JP2001188061A - Microchip for analysis - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a microchip, for analysis, by which information can be controlled surely by a method wherein the microchip for analysis can be discriminated and specified automatically by an electrophoretic analyzer using the microchip. SOLUTION: An EEPROM 20 and connectors 21, 22, 23 are installed on the transparent quartz substrate 2 on the microchip for electrophoresis. Pieces of information on the kind of the microchip, on the manufacturing number of the microchip, on the usage history of the microchip and on the like are stored in the EEPROM 20. The pieces of information are transmitted to the electrohoretic analyzer, using the microchip, via the connectors 21, 22, 23. Thereby, the microchip can be discriminated and specified automatically by the analyzer, and the control mistake of the microchip such as the mistake of the microchip, the update omission of the control information or the like can be eliminated. Even when an identical microchip is used in a plurality of analyzers, the control information is moved together with the micrchip, and the microchip can be continuously controlled surely.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microchip for analysis, in which two plate-like members are attached to each other to form an analysis channel inside, and a very small amount of sample is analyzed at an extremely high speed and with a high resolution.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an analysis chip (micro chip) formed by joining two substrates has been proposed as a substitute for a fused silica capillary, which requires complicated handling, in which high-speed analysis and miniaturization of the apparatus can be expected. Chips). FIG. 2 shows an example of an electrophoresis microchip.
A pair of transparent substrates (generally made of glass, quartz, resin, etc.) 31 and 32 are formed, and electrophoresis capillary grooves 33 and 34 are formed on the surface of one substrate 31 so as to intersect each other. A reservoir 35 is provided as a through hole at a position corresponding to the ends of the grooves 33 and 34.

When using this microchip, both substrates 31, 32 are overlapped as shown in FIG. 1C, and the electrophoresis running solution is injected into the grooves 33, 34 from one of the reservoirs 35.
Thereafter, a sample is injected into the reservoir 35 at one end of the shorter groove 34, and a high voltage is applied between the reservoirs 35 at both ends of the groove 34 for a predetermined time. As a result, the sample is dispersed in the groove 34. Next, an electrophoresis voltage is applied to the reservoirs 35 at both ends of the longer groove 33. As a result, the sample existing at the intersection 36 between the grooves 33 and 34 electrophoreses in the groove 33. By arranging the detector at an appropriate position in the groove 33, the separated samples carried in order by electrophoresis are sequentially detected.

In the electrophoretic analysis, the electrophoresis conditions can be changed by filling the electrophoresis groove with various gels such as acrylamide gel and agarose gel and injecting and using various electrolytes as electrophoresis solution. It supports analysis of various samples. Further, it is possible to change the analysis conditions in various ways, such as exhibiting different molecular sieving effects depending on the degree of crosslinking of various gels, and adjusting the electroosmotic flow depending on the concentration of the electrolyte.

[0005] In the electrochromatographic analysis, a column is filled with particles of various materials such as silica particles and polymer particles, and the particles of each material have pores of various sizes. Are modified with various types of functional groups. Among them, a column suitable for separation of an analysis sample is appropriately selected and used. In gas chromatography analysis, various stationary phases are coated in a column, and a column suitable for separating an analysis sample is appropriately selected and used.

[0006]

As described above, there are many types of microchips for analyzing microchips for changing the analysis conditions, and microchips specialized for various functions are used by replacing them. It will be. Further, in order to predict the life of each microchip, it is necessary to manage the usage history. Conventionally, in order to manage the attributes and usage history information of each microchip, it is possible to identify the chip by marking the chip with a model name, etc.
A method of storing information outside the chip has been adopted. However, when the management information is stored outside the microchip, there is a problem that it is difficult to perform consistent management and automation of the management, and a management error such as a mistake in identifying the microchip is likely to occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an analyzer can automatically identify and specify an analysis microchip, and can correct a chip error or update management information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a microchip that can reliably manage information, for example, without forgetting.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a microchip of the present invention includes a pair of plate-like members, wherein at least one of the plate-like members is formed with a groove through which a liquid flows, The other plate-like member is provided with a through-hole at a position corresponding to the groove, and these plate-like members are bonded together with the groove inside, and the separation microchannel is formed by the groove. The chip has a storage element for storing the attributes and usage history of the microchip on the microchip, and a function of communicating with the outside by wired or wireless communication means.

In the electrophoresis analysis, information on the attributes of the microchip, such as the type and degree of crosslinking of the gel filled in the electrophoresis groove of the electrophoresis microchip, the type of the electrolyte as the electrophoresis solution, and the past specification history The information can be stored in a storage element mounted on the microchip, and the information can be transmitted to an electrophoresis analyzer using the microchip. As a result, the electrophoresis analyzer can automatically identify and identify the microchip, and can eliminate management errors such as mistakes in the microchip and forgetting to update the management information. Furthermore, even when the same microchip is used across a plurality of devices, management information moves together with the microchip, so that continuous management can be reliably performed.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of one embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a microchip for electrophoresis. The microchip for electrophoresis includes a pair of transparent quartz substrates 1 and 2, and has electrophoretic capillary grooves 3 and 4 crossing each other on the surface of one transparent quartz substrate 1, and migrates to the other transparent quartz substrate 2. The reservoirs 5 and 6 are provided at positions corresponding to the ends of the capillary groove 3 for use, and the reservoirs 7 and 8 are provided at positions corresponding to the ends of the capillary groove 4 for electrophoresis. Further, on the transparent quartz substrate 2, connectors 11 and 12 connected to reservoirs 5 and 6, connectors 13 and 14 connected to reservoirs 7 and 8, and EEPRO
M (electrically erasable non-volatile ROM) 20 and EEP
A connector 21 connected to the + VCC terminal of the ROM;
A connector 22 connected to the I / O terminal of the EPROM;
A connector 23 connected to the GND terminal of the EEPROM is provided.

The electrophoresis microchip configured as described above is used by superposing the transparent substrates 1 and 2 on each other, and the electrophoresis analysis is performed in the following procedure. First, after injecting the electrophoresis running solution from any one of the reservoirs into the capillary grooves 3 and 4, the sample is injected into one of the reservoirs 7 of the capillary groove 4, and then a high voltage is applied between the reservoirs 7 and 8 through the connectors 13 and 14. Is applied for a predetermined time. As a result, the sample is dispersed in the capillary groove 4. Next, an electrophoresis voltage is applied between the reservoirs 5 and 6 at both ends of the capillary groove 3 through the connectors 11 and 12. As a result, the sample existing at the intersection 9 between the capillary grooves 3 and 4 electrophoreses in the capillary groove 3. By arranging a detector at an appropriate position in the capillary groove 3, separated samples carried in order by electrophoresis are sequentially detected.

EEPRO disposed on a transparent quartz substrate 2
The M20 can be connected to the electrophoresis apparatus via the connectors 21, 22, and 23, and can communicate information stored in the EEPROM 20. EEPR
The information stored in the OM 20 includes a chip type, a chip serial number, a use history, a user name, and the like. As the type of the chip, the type of the gel filled with the electrophoresis capillary groove, the type of the electrolyte used as the electrophoresis liquid, the presence or absence of the coating, and the like are stored, and as the use history, the number of analyzes, the analysis time, the maximum applied voltage, Etc. are stored. EEP
Information stored in the ROM 20 includes the connectors 21 and 2
Transmitted to the electrophoresis apparatus by communication via 2, 23,
After the microchip for electrophoresis is confirmed to be suitable for the intended analysis, it is used for electrophoresis analysis.
After use, the analysis conditions, the number of analyzes, and the like are newly stored in the EEPROM 20 as a use history.

[0013] An EEPR is placed on a microchip for electrophoresis.
By providing connectors 21, 22, and 23 between the storage element such as the OM 20 and the outside of the microchip, the attributes of the microchip, for example, the type of gel filled in the capillary grooves 3, 4 of the microchip, the degree of crosslinking, and the migration An EEPROM 2 mounted on a microchip stores information on the type of electrolyte as a liquid, etc., and past specification history information.
0, and the information can be transmitted to an electrophoresis analyzer using a microchip. This allows the analyzer to automatically identify and specify the microchip, and eliminate management errors such as mistakes in the microchip and forgetting to update the management information.
Furthermore, even when the same microchip is used across a plurality of devices, management information moves together with the microchip, so that continuous management can be reliably performed.

In the above embodiment, the EEPROM 20
Communicated with the electrophoresis analyzer via connectors 21, 22, and 23, but the photocell, EEP
By providing a ROM and an optical transceiver, information may be transmitted by optical communication. In this case, the electrophoresis analyzer supplies energy to the photovoltaic cells on the microchip with light for energy supply, and operates the EEPROM and the optical communication device with the energy. Access to the EEPROM is performed by communication between the optical transceiver on the microchip and the optical transceiver of the electrophoresis analyzer. By adopting such a configuration, a connector is not required, and troubles due to defective contacts can be eliminated. Further, the microchip can be washed. Furthermore, the circuit on the microchip side can be electrically separated from the device side, and when used in a strong electric field like an electrophoresis chip, there is an advantage that malfunction due to noise can be reduced.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention described in the appended claims. be able to. For example, although transparent quartz is used for the substrates 1 and 2, it is sufficient that the substrate is transparent to the light used for the detector, and the material of the substrates 1 and 2 can be selected according to the wavelength of the measurement light used. For example, Pyrex glass may be used for visible light, and when light in the ultraviolet region is used, for example, HOYA having good transmittance up to the ultraviolet region may be used.
Ultraviolet transmitting glass such as UV-22 available from Co., Ltd. and # 9741 available from Corning can be used. In addition, the present invention can be used not only for electrophoretic analysis but also for electrochromatography and gas chromatography.

[0016]

According to the analysis microchip of the present invention, by providing a storage element such as an EEPROM and a connector to the outside of the microchip on the microchip, the attributes of the microchip, for example, the microchip for electrophoresis. The information on the type and degree of cross-linking of the gel filled in the capillary groove, the type of electrolyte as the electrophoresis liquid, etc., and the past specification history information are stored in the storage element mounted on the microchip, and these Information can be transmitted to an electrophoresis analyzer using a microchip. This allows the analyzer to automatically identify and specify the microchip, and eliminate management errors such as mistakes in the microchip and forgetting to update the management information. In addition, the life of the microchip can be appropriately determined. Furthermore, even when the same microchip is used across a plurality of devices, management information moves together with the microchip, so that continuous management can be reliably performed. Further, by configuring the communication between the microchip and the analyzer wirelessly, there is no fear of contact failure, and the cleaning of the microchip becomes very easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an electrophoresis microchip according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional microchip for electrophoresis.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,2 --- Transparent quartz substrate 3,4,33,34 --- Capillary groove for electrophoresis 5,6,7,8,35 --- Reservoir 9,36 --- Intersection 11,12,13, 14, 21, 22, 23 --- Connector 20 --- EEPROM 31, 32 --- Transparent substrate

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A pair of plate-like members, wherein a groove through which fluid flows is formed on the surface of at least one plate-like member, and the other plate-like member is provided with a through hole at a position corresponding to the groove. A microchip for analysis in which these plate-shaped members are bonded together with the groove inside and an analysis channel is formed by the groove, and the attribute and use history of the microchip are stored on the microchip. A microchip for analysis, comprising: means for communicating with the outside of the microchip.