JP2008101981A - Liquid stirrer, and substance detection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact liquid stirrer of simple structure, and a substance detection system applied with the liquid stirrer. <P>SOLUTION: This liquid stirrer is provided with a substrate with a surface acoustic wave propagated therethrough, the first protrusion part having a wall face drawing a recessed line within a face in parallel to a surface of the substrate, and provided on the surface of the substrate, the second protrusion part having a wall face drawing the recessed line within the face in parallel to the surface of the substrate, and provided on the surface of the substrate to oppose a recessed side of its wall face to the recessed side of the wall face of the first protrusion part, and an excitation source provided in the substrate to excite the surface acoustic wave from the recessed side of the wall face of the first protrusion part, and the wall face of the first protrusion part and the wall face of the second protrusion part introduce the liquid moving on the surface of the substrate by the surface acoustic wave excited by the excitation source, and make the liquid flow annularly on the surface of the substrate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid agitation device that causes a liquid to flow in an annular shape, and a substance detection system that detects a substance generated by a reaction of a substance contained in the liquid.

  2. Description of the Related Art In the field of conducting experiments on biological materials, liquid conveyance systems that use a pump to cause a liquid containing biological materials to flow through a tube and convey the liquid are widely used. For example, when a tube is provided so that the liquid circulates, the mutual reaction of the plurality of biological materials can be promoted by circulating and stirring the liquid containing the plurality of biological materials.

JP-T-2004-534633 Special table 2003-535349 gazette

  In such a liquid transport system, there is a problem that the system becomes large because the volume of the pump for flowing the liquid is large. Further, since it is necessary to provide a valve for adjusting the flow of the liquid in the pipe for guiding the liquid, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been made for such a problem, and provides a liquid agitator having a simple structure and a small size, and a substance detection system to which the liquid agitator is applied.

  The liquid stirring apparatus according to the present invention includes a substrate on which a surface acoustic wave propagates and a wall surface that draws a concave line in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, and a first ridge provided on the surface of the substrate. And the substrate has a wall surface that draws a concave line in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, and the recessed side of the wall surface faces the recessed side of the wall surface of the first raised portion. A second raised portion provided on the surface of the substrate, and an excitation source provided on the substrate for exciting a surface acoustic wave from a recessed side of the wall surface of the first raised portion. The wall surface of the substrate and the wall surface of the second raised portion guide the liquid moving on the surface of the substrate by the surface acoustic wave excited by the excitation source, and flow the liquid annularly on the surface of the substrate. It is characterized by making it.

  Moreover, in the liquid stirring apparatus according to the present invention, the stirring region on the substrate is provided on the substrate and is sandwiched between the wall surface of the first raised portion and the wall surface of the second raised portion. An auxiliary excitation source for exciting a surface acoustic wave from a direction not covered by the wall surface of the first bulge portion and the wall surface of the second bulge portion, and the liquid flows out of the stirring region It is preferable to adopt a configuration in which this is prevented by a surface acoustic wave excited by the auxiliary excitation source.

  Further, the liquid stirring apparatus according to the present invention includes a substrate on which the surface acoustic wave propagates, a protrusion provided on the surface of the substrate, and an excitation source provided on the substrate for exciting the surface acoustic wave, The surface acoustic wave excited by the excitation source causes the liquid to flow in an annular shape on the surface of the substrate with the protrusion as a center.

  The substance detection system according to the present invention includes the liquid agitator, a measurement excitation source that is provided on the substrate and excites a surface acoustic wave at a position on the surface of the substrate where the liquid flows in an annular shape, A detection unit that is provided on a substrate and generates a signal based on a surface acoustic wave that is excited by the measurement excitation source and passes through a position on the surface of the substrate where the liquid flows in an annular shape, and the detection unit includes Based on the generated signal, the amount of the produced substance produced by the reaction of the substance contained in the liquid is measured.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a liquid stirring device and a substance detection system that have a simple structure and are small.

  FIG. 1 shows a conveying and stirring apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings of the present application, the boundary lines of the constituent parts are indicated by broken lines, and the lines for explaining the positional relationship of the constituent parts are indicated by alternate long and short dash lines. The transport agitator 100 includes a substrate 10, guide walls 12a and 12b, transport walls 14a, 14b, 16a and 16b, an intermediate wall 18, and electrode pairs 20-1 to 20-4.

  The substrate 10 is made of a piezoelectric material such as quartz, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate or the like that can generate surface acoustic waves by a piezoelectric phenomenon and can propagate surface acoustic waves in at least two directions. The As such a piezoelectric material, Y-cut lithium niobate is suitable.

  The guide walls 12a and 12b, the transfer walls 14a, 14b, 16a and 16b, and the intermediate wall 18 are formed on the substrate 10 as linear raised portions. These walls are preferably formed of a resin that can be molded in a viscous liquid state, such as an epoxy resin. Moreover, although the shape of the cross section perpendicular | vertical to the extending | stretching direction of these walls is arbitrary, it shall be a rectangle here.

  The guide wall 12a includes a straight portion 12aS and an arc portion 12aC. The straight portion 12aS is formed in a straight line shape. The arc portion 12aC is formed in an arc shape having an arc angle of 90 °. The straight line portion 12aS and the circular arc portion 12aC are joined at each end to constitute a J-shaped guide wall 12a. The guide wall 12b includes a straight portion 12bS and an arc portion 12bC. The arc portion 12bC has the same shape as the arc portion 12aC. The straight line portion 12bS and the circular arc portion 12bC are joined at each end to constitute a J-shaped guide wall 12b. The guide walls 12a and 12b are arranged such that the straight portion 12aS and the straight portion 12bS are parallel to each other, and the concave wall surface of the arc portion 12aC is opposed to the concave wall surface of the arc portion 12bC.

  The transport walls 14a, 14b, 16a and 16b are formed in a straight line. The transfer walls 14a and 14b are arranged in parallel, and the end of the transfer wall 14a and the end of the transfer wall 14b are on the side not joined to the arc part 12aC of the linear part 12aS and the side not joined to the straight part 12bS of the arc part 12bC. Are joined to the ends of each. The transport walls 16a and 16b are arranged in parallel, and the end of the transport wall 16a and the end of the transport wall 16b are the end of the arc portion 12aC that is not joined to the straight portion 12aS and the side that is not joined to the arc portion 12bC of the straight portion 12bS. Are joined to the ends of each.

  The intermediate wall 18 is formed in a straight line shape. The intermediate wall 18 is disposed in parallel to the straight portions 12aS and 12bS. The length of the intermediate wall 18 is substantially the same as the line segment connecting the center of the arc drawn by the arc portion 12aC and the center of the arc drawn by the arc portion 12bC.

  The stirring region Str for stirring the liquid is defined as a region surrounded by the guide walls 12a and 12b. However, the straight line LA and the straight line LC are used as the boundary of the stirring region Str in the opening that is not blocked by any of the guide walls 12a and 12b. Here, the straight line LA is a straight line in contact with the wall surface facing the intermediate wall 18 of the straight portion 12aS, and the straight line LC is connected to the end of the transfer wall 16a on the side joined to the guide wall 12a and the guide wall 12b of the transfer wall 16b. It is a straight line connecting the ends on the side to be joined.

  Each of the electrode pairs 20-1 to 20-4 includes interdigital electrodes E1 and E2 in which a plurality of linear conductors e are connected to one linear main conductor r in an interdigital manner. The interdigital electrodes E1 and E2 are arranged such that the linear conductor e belonging to the interdigital electrode E1 and the linear conductor e belonging to the interdigital electrode E2 are alternately arranged. The distance between the two linear conductors e adjacent to each other is preferably about half the wavelength of the surface acoustic wave to be excited.

  As the shapes of the electrode pairs 20-1 to 20-4, various shapes can be applied in addition to those shown in FIG. For example, an electrode having an angle between the main conductor r and the linear conductor e different from 90 ° and a linear conductor e whose width changes from one end to the other end are provided. It is possible to apply an electrode or the like in which the linear conductors e are arranged so that the interval between the linear conductors e adjacent to each other is not uniform. That is, the electrode can have an arbitrary shape based on the frequency range of the surface acoustic wave to be excited, the direction of propagation, and the like.

  The electrode pair 20-1 is provided in the vicinity of the end of the transport wall 14a opposite to the end on the stirring region Str side and the end of the transport wall 14b opposite to the side joined to the guide wall 12b. In order to propagate the surface acoustic wave to a predetermined position, the electrode pair 20-1 is preferably provided at a position sandwiched between the straight line L1a and the straight line L1b. Here, the straight line L1a is a straight line in contact with the wall surface facing the transport wall 14b of the transport wall 14a, and the straight line L1b is a straight line in contact with the wall surface of the transport wall 14b facing the transport wall 14a. The electrode pair 20-1 is arranged such that the direction in which the excited surface acoustic wave propagates substantially coincides with the extending direction of the transfer wall 14a and the extending direction of the transfer wall 14b. Here, the electrode pair 20-1 is arranged so that the extending direction of the linear conductor e is substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the transport wall 14a and the extending direction of the transport wall 14b.

  The electrode pair 20-2 is provided in the vicinity of the wall surface on the side opposite to the stirring region Str side of the transport wall 14b. In order to propagate the surface acoustic wave to a predetermined position, the electrode pair 20-2 is preferably provided between the straight line LM and the straight line LA defined as the center line in the extending direction of the intermediate wall 18. The electrode pair 20-2 is arranged such that the direction in which the excited surface acoustic wave propagates is substantially parallel to the straight lines LA and LM. Here, it is assumed that the electrode pair 20-2 is arranged so that the extending direction of the linear conductor e is substantially perpendicular to the straight lines LA and LM.

  The electrode pair 20-3 is provided in the vicinity of the wall surface on the side opposite to the stirring region Str side of the arc portion 12bC. In order to propagate the surface acoustic wave to a predetermined position, the electrode pair 20-3 is preferably provided between the straight line LM and the straight line L2b. Here, the straight line L2b is a straight line in contact with the wall surface of the transfer wall 16b facing the transfer wall 16a. The electrode pair 20-3 is arranged such that the direction in which the excited surface acoustic wave propagates is substantially parallel to the straight lines L2b and LM. Here, it is assumed that the electrode pair 20-3 is arranged so that the extending direction of the linear conductor e is substantially perpendicular to the straight lines L2b and LM.

  The electrode pair 20-4 is provided in the vicinity of the end of the transport wall 16a opposite to the end on the stirring region Str side and the end of the transport wall 16b opposite to the side joined to the guide wall 12a. In order to propagate the surface acoustic wave to a predetermined position, the electrode pair 20-4 is preferably provided at a position sandwiched between the straight line L2a and the straight line L2b. Here, the straight line L2a is a straight line in contact with the wall surface of the straight portion 12bS on the stirring region Str side. The electrode pair 20-4 is arranged such that the direction in which the excited surface acoustic wave propagates is substantially parallel to the straight lines L2a and L2b. Here, the electrode pair 20-4 is arranged so that the extending direction of the linear conductor e is substantially perpendicular to the straight lines L2a and L2b.

  When an AC voltage having a predetermined frequency is applied between the interdigital electrodes E1 and E2 included in the electrode pairs 20-1 to 20-4, the surface acoustic waves SAW1 to SAW4 are excited by the piezoelectric effect. The surface acoustic wave SAW1 excited from the electrode pair 20-1 toward the stirring region Str propagates through the region sandwiched between the transport wall 14a and the transport wall 14b and the stirring region Str, and is provided with an arc portion 12bC. Propagates through a certain position.

  The surface acoustic wave SAW2 excited from the electrode pair 20-2 toward the transport wall 14b passes through the position where the transport wall 14b is provided and propagates in the stirring region Str, and is provided with the arc portion 12aC. Propagate through position.

  The surface acoustic wave SAW3 excited from the electrode pair 20-3 toward the arc portion 12bC passes through the position where the arc portion 12bC is provided and propagates in the agitation region Str, and the transfer wall 16a and the transfer wall 16b. Propagates through the area between the two.

  The surface acoustic wave SAW4 excited from the electrode pair 20-4 toward the stirring region Str propagates through the region sandwiched between the transport wall 16a and the transport wall 16b and the stirring region Str, and is provided with an arc portion 12bC. Propagates through a certain position.

  The relationship between the direction in which the electrode pair is arranged and the direction in which the excited surface acoustic wave propagates varies depending on the shape of the electrode, the physical properties of the substrate, and the like. Therefore, the directions in which the electrode pairs 20-1 to 20-4 are arranged are determined so that the surface acoustic waves SAW1 to SAW4 propagate in the predetermined directions described above. The present embodiment shows one example of the arrangement direction of the electrode pairs 20-1 to 20-4 determined as described above.

  Next, a process in which the transport agitator 100 carries the liquid into the stirring region Str, stirs the carried liquid, and carries it out will be described. When the liquid is carried into the stirring region Str and stirred, an AC voltage is applied to the electrode pairs 20-1, 20-2, and 20-4, and no AC voltage is applied to the electrode pair 20-3. . As a result, surface acoustic waves SAW1, SAW2, and SAW4 are excited on the substrate 10.

  The liquid is dropped into a region sandwiched between the transfer wall 14a and the transfer wall 14b by a dropping device (not shown). The dropped liquid moves by receiving a force traveling in the direction in which the surface acoustic wave SAW1 propagates due to the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW1. And it is conveyed by the area | region pinched | interposed between the straight line LA in the stirring area Str and the straight line LM, being guide | induced by the conveyance walls 14a and 14b.

  The transported liquid is moved by receiving a force traveling in the direction in which the surface acoustic wave SAW2 propagates due to the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW2. And it reaches | attains the wall surface by the side of the stirring area Str of circular arc part 12aC, being guide | induced to the linear part 12aS and the intermediate wall 18. As shown in FIG. The liquid in contact with the wall surface of the arc portion 12aC receives and moves along the wall surface in the clockwise direction by the force received from the surface acoustic wave SAW2 and the force received from the wall surface of the arc portion 12aC. And it is conveyed along the said wall surface to the area | region pinched | interposed between the guide wall 12b and the straight line LM.

  The transported liquid is moved by receiving a force traveling in the direction in which the surface acoustic wave SAW4 propagates due to the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW4. The liquid reaches the wall surface on the stirring region Str side of the arc portion 12bC while being guided to the straight portion 12bS and the intermediate wall 18. The liquid in contact with the wall surface of the arc portion 12bC receives and moves the clockwise force of FIG. 1 along the wall surface by the force received from the surface acoustic wave SAW4 and the force received from the wall surface of the arc portion 12bC. And it is conveyed along the said wall surface to the area | region pinched | interposed between the straight line LA in the stirring area Str and the straight line LM.

  The transported liquid is again guided to the guide wall 12a and the intermediate wall 18 by the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW2, and is transported to a region sandwiched between the guide wall 12b and the straight line LM. While being guided to the guide wall 12b and the intermediate wall 18 by the radiation pressure, it is conveyed to a region sandwiched between the straight line LA and the straight line LM.

  Since the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW1 is applied to the liquid existing in the stirring region Str in the direction from the straight line LA toward the stirring region Str, the region sandwiched between the transport wall 14a and the transport wall 14b. Can be avoided from flowing out in the direction from the electrode 20-1 toward the electrode pair 20-1. Furthermore, since the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW4 is applied in the direction from the straight line LC to the stirring region Str, the region from the region sandwiched between the transport wall 16a and the transport wall 16b is directed to the electrode pair 20-4. Liquid outflow can be avoided.

  In this way, the liquid carried into the stirring region Str flows in an annular shape. The flowing liquid is agitated by the speed at which the flowing liquid is different between a position close to the surface of the substrate 10 and a position far from the surface, and mechanical vibration is applied to the flowing liquid by a surface acoustic wave.

  In the transport agitating apparatus 100, even after the liquid has been brought into the stirring region Str and no liquid is present in the region sandwiched between the transport wall 14a and the transport wall 14b, the electrode pair 20- An AC voltage is continuously applied to 1, 20-2 and 20-4. As a result, the outflow of the liquid to the outside of the stirring region Str can be avoided, and the liquid can be continuously stirred.

  When the stirred liquid is carried out of the stirring region Str, an AC voltage is applied to the electrode pairs 20-1, 20-2 and 20-3, and no AC voltage is applied to the electrode pair 20-4. As a result, surface acoustic waves SAW1, SAW2 and SAW3 are excited on the substrate 10.

  The liquid existing in the region sandwiched between the straight line LA and the straight line LM in the stirring region Str is moved by receiving a force that advances in the direction in which the surface acoustic wave SAW2 propagates due to the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW2. And it reaches | attains the wall surface by the side of the stirring area Str of circular arc part 12aC, being guide | induced to the linear part 12aS and the intermediate wall 18. As shown in FIG. The liquid in contact with the wall surface of the arc portion 12aC receives and moves along the wall surface in the clockwise direction by the force received from the surface acoustic wave SAW2 and the force received from the wall surface of the arc portion 12aC. And it is conveyed along the said wall surface to the area | region pinched | interposed between the guide wall 12b and the straight line LM.

  The liquid existing in the region sandwiched between the guide wall 12b and the straight line LM is moved by receiving a force traveling in the direction in which the surface acoustic wave SAW3 propagates due to the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW3. And it is conveyed by the area | region pinched | interposed between the conveyance wall 16a and the conveyance wall 16b, being guide | induced to the linear part 12aS and the intermediate wall 18. FIG.

  Further, the outflow of the liquid in the direction from the region sandwiched between the transport wall 14a and the transport wall 14b toward the electrode pair 20-1 is blocked by the surface acoustic wave SAW1.

  In this way, the liquid in the stirring region Str can be carried out to the outside of the stirring region Str.

  FIG. 2 shows a transport stirring apparatus 102 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The transport agitator 102 includes a substrate 10, guide walls 12 a and 12 b, transport walls 16 a and 16 b, an intermediate wall 18, electrode pairs 20-2 to 20-4, a straight portion 22, and an arc portion 24. The same components as those of the transport agitator 100 in FIG.

  A piezoelectric material that can propagate a surface acoustic wave only in a uniaxial direction may be applied to the substrate 10.

  The straight portion 22 has the same length as the width of the transport wall 16a. One end of the straight portion 22 is joined to the end of the arc portion 12bC that is not joined to the straight portion 12bS. The arc portion 24 has the same shape as the arc portions 12aC and 12bC. The arc portion 24 has an end on the side that is not joined to the arc portion 12aC of the straight portion 12aS and a side that is not joined to the arc portion 12bC of the straight portion 22 so that the concave wall surface faces the side on which the intermediate wall 18 is provided. It is joined between the ends of the.

  The stirring region Str for stirring the liquid is defined as a region surrounded by the guide walls 12a and 12b, the straight portion 22 and the arc portion 24. However, the straight line LC is set as the boundary of the stirring region Str in the opening not covered by any of these walls.

  A process in which the transport agitator 102 carries the liquid into the stirring region Str, stirs the carried liquid, and carries it out will be described. When the liquid is carried into the stirring region Str and stirred, an AC voltage is applied to the electrode pairs 20-2 and 20-4, and no AC voltage is applied to the electrode pair 20-3. As a result, surface acoustic waves SAW2 and SAW4 are excited on the substrate 10.

  A liquid is dropped by a dropping device in a region sandwiched between the transfer wall 16a and the transfer wall 16b. The dropped liquid moves by receiving a force traveling in the direction in which the surface acoustic wave SAW4 propagates due to the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW4. The liquid reaches the wall surface on the stirring region Str side of the arc portion 12bC while being guided to the straight portion 12bS and the intermediate wall 18. The liquid in contact with the wall surface of the circular arc part 12bC is moved by receiving the force traveling clockwise in FIG. 2 along the wall surface by the force received from the surface acoustic wave SAW4 and the force received from the wall surface of the circular arc part 12bC. And it is conveyed along the said wall surface and the wall surface by the side of the stirring area Str of the linear part 22 to the area | region pinched | interposed between the circular arc part 24 and the straight line LM.

  The transported liquid is moved by receiving a force traveling in the direction in which the surface acoustic wave SAW2 propagates due to the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW2. The liquid reaches the wall surface on the stirring region Str side of the arc portion 12aC while being guided to the straight portion 12aS and the intermediate wall 18. The liquid in contact with the wall surface of the circular arc part 12aC receives and moves a force traveling in the clockwise direction of FIG. 2 along the wall surface by the force received from the surface acoustic wave SAW2 and the force received from the wall surface of the circular arc part 12aC. And it is conveyed along the said wall surface to the area | region pinched | interposed between the guide wall 12b and the straight line LM.

  The transported liquid is again guided to the guide wall 12b and the intermediate wall 18 by the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW4 and transported to a region sandwiched between the guide wall 12a and the straight line LM, and the surface acoustic wave SAW2 While being guided to the guide wall 12a and the intermediate wall 18 by the radiation pressure, it is conveyed to a region sandwiched between the guide wall 12b and the straight line LM.

  Since the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW4 is applied to the liquid in the stirring region Str in the direction from the straight line LC toward the stirring region Str, the electrode is moved from the region sandwiched between the transport wall 16a and the transport wall 16b. Liquid outflow in the direction toward the pair 20-4 is avoided. In this way, the liquid carried into the stirring region Str flows in an annular shape and is stirred.

  In the transport agitating apparatus 102, even after the liquid has been brought into the stirring region Str and no liquid is present in the region sandwiched between the transport wall 16a and the transport wall 16b, the electrode pair 20- Continue applying AC voltage to 2 and 20-4. As a result, the outflow of the liquid to the outside of the stirring region Str can be avoided, and the liquid can be continuously stirred.

  Note that when the amount of liquid to be stirred is sufficiently large, an AC voltage is applied only to the electrode pair 20-4, and the liquid is stirred even if no AC voltage is applied to the electrode pairs 20-2 and 20-3. It can be performed. In this case, the liquid conveyed to the region sandwiched between the guide wall 12a and the straight line LM and between the arc portion 24 and the straight line LM by the surface acoustic wave SAW4 is transferred to the arc portion 24, the guide wall 12a, and the intermediate wall 18. The force carried along is received from the following liquid. As a result, the liquid carried into the stirring region Str flows in an annular shape and is stirred.

  When the stirred liquid is carried out of the stirring region Str, an AC voltage is applied to the electrode pairs 20-2 and 20-3, and no AC voltage is applied to the electrode pair 20-4. As a result, surface acoustic waves SAW2 and SAW3 are excited on the substrate 10.

  The liquid existing in the region surrounded by the straight portion 22, the arc portion 24, the straight portion 12aS, and the straight line LM is moved by receiving a force that advances in the direction in which the surface acoustic wave SAW2 propagates due to the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW2. And it reaches | attains the wall surface by the side of the stirring area Str of circular arc part 12aC, being guide | induced to the linear part 12aS and the intermediate wall 18. As shown in FIG. The liquid in contact with the wall surface of the circular arc part 12aC receives and moves a force traveling in the clockwise direction of FIG. 2 along the wall surface by the force received from the surface acoustic wave SAW2 and the force received from the wall surface of the circular arc part 12aC. And it is conveyed along the said wall surface to the area | region pinched | interposed between the guide wall 12b and the straight line LM.

  The liquid existing in the region sandwiched between the guide wall 12b and the straight line LM is moved by receiving a force traveling in the direction in which the surface acoustic wave SAW3 propagates due to the radiation pressure of the surface acoustic wave SAW3. And it is conveyed by the area | region pinched | interposed between the conveyance wall 16a and the conveyance wall 16b, being guide | induced to the linear part 12aS and the intermediate wall 18. FIG.

  Since the transport agitating device 102 also serves as the transport walls 16a and 16b in carrying in and out the liquid, the configuration is simpler than that of the transport agitating device 100. Further, since the substrate 10 may be a piezoelectric material that can propagate a surface acoustic wave only in a uniaxial direction, there is an advantage that the range of selection of the material of the substrate 10 is widened.

  Next, a modified example of the conveyance agitator 100 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a transport stirring apparatus 100A. The transport agitating device 100A includes a substrate 10, guide walls 12a and 12b, transport walls 14a, 14b, 16a and 16b, a protrusion 26, and electrode pairs 20-1 to 20-4. The transport agitator 100A is obtained by replacing the intermediate wall 18 provided in the transport agitator 100 with a protruding portion 26. The same components as those of the transport agitator 100 in FIG.

  The protruding portion 26 is formed in a shape such as a cylinder or a cone, and is disposed so that the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 10. Here, the protrusion 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The protrusion 26 is preferably formed of a resin that can be molded in a viscous liquid state, such as an epoxy resin. The protrusion 26 is drawn at a central position between the straight line LA and the straight line L2b, and is drawn at a central position between the straight line L1a and the straight line LC, and a straight line LM1 parallel to the straight lines LA and L2b. It is provided at a position where the straight lines L1a and LC intersect with the parallel straight line LM2.

  According to such a configuration, a force attracted to the protrusion 26 acts on the liquid in the stirring region Str. As a result, the SAW 2 and the SAW 4 are excited, so that the liquid forms a droplet around the protrusion 26 and flows in an annular shape around the protrusion 26. Therefore, even if the liquid is not in contact with the guide walls 12a and 12b, the liquid can be made to flow in an annular shape, so that the liquid can be stirred even if the amount of liquid transported to the stirring region Str is small.

  In addition, although the modified example which replaced the intermediate wall 18 of the conveyance stirring apparatus 100 with the projection part 26 was demonstrated here, the same deformation | transformation is possible also about the conveyance stirring apparatus 102. FIG.

  Next, the 2nd modification of the conveyance stirring apparatus 100 is demonstrated. In the transport agitator 100, the liquid passes over the electrode pair 20-4 when the liquid is unloaded. For this reason, immediately after the liquid is carried out, the interdigital electrode E1 and the interdigital electrode E2 are electrically connected by the remaining liquid, and there is a possibility that the surface acoustic wave SAW4 cannot be excited. The conveyance agitating apparatus 100B shown in FIG. 4 is a modification of the conveyance agitating apparatus 100 to solve such a problem.

  The transport agitator 100B includes a substrate 10, guide walls 12a and 12b, transport walls 14a and 14b, an intermediate wall 18, electrode pairs 20-1 to 20-4, and an arc wall 28. The transport agitating device 100B is obtained by removing the transport walls 16a and 16b of the transport agitating device 100 and providing an arc wall 28 instead of the transport wall 16a. The same components as those of the transport agitator 100 in FIG.

  The arc wall 28 is preferably formed in the same shape as the arc portions 12aC and 12bC. The arc wall 28 is arranged such that its convex wall faces the electrode pair 20-4 side. One end of the arc wall 28 is joined to the end of the arc portion 12aC that is not joined to the straight portion 12aS.

  The surface acoustic wave SAW4 excited by the electrode pair 20-4 propagates through the stirring region Str through the position where the arc wall 28 is provided, and propagates through the position where the arc portion 12bC is provided. To do.

  The transport agitator 100B carries in the liquid to the agitation region Str by the same process as the process performed by the transport agitator 100, and stirs and carries out the carried liquid. The liquid carried out from the stirring region Str reaches the concave wall surface of the arc wall 28. The liquid in contact with the wall surface of the arc wall 28 receives and moves along the wall surface in the clockwise direction of FIG. 4 due to the force received from the surface acoustic wave SAW3 and the force received from the wall surface of the arc wall 28. And it is conveyed along the said wall surface and is carried out across the straight line L2b from between the circular arc wall 28 and the guide wall 12b.

  According to such a configuration, the liquid can be prevented from passing over the electrode pair 20-4. Accordingly, the surface acoustic wave SAW4 can be reliably excited immediately after the liquid is carried out, so that the liquid can be carried in and stirred continuously. In addition, the circular arc wall 28 can be similarly applied to the transport stirring device 100A.

  Next, an application example of the transport stirring device will be described. FIG. 5 shows the substance detection system 104. The substance detection system 104 is configured to include the transport agitator 100 and electrode pairs 20-5 and 20-6. The same components as those of the transport agitator 100 in FIG. Instead of the transport stirring device 100, the transport stirring device 100A or 102 may be applied.

  The substance detection system 104 agitates a liquid (hereinafter referred to as a reaction biological solution) containing a plurality of biological substances that generate a predetermined substance by mutual reaction, and the generation is promoted by the agitation and adsorbed on the surface of the substrate 10. It is a system that measures the amount of a substance, analyzes the properties of a reaction biological solution, and the like.

  The electrode pairs 20-5 and 20-6 have the same configuration and function as the electrode pairs 20-1 to 20-4. The electrode pair 20-5 is arranged in a region sandwiching the guide wall 12a together with the stirring region Str among regions sandwiched between the straight line LC and the straight line L1a. The electrode pair 20-6 is arranged in a region sandwiching the guide wall 12b together with the stirring region Str among regions sandwiched between the straight line LC and the straight line L1a. The electrode pairs 20-5 and 20-6 are arranged such that the direction of the linear conductor e included in the electrode pair 20-5 coincides with the direction of the linear conductor e included in the electrode pair 20-6.

  When an AC voltage is applied to the electrode pair 20-5, the surface acoustic wave SAW5 propagating from the electrode pair 20-5 through the stirring region Str to the position where the electrode pair 20-6 is provided is excited. The surface acoustic wave SAW5 generates an alternating voltage by a piezoelectric phenomenon between the interdigital electrodes E1 and E2 of the electrode pair 20-6.

  In the substance detection system 104, the reaction biological solution can be carried into the stirring region Str and stirred by the processing of the transport stirring device 100. When measuring the amount of the substance adsorbed on the surface of the substrate 10 or analyzing the properties of the reaction biological solution, the reaction biological solution is stirred and the surface acoustic wave SAW5 is excited. The ratio of the amplitude of the alternating voltage generated in the electrode pair 20-6 to the amplitude of the alternating voltage applied to the electrode pair 20-5, and the phase of the alternating voltage applied to the electrode pair 20-5 and the electrode pair 20-6 Measure the difference from the phase of the generated AC voltage. The ratio of the amplitude level and the phase difference change according to a change in the amount of the substance adsorbed on the surface of the substrate 10, a change in the properties of the reaction biological solution, and the like. Therefore, it is possible to measure the amount of the substance adsorbed on the surface of the substrate 10 based on the measured amplitude level ratio and phase difference, analyze the properties of the reaction biological solution, and the like.

  According to such a configuration, since the substrate 10 can be applied as a sensor for detecting the generated substance, the configuration of the system for measuring the amount of the generated substance, analyzing the properties of the reaction biological solution, and the like is simplified. can do.

It is a figure which shows the conveyance stirring apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the conveyance stirring apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of the conveyance stirring apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification of the conveyance stirring apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows a substance detection system.

Explanation of symbols

  10 substrate, 12a, 12b guide wall, 12aS, 12bS straight part, 12aC, 12bC, 22 arc part, 14a, 14b, 16a, 16b, 24 transport wall, 18 intermediate wall, 20-1 to 20-6 electrode pair, 26 Projection, 28 Arc wall, 100, 100A, 100B, 102 Conveying stirrer, 104 Substance detection system, E1, E2 Interdigital electrode, r Core conductor, e Linear conductor.

Claims (4)

A substrate on which surface acoustic waves propagate;
A wall having a concave line in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, and a first raised portion provided on the surface of the substrate;
On the surface of the substrate, having a wall surface that draws a concave line in a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, the recessed side of the wall surface facing the recessed side of the wall surface of the first raised portion A second raised portion provided in the
An excitation source that is provided on the substrate and excites a surface acoustic wave from a recessed side of the wall surface of the first raised portion;
With
The wall surface of the first raised portion and the wall surface of the second raised portion are:
A liquid stirring apparatus, wherein a liquid moving on a surface of the substrate is guided by a surface acoustic wave excited by the excitation source, and the liquid is caused to flow annularly on the surface of the substrate. The liquid stirring apparatus according to claim 1,
The wall surface of the first raised portion is provided in the stirring region on the substrate that is provided on the substrate and sandwiched between the wall surface of the first raised portion and the wall surface of the second raised portion, and the An auxiliary excitation source for exciting a surface acoustic wave from a direction not covered by the wall surface of the second raised portion,
The liquid agitating apparatus is characterized in that the liquid is prevented from flowing out of the agitating region by a surface acoustic wave excited by the auxiliary excitation source. A substrate on which surface acoustic waves propagate;
A protrusion provided on the surface of the substrate;
An excitation source provided on the substrate for exciting a surface acoustic wave;
With
A liquid agitating device characterized in that a liquid is caused to flow in an annular shape on the surface of the substrate around the protrusion by a surface acoustic wave excited by the excitation source. A liquid agitator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A measurement excitation source provided on the substrate and exciting a surface acoustic wave at a position on the surface of the substrate where the liquid flows in an annular shape;
A detection unit that is provided on the substrate and generates a signal based on a surface acoustic wave that has been excited by the measurement excitation source and passed through a position on the surface of the substrate where the liquid flows annularly;
With
A substance detection system that measures the amount of a substance produced by a reaction of a substance contained in the liquid based on a signal generated by the detection unit.

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