JP5899624B2 - Reaction vessel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a reaction vessel.

  In recent years, the existence of genes involved in various diseases has been clarified, and gene-based medical care such as gene diagnosis and gene therapy has attracted attention. In addition, in the field of agriculture and livestock, methods using genes for variety discrimination and breed improvement Have been developed, and gene utilization technology is expanding. Nucleic acid amplification techniques are widely used to utilize genes. As this technique, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) is generally known. Today, PCR has become an indispensable technique for elucidating information on biological materials.

  In PCR, a reagent containing an enzyme such as DNA polymerase is used to amplify a target nucleic acid, but long-term storage at room temperature is difficult while maintaining the activity of the enzyme contained in the reagent. As a technique for solving this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses an idea of freeze-drying (freeze-drying) a reagent containing an enzyme.

Special table 2008-500831 gazette

  In order to mix and react the freeze-dried reagent with the test liquid (liquid containing the sample), the liquid level of the test liquid needs to touch all the reagents in the reaction container. Therefore, it is difficult to react with the reagent with a small amount of the test solution.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and according to some aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a reaction vessel capable of reacting with a reagent with a trace amount of a test solution.

(1) A reaction container according to the present embodiment includes a reagent, a liquid immiscible with the reagent, a container containing the reagent, and a liquid immiscible with the reagent, When present in a frozen state in a liquid immiscible with the reagent and when the reagent is thawed, it exists as a droplet in the liquid immiscible with the reagent.

  Here, the droplet is a liquid surrounded by a free surface.

  According to this embodiment, when the reagent is melted, it exists as a droplet in a liquid that is immiscible with the reagent, so that it can move within the container without adhering to the wall surface of the container. Thereby, when a test liquid is dripped at a container, possibility that a reagent and a test liquid will contact and mix will increase. Further, when the reagent is melted, the reagent is a liquid, and therefore, when the test solution is dropped into the container, it can be easily mixed with a small amount of the test solution. Therefore, it can react with a reagent with a very small amount of test liquid.

  In addition, in the case of a reagent containing a component (for example, an enzyme) that easily loses its characteristics at room temperature, the reagent characteristics can be maintained for a long time because the reagent exists in a frozen state.

(2) A reaction container according to this embodiment includes a reagent, a liquid immiscible with the reagent, a container containing the reagent and a liquid immiscible with the reagent, It exists as a droplet in a liquid that is immiscible with the reagent.

  According to this embodiment, since the reagent exists as a droplet in a liquid that is immiscible with the reagent, the reagent can move in the container without adhering to the wall surface of the container. Thereby, when a test liquid is dripped at a container, possibility that a reagent and a test liquid will contact and mix will increase. Moreover, since the reagent is a liquid, it can be easily mixed with a small amount of the test liquid when the test liquid is dropped into the container. Therefore, it can react with a reagent with a very small amount of test liquid.

(3) In this reaction vessel, the inner wall of the vessel may have water repellency.

  Thereby, when the reagent is a reagent using water as a medium in particular, the reagent can be prevented from adhering to the wall surface of the container, so that the reagent can move in the container. Thereby, when a test liquid is dripped at a container, possibility that a reagent and a test liquid will contact and mix will increase. Therefore, it can react with a reagent with a very small amount of test liquid.

(4) In this reaction container, the amount of the reagent may be 1 pl or more and 10 μl or less.

  When the amount of the reagent is 1 pl or more and 10 μl or less, the reagent can be easily present as a droplet.

(5) In this reaction vessel, the reagent may exist in a refrigerated state.

  The refrigerated state is a state of 10 ° C. or lower, which is a refrigerated temperature based on the “Act on Standardization of Agricultural and Forestry Supplies and Optimization of Quality Display (JAS Law)”.

  In the case of a reagent containing a component (for example, an enzyme) that easily loses properties at room temperature, the properties of the reagent can be maintained for a long time because the reagent exists in a refrigerated state.

FIG. 1A schematically shows a cross-sectional structure of the reaction vessel 1 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1B schematically shows a cross-sectional structure of the reaction vessel 1a according to the second embodiment. Figure represented. FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C are schematic diagrams for explaining an example of use of the reaction container according to this embodiment. FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the lid 1050 of the thermal cycle apparatus 1000 is closed, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the lid 1050 of the thermal cycle apparatus 1000 is opened. The exploded perspective view of the main body 1010 of the heat cycle apparatus 1000. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis R through the line AA in FIG. 3A in the first arrangement, and FIG. Sectional drawing which shows typically the cross section in the surface perpendicular to the rotating shaft R through the AA line | wire of FIG.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below do not unduly limit the contents of the present invention described in the claims. Also, not all of the configurations described below are essential constituent requirements of the present invention.

1. Reaction Container According to First Embodiment FIG. 1A is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional structure of the reaction container 1 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1A, an arrow g represents a direction in which gravity acts.

  The reaction container 1 according to the first embodiment includes a reagent 10, a liquid 20 that is immiscible with the reagent 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as “liquid 20”), a container 30 that contains the reagent 10 and the liquid 20, and The reagent 10 exists as a droplet in the liquid 20.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the container 30 includes a container body 32 and a lid 34. The container body 32 is provided with a reaction chamber 320 that stores the reagent 10 and the liquid 20.

  The outer shape of the container 30 can have any shape. The size and shape of the container 30 are not particularly limited. However, depending on the application, for example, in consideration of at least one of the amount of the liquid 20 accommodated, the thermal conductivity, the shape of the reaction chamber 320, and the ease of handling. It may be selected.

  The material of the container 30 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include inorganic materials (for example, Pyrex glass (Pyrex is a registered trademark)) and organic materials (for example, resins such as polycarbonate and polypropylene). May be. When the reaction container 1 is used as a PCR reaction container (reaction chip), for example, for use with fluorescence measurement, the container 30 is preferably formed of a material with low spontaneous fluorescence. Examples of such a material having a small spontaneous fluorescence include polycarbonate and polypropylene. When the reaction vessel 1 is used as a PCR reaction vessel, the reaction vessel 1 is preferably made of a material that can withstand heating in PCR.

  Further, the material of the reaction vessel 1 includes carbon black, graphite, titanium black, aniline black, Ru, Mn, Ni, Cr, Fe, Co or Cu oxide, Si, Ti, Ta, Zr or Cr. Black substances such as carbides can be blended. By blending such a black substance into the material of the reaction vessel 1, the spontaneous fluorescence of the resin or the like can be further suppressed. In addition, when the reaction vessel 1 is used from the outside of the reaction vessel 1 to the inside of the reaction chamber 320 (for example, real-time PCR), the material of the reaction vessel 1 is made transparent if necessary. Can be. The degree of “transparency” here may be a degree suitable for the intended use of the container. For example, it is sufficient that the inside can be visually recognized in the case of visual observation. In the case of fluorescence measurement in real-time PCR or the like, it is sufficient that the fluorescence of the reaction solution can be optically measured from the outside of the container. When the reaction vessel 1 is used as a PCR reaction chip, the material of the reaction vessel 1 is preferably a material that has little nucleic acid or protein adsorption and does not inhibit an enzyme reaction such as polymerase.

  The container body 32 is provided with a reaction chamber 320 that is a cavity formed inside the container body 32. In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the reaction chamber 320 is configured to communicate with the external space of the container 30. The shape of the reaction chamber 320 is not particularly limited. The shape of the reaction chamber 320 can be, for example, an elongated shape as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the reaction chamber 320 is configured in a cylindrical shape whose longitudinal direction is the direction along the central axis of the container body 32.

  The reaction chamber 320 is close to the opposing inner wall, and is a reaction liquid 80 (mixed liquid of the reagent 10 and the test liquid 70 (liquid containing the sample); see “3. Example of use of reaction container according to this embodiment” for details) 2 ”, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C). Here, the “facing inner walls” of the reaction chamber 320 mean two regions of the wall surface of the reaction chamber 320 that are in a positional relationship facing each other. “Proximity” means that the distance between the reaction solution 80 and the wall surface of the reaction chamber 320 is short, and includes the case where the reaction solution 80 contacts the wall surface of the reaction chamber 320. Therefore, “the reaction solution 80 moves close to the opposing inner wall” means “the reaction solution 80 is in a state where the distance is close to both of the two regions on the wall surface of the reaction chamber 320 that face each other. Means that the reaction liquid 80 moves along the opposing inner walls. In other words, the distance between the two inner walls facing each other in the reaction chamber 320 is such a distance that the reaction solution 80 moves close to the inner wall.

  When the reaction chamber 320 has such a shape, the direction in which the reaction solution 80 moves in the reaction chamber 320 can be regulated, so that the route through which the reaction solution 80 moves in the reaction chamber 320 can be defined to some extent. Thereby, the time required for the reaction solution 80 to move in the reaction chamber 320 can be limited to a certain range. For example, the temperature of the reaction vessel 1 is controlled so that regions having different temperatures are provided in the reaction chamber 320 using the thermal cycle apparatus 1000 described later in “3. Example of use of reaction vessel according to this embodiment”. In this case, it is preferable that the degree of “adjacent” is small enough that the variation in the heat cycle condition applied to the reaction solution 80 can satisfy the desired accuracy. That is, it is preferable that the variation in the result of the reaction caused by the variation in the time during which the reaction solution 80 moves through the reaction chamber 320 is small, that is, the result of the reaction can satisfy the desired accuracy. More specifically, it is desirable that the distance in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the reaction solution 80 moves between the inner walls facing each other is such that two or more droplets of the reaction solution 80 do not enter.

  In addition, when the reaction chamber 320 has an elongated shape, the ratio of the surface area of the reaction chamber 320 to the volume of the reaction chamber 320 increases. For example, when the reaction chamber 320 is filled with the liquid 20, As a result, the temperature of the liquid 20 can be easily adjusted.

  The lid 34 is configured to be attachable to the container body 32 so that the contents of the reaction chamber 320 (for example, the reagent 10, the liquid 20, the test liquid 70, etc.) do not leak from the container 30. The lid 34 is attached so as to cover the opening communicating with the reaction chamber 320 of the container body 32. In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the lid 34 is configured as a stopper fitted into the container body 32. For example, the lid 34 may have a screw cap structure and may be attached to the container body 32 by being screwed to the container body 32. The lid 34 is configured to be removable from the container body 32.

  The reagent 10 is accommodated in the reaction chamber 320 of the container 30. The reagent 10 is a liquid at normal temperature. As the reagent 10, for example, a reagent containing an enzyme or a chemical necessary for a desired reaction using water as a medium can be used. The reagent 10 may include a necessary amount of all chemicals necessary for the reaction, or may include some types or amounts of a plurality of types of chemicals. When the reagent 10 contains a part of the chemical, the reaction to be performed can be selected or adjusted by selecting the remaining reagents. When all the chemicals are included, the reaction can be performed by adding the test solution 70, and therefore the reaction can be performed more easily. When the reaction container 1 is used for PCR, the reagent 10 may include at least one of an enzyme and a primer for amplifying the target nucleic acid and a fluorescent probe for detecting the amplification product. Thus, if the test solution 70 is dispensed into the reaction container 1, the test solution 70 can be mixed with at least one of the primer, enzyme, and fluorescent probe (reagent 10). It can be performed. In the present embodiment, the reagent 10 includes all of a primer, an enzyme, and a fluorescent probe. Thereby, if the test solution 70 is dispensed into the reaction container 1, the test solution 70 and all of the primer, enzyme, and fluorescent probe (reagent 10) can be mixed, and thus PCR is performed more easily. be able to.

  The liquid 20 is accommodated in the reaction chamber 320 of the container 30. The liquid 20 is a liquid that is immiscible with the reagent 10. By using the liquid 20 that is immiscible with the reagent 10, the reagent 10 can be in a droplet state. As the liquid 20, for example, dimethyl silicone oil or paraffin oil can be used. The liquid 20 may be a liquid having a specific gravity different from that of the reagent 10. In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the liquid 20 is a liquid having a specific gravity smaller than that of the reagent 10. Thereby, the position of the reagent 10 in the container 30 can be controlled downward in the direction in which gravity acts. When the liquid 20 is a liquid having a specific gravity greater than that of the reagent 10, the position of the reagent 10 in the container 30 can be controlled upward in the direction in which gravity acts.

  The reagent 10 exists as a droplet in the liquid 20. A droplet is a liquid surrounded by a free surface. That is, the reagent 10 does not adhere to the container 30 due to the surface tension of the reagent 10.

  According to this embodiment, since the reagent 10 exists as a droplet in the liquid 20 that is immiscible with the reagent 10, the reagent 10 does not adhere to the inner wall surface of the reaction chamber 320 of the container 30, and thus the reaction chamber 320 of the container 30. You can move in. Thereby, when the test liquid 70 is dropped into the container 30, the possibility that the reagent 10 and the test liquid 70 come into contact with each other and is mixed is increased. Moreover, since the reagent 10 is a liquid, when the test liquid 70 is dropped into the container 30, it can be easily mixed with a small amount of the test liquid 70. Therefore, it can react with a reagent with a very small amount of test liquid. In order to more reliably mix the reagent 10 and the test solution 70, the liquid 20 is preferably not miscible with the test solution 70. When the specific gravity of the liquid 20 is smaller than the specific gravity of the reagent 10, It is more preferable that the liquid 20 has a smaller specific gravity than the test liquid 70.

  In the present embodiment, the inner wall of the container 30 may have water repellency. In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the inner wall of the reaction chamber 320 of the container 30 and the lid 34 have water repellency. An example of a material having water repellency is polypropylene. In the present embodiment, the container 30 is made of polypropylene.

  Since the inner wall of the container 30 has water repellency, the reagent 10 can be prevented from adhering to the wall surface of the container, particularly when the reagent 10 is a reagent using water as a medium. 30 reaction chambers 320 can be moved. Thereby, when the test liquid 70 is dropped into the container 30, the possibility that the reagent 10 and the test liquid 70 come into contact with each other and is mixed is increased. Therefore, it can react with a reagent with a very small amount of test liquid.

  In the present embodiment, the amount of the reagent 10 may be 1 pl or more and 10 μl or less. When the amount of the reagent 10 is 1 pl or more and 10 μl or less, the reagent 10 can easily exist as a droplet.

  In the present embodiment, the reagent 10 may exist in a refrigerated state. The refrigerated state is a state of 10 ° C. or lower, which is a refrigerated temperature based on the “Act on Standardization of Agricultural and Forestry Supplies and Optimization of Quality Display (JAS Law)”.

  When the reagent 10 is a reagent containing a component (for example, an enzyme) that easily loses characteristics at room temperature, the characteristics of the reagent 10 can be maintained for a long time because the reagent 10 exists in a refrigerated state.

2. Reaction Container According to Second Embodiment FIG. 1B is a diagram schematically showing a cross-sectional structure of a reaction container 1a according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 1B, an arrow g represents a direction in which gravity acts. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as the reaction container 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The reaction container 1a according to the second embodiment includes a reagent 10a, a liquid 20 immiscible with the reagent 10a, a reagent 10a, and a container 30 containing a liquid 20 immiscible with the reagent 10a. 10a exists in a frozen state in the liquid 20 immiscible with the reagent 10a, and when the reagent 10a is melted, it exists as a droplet in the liquid 20 immiscible with the reagent 10a. That is, in the reaction container 1a according to the second embodiment, when the reagent 10a is melted, the configuration is the same as that of the reaction container 1 according to the first embodiment.

  According to this embodiment, when the reagent 10a is melted, it exists as a droplet in the liquid 20 that is immiscible with the reagent 10a, so that it does not adhere to the inner wall surface of the reaction chamber 320 of the container 30. The inside of the reaction chamber 320 of the container 30 can be moved. Thereby, when the test liquid 70 is dripped at the container 30, the possibility that the reagent 10a and the test liquid 70 come into contact and mix with each other increases. Further, when the reagent 10a is melted, the reagent 10a is a liquid, and therefore when the test solution 70 is dropped into the container 30, it can be easily mixed with a small amount of the test solution 70. Therefore, it can react with the reagent 10a with a very small amount of the test solution.

  In addition, when the reagent 10a is a reagent containing a component (for example, an enzyme) that easily loses characteristics at room temperature, the characteristics of the reagent 10a can be maintained for a long time because the reagent 10a exists in a frozen state.

  In the present embodiment, the inner wall of the container 30 may have water repellency. In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the inner wall of the reaction chamber 320 of the container 30 and the lid 34 have water repellency. As such a configuration, for example, the material of the container 30 may have water repellency, or the inner wall of the container 30 may be subjected to a surface treatment having water repellency. An example of a material having water repellency is polypropylene. In the present embodiment, the container 30 is made of polypropylene.

  Since the inner wall of the container 30 has water repellency, the reagent 10 can be prevented from adhering to the wall surface of the container, particularly when the reagent 10 is a reagent using water as a medium. 30 reaction chambers 320 can be moved. Thereby, when the test liquid 70 is dropped into the container 30, the possibility that the reagent 10 and the test liquid 70 come into contact with each other and is mixed is increased. Therefore, it can react with a reagent with a very small amount of test liquid.

  In the present embodiment, the amount of the reagent 10 may be 1 pl or more and 10 μl or less. When the amount of the reagent 10 is 1 pl or more and 10 μl or less, the reagent 10 can easily exist as a droplet.

3. Example of Use of Reaction Container According to this Embodiment Next, an example of use of the reaction container according to this embodiment will be described. In the following, a case where the reaction vessel 1 according to the first embodiment is used, the reagent 10 and the test solution 70 are mixed in the vessel 30 and the thermal cycle is performed by the thermal cycle device will be described as an example. Further, the case where the liquid 20 is a liquid having a specific gravity smaller than both the reagent 10 and the test solution 70 will be described as an example. The reaction vessel 1a according to the second embodiment can be used in the same manner.

  FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C are schematic views for explaining an example of use of the reaction container according to this embodiment. In FIGS. 2A to 2C, an arrow g represents a direction in which gravity acts. 2A to 2C show a state where the lid 34 of the reaction vessel 1 is removed.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the test liquid 70 is sucked up and held by a micropipette 60 from a container (not shown). Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), the tip of the micropipette 60 is placed in the container body 32 and the test liquid 70 is dropped. Then, as shown in FIG. 2C, the test liquid 70 comes into contact with the reagent 10 existing below the reaction chamber 320 due to the action of gravity, and the test liquid 70 and the reagent 10 are mixed to form a liquid. The reaction liquid 80 having a specific gravity greater than 20 is obtained. Since the reaction solution 80 is also preferably present as a droplet in the liquid 20, the amount of the test solution 70 should be such that the volume of the reaction solution 80 that can be mixed with the reagent 10 is about 1 pl to about 10 μl. Is preferred. The amounts of the reagent 10 and the test solution 70 can be determined in consideration of the target reaction, the size of the container 30, and the like. After the micropipette 60 is pulled up from the container body 32, the lid 34 is attached to the container body 32, and the preparation as a reaction container is completed.

  Next, an example of a heat cycle apparatus will be described. The thermal cycle apparatus of the present embodiment includes a reaction liquid contained in a droplet state in a reaction container filled with a liquid that is not miscible with the reaction liquid and has a specific gravity different from that of the reaction liquid, and a certain temperature region in the reaction container. This is a device that realizes a thermal cycle by reciprocating with other temperature regions having different temperatures.

  FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the lid 1050 of the thermal cycle apparatus 1000 is closed, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the lid 1050 of the thermal cycle apparatus 1000 is opened. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the main body 1010 of the heat cycle apparatus 1000. 5A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis R through the line AA in FIG. 3A in the first arrangement, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section in a plane that passes through the line AA in FIG. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the white arrow indicates the rotation direction of the main body 1010, and the arrow g indicates the direction in which gravity acts.

  The thermal cycle apparatus 1000 shown in FIGS. 3 (A), 3 (B), and 4 includes a mounting part 1011 for mounting the reaction container 1, and the reaction container 1 when the reaction container 1 is mounted on the mounting part 1011. , A temperature gradient forming unit 1030 that forms a temperature gradient in the direction in which the reaction solution 80 moves with respect to the reaction chamber 320 (the longitudinal direction of the reaction chamber 320 in this embodiment), a mounting unit 1011, and a temperature gradient forming unit. And a drive mechanism 1020 that rotates 1030 on the same rotation axis R that is an axis in a direction having a horizontal component.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the heat cycle apparatus 1000 includes a main body 1010 and a drive mechanism 1020. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 1010 includes a mounting portion 1011 and a temperature gradient forming portion 1030.

  The mounting unit 1011 has a structure for mounting the reaction container 1. In the example shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, the mounting portion 1011 of the heat cycle apparatus 1000 has a slot structure in which the reaction vessel 1 is inserted and mounted. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the mounting unit 1011 has a reaction container in a hole that passes through the first heat block 1012 b of the first heating unit 1012, the spacer 1014, and the second heat block 1013 b of the second heating unit 1013 described later. 1 is inserted. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, 20 mounting portions 1011 are provided in the main body 1010.

  The temperature gradient forming unit 1030 forms a temperature gradient in the direction in which the reaction solution 80 moves with respect to the reaction chamber 320 of the reaction vessel 1 when the reaction vessel 1 is attached to the attachment unit 1011. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the temperature gradient forming unit 1030 includes a first heating unit 1012 and a second heating unit 1013. A spacer 1014 is provided between the first heating unit 1012 and the second heating unit 1013. In the main body 1010 of the heat cycle apparatus 1000, the first heating unit 1012, the second heating unit 1013, and the spacer 1014 are fixed around the periphery by a flange 1016, a bottom plate 1017, and a fixed plate 1019.

  The first heating unit 1012 heats the first region 1111 of the reaction vessel 1 to the first temperature when the reaction vessel 1 is attached to the attachment unit 1011. In the example shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first heating unit 1012 is disposed in the main body 1010 at a position where the first region 1111 of the reaction vessel 1 is heated.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the first heating unit 1012 includes a first heater 1012 a as a mechanism for generating heat and a first heat block 1012 b as a member for transmitting the generated heat to the reaction vessel 1. ing. In the heat cycle apparatus 1000, the first heater 1012a is a cartridge heater, and is connected to an external power source (not shown) by a conducting wire 1015.

  When the reaction vessel 1 is attached to the attachment unit 1011, the second heating unit 1013 heats the second region 1112 of the reaction vessel 1 to a second temperature different from the first temperature. In the example shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the second heating unit 1013 is disposed in the main body 1010 at a position where the second region 1112 of the reaction vessel 1 is heated. The second heating unit 1013 includes a second heater 1013a and a second heat block 1013b. The configuration of the second heating unit 1013 is the same as that of the first heating unit 1012 except that the region of the reaction container 1 to be heated and the heating temperature are different from those of the first heating unit 1012.

  The temperature of the 1st heating part 1012 and the 2nd heating part 1013 may be controlled by the temperature sensor which is not illustrated, and the control part mentioned below.

  The drive mechanism 1020 is a mechanism that rotates the mounting unit 1011 and the temperature gradient forming unit 1030 on the same rotation axis R that is an axis in a direction having a horizontal component. “Direction having a horizontal component” is expressed as a vector sum of a vertical component (component parallel to the direction in which gravity acts) and a horizontal component (component perpendicular to the direction in which gravity acts) A direction having a horizontal component. In the present embodiment, the drive mechanism 1020 includes a motor and a drive shaft (not shown), and is configured by connecting the drive shaft and a flange 1016 of the main body 1010. When the motor of the drive mechanism 1020 is operated, the main body 1010 is rotated with the drive shaft as the rotation axis R.

  The heat cycle apparatus 1000 may include a control unit (not shown). The control unit controls at least one of the drive mechanism 1020 and the temperature gradient forming unit 1030. The control unit may be configured to perform control described later by being realized by a dedicated circuit. The control unit functions as a computer by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a control program stored in a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory). You may be comprised so that control may be performed.

  The heat cycle apparatus 1000 includes a lid 1050. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A, 5A, and 5B, the lid 1050 is provided so as to cover the mounting portion 1011.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in the first arrangement, the end of the reaction chamber 320 of the reaction vessel 1 that is far from the lid 34 is the lowest point in the direction in which gravity acts. It is. That is, the first arrangement is an arrangement in which the first region 1111 of the reaction container 1 is positioned at the lowermost part of the reaction chamber 320 in the direction in which gravity acts when the reaction container 1 is attached to the attachment part 1011. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the reaction liquid 80 having a specific gravity greater than that of the liquid 20 is present in the first region 1111 in the first arrangement. Accordingly, the reaction liquid 80 is placed under the first temperature.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the second arrangement is an arrangement in which the end of the reaction chamber 320 of the reaction vessel 1 that is relatively close to the lid 34 is the lowest point in the direction in which gravity acts. It is. That is, in the second arrangement, when the reaction vessel 1 is attached to the attachment portion 1011, the second region 1112 of the reaction vessel 1 is positioned at the lowermost part of the reaction chamber 320 in the direction in which gravity acts. In the example shown in FIG. 5B, the reaction liquid 80 having a specific gravity greater than that of the liquid 20 exists in the second region 1112 in the second arrangement. Accordingly, the reaction liquid 80 is placed under the second temperature.

  Thus, the drive mechanism 1020 rotates the mounting unit 1011 and the temperature gradient forming unit 1030 between the first arrangement and the second arrangement different from the first arrangement, thereby causing the reaction solution 80 to move. On the other hand, a thermal cycle can be applied.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above and a modification are examples, Comprising: It is not necessarily limited to these. For example, a plurality of embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, the present invention includes substantially the same configuration (for example, a configuration having the same function, method and result, or a configuration having the same purpose and effect) as the configuration described in the embodiment. In addition, the invention includes a configuration in which a non-essential part of the configuration described in the embodiment is replaced. In addition, the present invention includes a configuration that exhibits the same operational effects as the configuration described in the embodiment or a configuration that can achieve the same object. In addition, the invention includes a configuration in which a known technique is added to the configuration described in the embodiment.

1,1a reaction vessel, 10,10a reagent, 20 liquid, 30 vessel, 32 vessel body, 34 lid, 60 micropipette, 70 test solution, 80 reaction solution, 320 reaction chamber, 1000 heat cycle device, 1010 body, 1011 Mounting unit, 1011a first mounting unit, 1011b second mounting unit, 1012 first heating unit, 1012a first heater, 1012b first heat block, 1013 second heating unit, 1013a second heater, 1013b second heat block 1014 Spacer, 1015 Conductor, 1016 Flange, 1017 Bottom plate, 1019 Fixed plate, 1020 Drive mechanism, 1021 Bearing, 1030 Temperature gradient forming part, 1050 Lid, 1111 First region, 1112 Second region, R Rotating shaft

Claims (4)

Reagents,
A liquid immiscible with the reagent;
In a cylindrical reaction chamber having a longitudinal direction and having the longitudinal direction as a height direction, a container containing the reagent and the liquid;
Including
The reagent is present in a frozen state in the liquid, and when the reagent is thawed,
Present as droplets in the liquid,
The droplets in proximity to the opposite inner walls of said container in said liquid in said reaction chamber, Ri movable der in the longitudinal direction,
The inner wall is a reaction container having water repellency . Reagents,
A liquid immiscible with the reagent;
In a cylindrical reaction chamber having a longitudinal direction and having the longitudinal direction as a height direction, a container containing the reagent and the liquid;
Including
The reagent is present as a droplet in the liquid,
The droplets in proximity to the opposite inner walls of said container in said liquid in said reaction chamber, Ri movable der in the longitudinal direction,
The inner wall is a reaction container having water repellency . In the reaction container according to claim 1 or claim 2 ,
The amount of the reagent is 1 pl or more and 10 μm or less. In the reaction container according to claim 2 or claim 3 ,
A reaction vessel in which the reagent is present in a refrigerated state.

Images