EP0803288A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and method for analyzing a sample
Assignee: Arkray Inc
•
Filing: 1997-04-25
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2017-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A device for analyzing a sample comprises a suction pressure generating means, a drawing channel, an analytical section and an opening. A sample is drawn into the opening by suction pressure, and then drawn through the drawing channel into the analytical section. A bypass channel or a stopper may be provided to ensure that the suction does not draw the sample from the analytical section. More than one drawing channel can be provided, and one or more analytical sections can be provided in each drawing channel. Reagents for the sample to react with may be provided in the analytical section in the form of films, or in the drawing channel. The sample may be drawn into the opening with the aid of capillarity. The analysis may be by optical or electrochemical means. The invention also extends to methods of using the devices for analysis. <IMAGE> <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Michio Naka
- 👤 Yoshihiko Higuchi
- 👤 Masufumi Koike
- 👤 Kouji Hirayama
- 👤 Hisashi Okuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:57
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01L; B01L3/00; B01L3/50; B01L3/502; B01L3/5027; B01L3/50273; B01L3/502723; B01L3/502746; G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/28; G01N27/30; G01N27/327; G01N27/3271; G01N27/3272; B01L2200/00; B01L2200/06; B01L2200/0684; B01L2200/16; B01L2300/00; B01L2300/06; B01L2300/0627; B01L2300/0645; B01L2300/08; B01L2300/0809; B01L2300/0816; B01L2300/0825; B01L2300/0861; B01L2300/0864; B01L2300/087; B01L2300/0887; B01L2400/00; B01L2400/04; B01L2400/0475; B01L2400/0481; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T436/00; Y10T436/11; Y10T436/113332; Y10T436/114165; Y10T436/114998
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A device for analyzing a sample, comprising a suction pressure generating means (1; 21), a drawing channel (2) in communication with said suction pressure generating means (1; 21), an analytical section (3) formed in said drawing channel (2), and an opening (4) formed at the end of said drawing channel (2), wherein in use a sample is drawn by a suction pressure developed by said suction pressure generating means (1; 21) into said opening (4), and then said sample is transferred by the suction pressure through said drawing channel (2) into said analytical section (3).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bypass channel (6) branching from a portion (2a) of the drawing channel (2) between said analytical section (3) and said opening (4) and being communicated with said suction pressure generating means (1; 21), wherein the relationship between three liquid flow resistances, namely, the liquid flow resistance (X) in a portion (2b) of said drawing channel (2) between said analytical section (3) and said suction pressure generating means (1; 21), the liquid flow resistance (Y) in said bypass channel (6), and the liquid flow resistance (Z) in a portion (2a) of said drawing channel (2) between the branching portion of said bypass channel (6) and said analytical section (3) is X>Y>Z.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of drawing channels (2) are formed, at least one analytical section (3) is formed in each of said drawing channels (2), and the ends of said respective drawing channels merging and forming one opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of drawing channels (2) are formed, at least one analytical section (3) is formed in each of said drawing channels (2), the ends of said respective drawing channels merging and forming one opening, and the bypass channel (6) branching from a portion of said drawing channels between said merging portion and said opening (4) and communicating with said suction pressure generating means (1; 21).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stopper (8) which is gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable provided in said drawing channel (2) between said suction pressure generating means (1; 21) and said analytical section (3), by which a flow of a sample into said suction pressure generating means (1; 21) can be prevented.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stopper (8) is made from a hydrophobic porous material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein a plurality of analytical sections (3) are formed in the drawing channel (2), and the stopper is provided in the drawing channel (2) between said suction pressure generating means (1; 21) and the analytical section (3) closest to the suction pressure generating means (1; 21).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein a plurality of drawing channels (2) are formed, analytical sections (3) are formed in each of said drawing channels (2), and the ends of said drawing channels merging and forming one opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein a plurality of drawing channels (2) are formed, an analytical section (3) is formed in each of said drawing channels (2), and the ends of said drawing channels merging and forming one opening.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the opening (4) has a shape enlarging toward the end.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
68 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein a liquid pooling portion (9) is formed between the opening (4) and the drawing channel (2), and an air vent passage (25) branches from a portion (2a) of the drawing channel (2) between the liquid pooling portion (9) and the analytical section (3), the end (26) of the air vent passage (25) opening to the outside.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the liquid flow resistance in the air vent passage (25) is larger than the liquid flow resistance in the liquid pooling portion (9).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the analytical section (3) formed in the drawing channel (2) serves as a reagent positioning section and a reagent reaction section.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
38 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein a reagent positioning section (32), a reagent reaction section (30) and an analytical section (3) are provided independently in certain positions of the drawing channel (2).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a plurality of reagent positioning sections (32, 32a, 32b) are provided in certain positions in the drawing channel (2).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the suction pressure generating means (1; 21) is a suction pressure generating chamber (1) capable of changing its volume.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a vent (1a) is formed in the suction pressure generating chamber (1).
Claim 18
Independent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the suction pressure generating means (1; 21) is a suction pressure generating tube (21).
Claim 19
Independent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a pair of electrodes (33) consisting of a working electrode (33a) and a counter electrode (33b) is provided in the analytical section (3).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method for analyzing a sample comprising the steps of: preparing a device for analyzing a sample according to claim 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9; developing a suction pressure by means of the suction pressure generating means (1; 21) and thereby drawing a sample into the opening (4); further drawing the sample by said suction pressure through the drawing channel (4) into the analytical section(s) (3); and analyzing said sample in the analytical section(s) (3).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
101 words
A method for analyzing a sample comprising the steps of: preparing a device for analyzing a sample according to claim 2 or 4; developing a suction pressure by means of the suction pressure generating means (1; 21) and thereby drawing a sample into the opening (4); further drawing the sample by said suction pressure through the drawing channel (2) into the analytical section(s) (3), while discharging an excess of sample and/or entrained air into said bypass channel (6) and through said bypass channel (6) into said suction pressure generating means (1; 21); and analyzing said sample in the analytical section(s) (3).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method for analyzing a sample comprising the steps of: preparing a device for analyzing a sample according to claim 10 or 11; contacting the opening (4) with a sample, thereby drawing said sample by capillarity into said opening (4) or into said liquid pooling portion (9) to be retained; developing a suction pressure by means of the suction pressure generating means (1; 21); drawing the sample retained in said opening (4) or in said liquid pooling portion (9) by the suction pressure through the drawing channel (4) into the analytical section (3); and analyzing said sample in the analytical section (3).
Claim 23
Independent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the sample is analyzed by an optical means.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the sample is analyzed by an electrochemical means.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for analyzing a sample comprising an optical measuring system including a light irradiating section and a light detecting section, and a device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the device for analyzing a sample is arranged so that the analytical section of the device can be irradiated with light from said light irradiating section, and so that said detecting section can detect a transmitted light, fluorescence, or a reflected light in said analytical section.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus for analyzing a sample comprising an electric signal generating means and an electric signal detecting means, and a device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the working electrode (33a) of said device and said electric signal generating means are connected to each other, and the counter electrode (33b) of said device and said electric signal detecting means are connected to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.