprising first and second orifices provided at the second surface of said body, wherein said flow channel is in a substantially U-shape.

9. flow channel member as defined in claim 6, wherein said soft material is amorphous polyolefin elastomer.

10. The flow channel member as defined in claim 6, wherein said flow channel and said sensing surface are adapted for assay of said sample by utilizing attenuated total reflection, and said sensing surface is constituted by a prism.