JP2009115731A - Microchip inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microchip inspection device wherein liquid sending speed of driving liquid is equalized between channels, regardless of a temperature distribution or the like in a device or in an environment wherein the device is installed. <P>SOLUTION: This microchip inspection device has a microchip storage part, a detection part provided in correspondence with a part to be detected of the microchip, a micro-pump for injecting the driving liquid into a channel of the microchip, and a driving liquid tank for storing the driving liquid to be supplied to the micro-pump. In the device, a temperature adjustment part for adjusting the temperature of the driving liquid is arranged on the furthermore upstream side than the micro-pump. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a microchip inspection apparatus.

  In recent years, by making full use of micromachine technology and ultrafine processing technology, devices and means (for example, pumps, valves, flow paths, sensors, etc.) for performing conventional sample preparation, chemical analysis, chemical synthesis, etc. have been miniaturized. A system integrated on a chip attracts attention. This is also referred to as μ-TAS (Micro Total Analysis System), and a DNA-treated extraction solution obtained by processing a reagent and a sample (for example, urine, saliva, and blood of a subject to be examined) on a member called a microchip. Etc.) and the characteristics of the sample are examined by detecting the reaction.

  In the microchip, a substrate made of a resin material or a glass material is provided with a fine channel through which a reagent or sample can flow and a liquid reservoir for storing the reagent, and various patterns have been proposed.

  And when examining the characteristics of the sample using these microchips, the driving liquid is sent to the microchannel of the microchip with a micropump, etc., and the reagent or sample contained in the microchip is extruded, The reagent and the sample are reacted and guided to the detected part to perform detection. In the detected portion, the target substance is detected by, for example, an optical detection method.

As such a microchip inspection apparatus, for example, an inspection apparatus as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below is disclosed.
JP 2007-170943 A

  In various types of analysis and inspection, importance is attached to the quantitativeness of analysis, the accuracy of analysis, and the economy of these microchips. For this purpose, it is desired to establish a highly reliable liquid feeding system with a simple configuration.

  Many micropumps and microchips have a plurality of flow paths (channels) formed, and in order to improve the accuracy of analysis, it is desirable that the driving liquid of each channel be sent at an equal speed. It is.

  However, when a temperature difference occurs between channels due to the environment where the microchip inspection device is installed and the temperature distribution in the device, etc., the viscosity of the driving liquid will differ between the channels, and the liquid feeding speed of the driving liquid will be different. There is a problem that causes variation.

  In addition, even when the environmental temperature changes, it is desired to keep the liquid feeding speed equal each time.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to obtain a microchip inspection apparatus in which the driving liquid feeding speed is equalized between channels regardless of the installed environment and the temperature distribution in the apparatus. is there.

  The above object is solved by the following configuration.

  1. A microchip housing portion that houses a microchip in which a channel for mixing, reacting, and detecting a sample is formed, and a detected portion of the microchip housed in the microchip housing portion. A detection unit, a micropump for injecting a driving liquid into the flow path of the microchip, and a driving liquid tank for storing a driving liquid to be supplied to the micropump, the upstream of the micropump, the driving A microchip inspection apparatus comprising a temperature adjusting unit for adjusting the temperature of a liquid.

  2. 2. The microchip inspection apparatus according to 1, wherein the micropump has a plurality of flow paths.

  3. 3. The microchip inspection apparatus according to 1 or 2, wherein the temperature adjustment unit is a heater.

  4). 3. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature adjustment unit is disposed in a connection unit where a flow path from the driving liquid tank is connected to the micropump.

  5). The microchip inspection apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4, wherein the temperature adjustment unit holds the driving liquid at any temperature between 30 ° C and 50 ° C.

  6). The drive liquid tank to the micro pump can be replaced as an integral cartridge part, and the temperature adjusting part has a heater part and a heat conductor heated by the heater part, and the heater part is The microchip inspection apparatus according to any one of 1 to 5, wherein the microchip inspection apparatus is disposed outside the cartridge portion.

  Regardless of the installed environment, temperature distribution in the apparatus, and the like, it is possible to obtain a microchip inspection apparatus in which the liquid supply speed of the driving liquid is uniform between channels. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain a microchip inspection apparatus that can maintain the same liquid feeding speed every time even when the environmental temperature changes.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a microchip inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment.
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a microchip inspection apparatus main body, and the microchip 3 is detachable from the microchip insertion port 4 of the apparatus main body 1 in the direction of arrow A. Further, the pump cartridge 2 is configured to be mounted on the upper back side of the apparatus main body 1, and the apparatus main body 1 and the pump cartridge 2 are connected by the first joint portion C <b> 1 so that no liquid leaks. Further, the apparatus main body 1 has a power supply part D1 for supplying power to each part of the apparatus, and the pump cartridge 2 is a connector part electrically connected to the power supply part D1 when mounted on the apparatus main body 1. Power is supplied from the power supply unit D1 via C3.

In addition, a detection unit 40 including, for example, a light emitting unit 41, a light receiving unit 42, and the like for detecting a reaction state between the sample and the reagent in the microchip 3 is provided.
(Pump cartridge)
Next, details of the pump cartridge 2 will be described.

  The pump cartridge 2 includes a driving liquid tank 5 that contains the driving liquid, a tank mounting base 6 on which the driving liquid tank 5 is placed, and a joint part that is connected to the driving liquid tank 5 and sends the driving liquid to a subsequent process. 7. In addition, an electromagnetic valve 8 for controlling the supplied liquid, an extendable intermediate bag 9 for temporarily storing the supplied liquid, a filter unit 10 for removing impurities in the liquid, and a liquid drive for supplying driving liquid There is a pump 11 (referred to as micropump 11), and an intermediate flow path member 12 for sending drive liquid to the microchip 3. Furthermore, the base substrate 13 to which the micropump 11 is attached and the relay substrate 14 that supplies electricity supplied from the connector C3 to each part of the pump cartridge 2 are mainly configured. In the pump cartridge 2, the driving liquid is filled in advance from the driving liquid tank 5 to the intermediate flow path member 12 via the micropump 11, and replacement is performed in this state. .

  In the present embodiment, the driving liquid tank 5 is arranged above the pump cartridge 2 so that the driving liquid fed from the driving liquid tank 5 flows out by the action of gravity. Then, the drive fluid tank 5 can be replaced by opening the lid F and attaching / detaching it in the direction of arrow B. Further, the driving liquid tank 5 is placed inclined as shown in FIG. 1, so that the liquid outlet of the driving liquid tank 5 is at the lowest position.

In order to make the drive fluid tank 5 detachable, in the present embodiment, a female joint is provided on the drive fluid tank 5 side and a male joint is provided on the tank mounting base 6 side. The pair of male and female joints uses a joint that is configured such that the driving fluid does not leak when being removed. Further, if the viscosity of the driving liquid is in the range of 1 to 10 mPa · s (when the ambient temperature is 25 ° C.), an elastic member such as rubber is provided at the liquid outlet on the driving liquid tank 5 side, and the tank mounting base 6 side For example, a thin needle such as an injection needle may be provided so as to be detachable. (Reference Patent Document JP 2005-11187 A)
The electromagnetic valve 8 is disposed at a position lower than the driving liquid tank 5 and higher than the micro pump 11 in the middle of the flow path connecting the driving liquid tank 5 and the micro pump 11. Further, a liquid amount detection sensor S1 for detecting the liquid amount is provided in the vicinity of the extendable intermediate bag 9, and detects the position where the driving liquid is supplied to the intermediate bag 9 and the bag is inflated. The electromagnetic valve 8 performs ON / OFF control of the passing amount of the driving liquid fed from the tube by opening and closing the valve by the ON / OFF signal of the liquid amount detection sensor S1.

  Further, the difference Δh = (h1−h2) between the water level position h1 in the intermediate bag 9 and the position h2 of the driving liquid inlet of the microchip 3 is called hydrostatic pressure, and the mounting position of the intermediate bag 9 is set up and down. The driving liquid flowing into the microchip 3 is controlled by moving.

  In order to detect the remaining amount of the driving liquid in the driving liquid tank 5, a liquid remaining amount detecting sensor S2 is provided on the tank mounting base 6. The liquid remaining amount detection sensor S2 uses a load cell that transmits weight as signal information. The signal information from the load cell is once input to the control unit of the apparatus main body 1 and, depending on the signal, the remaining amount of liquid is displayed on the display unit of the apparatus main body 1 or a warning buzzer is sounded. The user (person in charge) is informed of the remaining amount of the driving fluid inside.

  Next, the micropump 11 will be described.

  The micropump 11 includes a pump chamber 52, a piezoelectric element 51 that changes the volume of the pump chamber 52, a first throttle channel 53 positioned on the intermediate channel member 12 side of the pump chamber 52, and a filter unit 10 side of the pump chamber 52. The second throttle channel 54 and the like are positioned, and are placed flat in the pump cartridge. The first throttle channel 53 and the second throttle channel 54 are narrow and narrow channels, and the first throttle channel 53 is longer than the second throttle channel 54.

  When the driving liquid is fed in the forward direction (the direction toward the intermediate flow path member 12), first, the piezoelectric element 51 is driven so as to rapidly reduce the volume of the pump chamber 52. Then, a turbulent flow is generated in the second throttle channel 54 that is a short throttle channel, and the channel resistance in the second throttle channel 54 is relatively larger than that of the first throttle channel 53 that is a throttle channel. growing. As a result, the driving liquid 11 in the pump chamber 52 is predominantly pushed toward the first throttle channel 53 and fed. Next, the piezoelectric element 51 is driven so that the volume of the pump chamber 52 is gradually increased. Then, the driving fluid flows from the first throttle channel 53 and the second throttle channel 54 as the volume in the pump chamber 52 increases. At this time, since the length of the second throttle channel 54 is shorter than that of the first throttle channel 53, the channel resistance of the second throttle channel 54 is smaller than that of the first throttle channel 53. Thus, the driving liquid flows into the pump chamber 52 predominantly from the second throttle channel 54. When the piezoelectric element 51 repeats the above operation, the driving liquid is fed in the forward direction.

  On the other hand, when the driving liquid is fed in the reverse direction (the direction toward the filter unit 10), first, the piezoelectric element 51 is driven so that the volume of the pump chamber 52 is gradually reduced. Then, since the length of the second throttle channel 54 is shorter than that of the first throttle channel 53, the channel resistance of the second throttle channel 54 is smaller than that of the first throttle channel 53. . As a result, the driving liquid in the pump chamber 52 is predominantly pushed out toward the second throttle channel 54 and fed. Next, the piezoelectric element 51 is driven so as to rapidly increase the volume of the pump chamber 52. Then, the driving fluid flows from the first throttle channel 53 and the second throttle channel 54 as the volume in the pump chamber 52 increases. At this time, turbulent flow is generated in the second throttle channel 54, which is a short throttle channel, and the channel resistance in the second throttle channel 54 is relatively larger than that of the first throttle channel 53, which is a throttle channel. Become bigger. As a result, the driving fluid flows into the pump chamber 52 predominantly from the first throttle channel 53. When the piezoelectric element 51 repeats the above operation, the driving liquid is fed in the reverse direction.

  A temperature adjustment unit 61 is disposed at the connection part 60 between the micropump 11 and the tube T1 upstream of the micropump 11.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the configuration of the microchip inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment as viewed from above. A lid and the like are omitted for easy understanding of the contents.

  The microchip 3 has different flow path patterns depending on the types and the number of reagents and test solutions, but the openings 120 for taking in the driving liquid are provided at a constant pitch p1. On the other hand, the micropump 11 has a plurality of channels formed at intervals of the pitch p2. At this time, the pitch p2 does not necessarily coincide with the pitch p1. Therefore, the intermediate flow path member 12 is provided to adjust the pitch.

  The first joint portion C1 between the intermediate flow path member 12 and the microchip 3 and the second joint portion C2 between the micropump 11 and the intermediate flow path member 12 ensure necessary sealing properties and prevent leakage of the driving liquid. Therefore, it is preferable that the adhesion surface is formed of a resin having flexibility (elasticity, shape followability) such as polytetrafluoroethylene or silicone resin. The close contact surface having such flexibility may be, for example, due to the constituent substrate itself of the microchip, and is attached around the flow path openings in the first and second joint portions C1 and C2. A separate member having flexibility may be used.

  Further, 31 is a chip pressing plate for bringing the microchip 3 into close contact with the first joint portion C1 so as not to be displaced, and 32 is a pressing plate driving unit for moving the chip pressing plate 31 up and down. G1 is a regulating member that positions the microchip 3 with respect to the intermediate flow path member 12 with high accuracy.

  Similarly, in order for the intermediate flow path member 12 to be in close contact with the micropump 11 at the second joint portion C2, a member pressing plate 33 that presses the intermediate flow path member 12 and a member pressing plate drive section 34 that moves the member pressing plate 33 up and down. It has. Further, a restriction member G2 for accurately positioning the intermediate flow path member 12 with respect to the micropump 11 is provided.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the connecting portion 60 between the micropump 11 and the tube T1.

  As indicated by the arrows in the figure, the driving liquid passes through the filter unit 10 from the tube T1 and is sent to the micropump 11. 62 is an O-ring, which is a packing for preventing liquid leakage.

  As shown in the figure, the temperature adjustment unit 61 is disposed at a site where the micropump 11 and the tube T1 are connected. In this way, by arranging the temperature adjusting unit 61 at the connection part 60 between the micropump 11 and the tube T1, the temperature of the driving liquid is increased and held constant immediately before the liquid is fed into the micropump 11. The viscosity of the liquid can be reduced uniformly. As a result, a uniform and low-viscosity driving liquid can be fed to each channel in the micropump 11, and the liquid feeding speed of the driving liquid is made uniform between the channels, so that the liquid can be fed stably. An inspection device can be obtained. Further, by adjusting the temperature of the driving liquid immediately before the micropump 11, the temperature variation of the driving liquid in the micropump 11 can be minimized.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the driving liquid used in the microchip inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment is a liquid (for example, water) having a higher viscosity at a lower liquid temperature. Any heater may be used as long as it has a heater function capable of being raised to a temperature higher than the ambient environmental temperature. When the driving liquid is water, the temperature adjustment range is preferably maintained at any temperature between 30 ° C. and 50 ° C., and may be within ± 2 ° C. with respect to the set temperature.

  On the contrary, in the case of a liquid having a higher viscosity at a higher liquid temperature, the temperature adjusting unit 61 may have a cooling function capable of being cooled and held at a temperature lower than the ambient environmental temperature.

  In addition, as a temperature sensor for performing temperature adjustment, it is preferable to detect temperature using a thermistor or the like.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the microchip inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment. The microchip inspection apparatus shown in the figure also adjusts the temperature of the driving liquid immediately before being fed into the micropump 11, but differs from the one shown in FIG. 1 in the following parts.

  The temperature adjustment unit 61 of the microchip inspection apparatus 1 shown in the figure includes a heating unit 65 and a heat conductor 66. The heat conductor 66 heated by the heating unit 65 is extended into the pump cartridge 2, and the tip thereof is in contact with a portion where the micropump 11 and the tube T <b> 1 are connected. Even with such a configuration, it is possible to increase the temperature of the driving liquid immediately before being fed into the micropump 11.

  Thus, by disposing the heating unit 65 outside the pump cartridge 2, it becomes easy to supply power to the heating unit 65, and the temperature adjustment unit 61 can be removed in advance when the pump cartridge 2 is replaced. In this case, it can be used again, and an increase in cost can be prevented.

  As described above, by arranging the temperature adjustment unit that adjusts the temperature of the driving fluid upstream from the micropump, the liquid feeding speed of the driving fluid can be adjusted regardless of the installed environment and the temperature distribution in the device. It is possible to obtain a microchip inspection apparatus that is uniform between the two.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the microchip test | inspection apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is the block diagram which looked at the structure of the microchip test | inspection apparatus of this Embodiment from the top. It is an expanded sectional schematic diagram of the connection part of a micropump and a tube. It is a graph which shows the characteristic of the drive liquid used for the microchip test | inspection apparatus of this Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the microchip test | inspection apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Microchip test | inspection apparatus 2 Pump cartridge 3 Microchip 4 Microchip insertion port 5 Drive liquid tank 6 Tank mounting stand 7 Joint part 8 Electromagnetic valve 9 Intermediate bag 10 Filter part 11 Micropump 12 Intermediate flow path member 13 Base base material 14 Relay Substrate 60 Connection portion 61 Temperature adjustment portion 62 O-ring 65 Heating portion 66 Thermal conductor C1 First joint portion C2 Second joint portion C3 Connector portion D1 Power supply portion T1 tube

Claims (6)

A microchip housing part that houses a microchip in which a channel for mixing, reacting, and detecting a sample is formed, and a detection provided corresponding to the detected part of the microchip housed in the microchip housing part A micropump for injecting the driving liquid into the flow path of the microchip, and a driving liquid tank for storing the driving liquid supplied to the micropump,
A microchip inspection apparatus, wherein a temperature adjustment unit for adjusting the temperature of the driving liquid is disposed upstream of the micropump. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the micropump has a plurality of flow paths. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature adjustment unit is a heater. 3. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature adjusting unit is disposed in a connection unit where a flow path from the driving liquid tank is connected to the micropump. 4. 5. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature adjusting unit holds the driving liquid at any temperature between 30 ° C. and 50 ° C. 6. The drive liquid tank to the micro pump can be replaced as an integral cartridge part, and the temperature adjusting part has a heater part and a heat conductor heated by the heater part, and the heater part is The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microchip inspection apparatus is disposed outside the cartridge portion.

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