Supply element for a laboratory microchip

Abstract

A supply element for a laboratory microchip includes a sealed substance source. A seal in the substance source is opened in response to the supply element and the microchip being joined together. While the seal is open, the substance is transferred from the substance source to a supplier in the microchip. The substance is moved from the supplier in the microchip to the microfluid structure by applying a potential to the microchip. The supply element is releasably attached to the supply equipment by releasably attaching the supply element with a bayonet lock.

1 . A supply element for a laboratory microchip with a microfluid structure for at least one of chemical, physical, or biological processing, the microchip having a first supplier to supply substances to the microchip and a second supplier to supply a potential to the microchip to move substances corresponding to the microfluid structure, the supply element comprising: 
 at least one substance-containing third supplier adapted to contain a substance, said at least one third supplier having a seal arranged to be opened to the microchip in response to the supply element and the microchip being joined together to enable said substance to be transferred from said at least one third supplier to the first supplier of the microchip.    
     
     
         2 . The supply element of  claim 1 , wherein said seal comprises a chemically resistant substance.  
     
     
         3 . The supply element of  claim 1 , wherein said seal comprises a wax.  
     
     
         4 . The supply element of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one third supplier comprises at least one end sealed by a membrane that is flush with a side surface of the supply element.  
     
     
         5 . The supply element of  claim 4 , wherein said membrane comprises a chemically resistant material.  
     
     
         6 . The supply element of  claim 4 , wherein said membrane comprises one of a metal or a gas-permeable polymer.  
     
     
         7 . The supply element of  claim 1 , wherein said substance of said third supplier comprises at least one substance sample.  
     
     
         8 . The supply element of  claim 1 , wherein said substance of said third supplier comprises at least one substance reagent.  
     
     
         9 . The supply element of  claim 1 , wherein said substance of said third supplier comprises at least one substance sample and at least one substance reagent.  
     
     
         10 . The supply element of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth supplier to transfer the potential to the microchip, said fourth supplier being arranged to be coupled to the corresponding second supplier on the microchip.  
     
     
         11 . The supply element of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment arrangement to releasably attach the supply element to supply equipment.  
     
     
         12 . The supply element of  claim 11 , wherein said attachment arrangement comprises a bayonet lock.  
     
     
         13 . The supply element of  claim 1 , further comprising a first coding arrangement to identify the supply element to a second corresponding coding arrangement of supply equipment.  
     
     
         14 . The supply element of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second assemblies, said first assembly being adapted to contain a module carrying said supply element and supply equipment and said module being adapted to be releasably connected to said second assembly.  
     
     
         15 . The supply element of  claim 1 , wherein said seal of said at least one third supplier is adapted to be pierced by an end of said first supplier to enable said substance to be transferred from said at least one third supplier to the first supplier of the microchip.