JPWO2009060695A1 - Microchip inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to obtain a microchip inspection apparatus that solves the problem of liquid feeding caused by bubbles in the pump, a microchip housing section, a detection section provided corresponding to the detected section of the microchip, A micropump for injecting the driving liquid into the flow path and a driving liquid tank for storing the driving liquid to be supplied to the micropump, and a part of the flow path of the driving liquid upstream from the micropump has a gas absorption function The microchip inspection apparatus is made of a material having the same.

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 called μ-TAS (Micro Total Analysis System), and a reagent and a sample (for example, a DNA extraction solution obtained by processing urine, saliva, blood, etc. of a subject under examination) on a member called a microchip. 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 pushed out, 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.

  However, if bubbles are generated in the pump that feeds the driving liquid to the microchannel of the microchip, there is a problem that the micropump cannot perform accurate liquid feeding.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to obtain a microchip inspection apparatus that solves the problem of liquid feeding caused by bubbles in a pump.

  The above object is solved by the following configuration.

  1. 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 And 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, and the flow of the driving liquid upstream of the micropump. A microchip inspection apparatus, wherein a part of the path is formed of a material having a gas absorption function.

  2. The gas that is absorbed by the material having the gas absorbing function is oxygen. The microchip inspection apparatus according to 1.

  3. The material having the gas absorbing function is an iron-based oxygen absorbing material. Or 2. The microchip inspection apparatus according to 1.

  4). 2. A heating means for heating the oxygen absorbing material. The microchip inspection apparatus according to 1.

  5. The driving liquid tank is formed using a material having the gas absorption function. To 4. The microchip test | inspection apparatus in any one of.

  6). An intermediate bag is provided between the micro pump and the driving liquid tank, and the intermediate bag is formed using a material having the gas absorption function. To 4. The microchip test | inspection apparatus in any one of.

  7. 4. The material having a gas absorbing function is a film having at least an aluminum layer, an oxygen absorbing layer, and a sealant layer. Or 6. The microchip inspection apparatus according to 1.

  8). 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 And 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, and an oxygen absorbent addition unit upstream of the micropump A microchip inspection apparatus characterized by comprising:

  9. 8. The oxygen absorbent added by the oxygen absorbent addition section is sodium sulfite. The microchip inspection apparatus according to 1.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, generation | occurrence | production of the bubble in a pump can be suppressed and the microchip test | inspection apparatus which eliminated the malfunction of the liquid feeding resulting from a bubble can be obtained.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the microchip test | inspection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which shows an example of the layer structure of the film which uses an iron powder type | system | group oxygen absorber. It is sectional drawing of the microchip test | inspection apparatus which has a heating part which heats the drive fluid tank formed with the container using an iron powder type | system | group oxygen absorber, and an intermediate bag. It is sectional drawing which shows the microchip test | inspection apparatus which concerns on 2nd 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 Oxygen absorbent addition portion C1 First joint portion C2 Second joint portion C3 Connector portion D1 Power supply portion T1 Tube

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a microchip inspection apparatus according to the first 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 (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-11187).

  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 opens and closes the valve according to the ON / OFF signal of the liquid amount detection sensor S1, and performs ON / OFF control of the passing amount of the driving liquid fed from the tube.

  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.

  It is preferable that the driving liquid tank 5 and the intermediate bag 9 are made up of a container made of, for example, a molded container using an iron powder-based oxygen absorbent or a film using an iron powder-based oxygen absorbent.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of a layer structure of a film using an iron powder-based oxygen absorbent.

  As shown in the figure, a film cross section using an iron powder-based oxygen absorbent is composed of an outer package 21, a barrier layer 22, an oxygen absorbing layer 23, and a sealant layer 24 from the outside of the container. The exterior 21 is made of, for example, nylon or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The barrier layer 22 is made of, for example, aluminum foil. The oxygen absorption layer 23 is a layer formed by, for example, containing PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene) with an iron-based oxygen absorbent. The sealant layer 24 is a layer formed of, for example, PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene). The driving liquid tank 5 and the intermediate bag 9 can be formed with the film having such a configuration.

  Moreover, the barrier property with respect to the outside of the container can be greatly improved by using an aluminum foil for the barrier layer 22. Further, since the sealant layer 24 is provided, it can be easily sealed and welded to other materials.

  In addition, when using a container or flow path whose wall surface in contact with the driving liquid is made of an iron-based material having an oxygen absorption function, a heating section for heating the driving liquid in the vicinity of the oxygen absorption function section is provided. Is preferred. By providing the heating unit, the oxygen absorption rate of the iron-based material having an oxygen absorption function can be increased.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a microchip inspection apparatus having a driving liquid tank 5 formed of a container using an iron powder-based oxygen absorbent and a heating unit for heating the intermediate bag 9.

  As shown in the figure, a heater 25 is disposed on the bottom surface side of the driving liquid tank 5, and a heater 29 is disposed on the side surface of the intermediate bag 9. With this heater, for example, the oxygen absorption rate can be increased by heating the driving liquid to 40 ° C. or higher.

  In addition, in FIG. 3, although the drive fluid tank 5 and the intermediate bag 9 showed the example formed with the container using an iron powder type oxygen absorber, either one uses an iron powder type oxygen absorber. It may be formed of a container.

  Returning to FIG. 1, 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 that the volume of the pump chamber 52 is rapidly 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, 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.

  In this way, a part of the flow path of the driving liquid upstream from the micro pump is formed of a material having a gas absorption function, so that the gas dissolved in the driving liquid is absorbed before being sent to the pump. Therefore, a microchip inspection apparatus that can solve the problem of liquid feeding caused by bubbles in the pump can be obtained.

  Furthermore, by forming at least one of the driving liquid tank 5 and the intermediate bag 9 in which the driving liquid is stored using a material having an oxygen absorption function, the surface area in contact with the driving liquid can be increased, and a large oxygen absorption effect can be obtained. And a microchip inspection apparatus that eliminates the problem of liquid feeding caused by bubbles in the pump.

  In addition, although at least one of the driving liquid tank 5 and the intermediate bag 9 has been described with an example formed using a material having an oxygen absorbing function, the present invention is not limited to this, and the tube T1 through which the driving liquid flows is an oxygen absorbing function. It may be formed using a material having

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a microchip inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment. In the figure, only parts different from the microchip inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  In the microchip inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 4, as shown in the figure, an oxygen absorbent addition unit 61 is arranged at a connection part 60 between the micropump 11 and the tube T1 upstream from the micropump 11. The oxygen absorbent addition section 61 is configured to add, for example, sodium sulfite as an oxygen absorbent as appropriate at the connection section 60 to remove oxygen dissolved in the driving liquid.

  As described above, by disposing the oxygen absorbent addition unit 61 upstream of the micropump 11, the gas dissolved in the driving liquid before being sent to the pump can be removed, which is caused by bubbles in the pump. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a microchip inspection apparatus that solves the problem of liquid feeding.

  The flow path referred to in the present specification includes a driving liquid tank that stores the driving liquid, and refers to a region where the driving liquid from the driving liquid tank to the micropump 11 exists or flows.

Claims (9)

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 And 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, and the flow of the driving liquid upstream of the micropump. A microchip inspection apparatus, wherein a part of the path is formed of a material having a gas absorption function. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas absorbed by the material having the gas absorption function is oxygen. 3. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material having a gas absorbing function is an iron-based oxygen absorbing material. 4. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising heating means for heating the oxygen absorbing material. The microchip inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the driving liquid tank is formed using a material having the gas absorption function. An intermediate bag is provided between the micro pump and the driving liquid tank, and the intermediate bag is formed using a material having the gas absorption function. The microchip inspection apparatus according to any one of the above. 7. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the material having a gas absorption function is a film-like material having at least an aluminum layer, an oxygen absorption layer, and a sealant layer. 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 And 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, and an oxygen absorbent addition unit upstream of the micropump A microchip inspection apparatus characterized by comprising: 9. The microchip inspection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the oxygen absorbent added by the oxygen absorbent addition section is sodium sulfite.