Microchip and liquid sending method for microchip

Abstract

A microchip capable of sending liquid in a micro flow channel to a predetermined place irrespective of the pressure difference and sending a mixture of two or more liquid masses to a predetermined place even if the channel structure is simple. The microchip comprises an intermediate reservoir portion provided in a micro flow channel and adapted for temporarily holding liquid sent through the micro flow channel. The microchip is characterized in that the intermediate reservoir portion has a side channel, the volume of the intermediate reservoir portion is smaller than the total volume of the liquid sent into the intermediate reservoir portion, the side channel is provided for communication of a micro flow channel on the upstream side of the intermediate reservoir portion with a micro flow channel on the downstream side thereof, and the cross-section area of the side channel is smaller than that of the micro flow channel.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A microchip comprising: a micro flow channel; and an intermediate reservoir to temporally store liquid having been sent through the micro flow channel in a flow channel of the micro flow channel, wherein the intermediate reservoir is provided with a side path and wherein a capacity Vs of the intermediate reservoir is smaller than total amount of liquid sent to the intermediate reservoir; the side path communicatively connects a micro flow channel on an upstream side of the intermediate reservoir to a micro flow channel on a downstream side of the intermediate reservoir; and the cross sectional area of the side path is smaller than that of the micro flow channel. 
     
     
         11 . The microchip of  claim 10 , wherein liquid sent to the intermediate reservoir is sent through the micro flow channel leading to the intermediate reservoir together with air bubbles or a gas. 
     
     
         12 . The microchip of  claim 10 , wherein liquid sent to the intermediate reservoir contains at least 2 different types of liquids and is sent through the micro flow channel to the intermediate reservoir in a non-contact state in which a gas is present between the liquids. 
     
     
         13 . The microchip described in  claim 10 , wherein of liquids sent to the intermediate reservoir, total amount of the liquids containing no liquid of the most upstream side is smaller than the capacity Vs. 
     
     
         14 . The microchip described in  claim 10 , wherein an inner wall surface of the side path is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         15 . The microchip described in  claim 11 , wherein an inner wall surface of the side path is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         16 . The microchip described in  claim 12 , wherein an inner wall surface of the side path is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         17 . The microchip described in  claim 13 , wherein an inner wall surface of the side path is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         18 . In a liquid sending method for a microchip having a micro flow channel and an intermediate reservoir, with a capacity Vs smaller than total amount of liquid to be sent and a side path, to temporally store liquid having been sent through the micro flow channel in a flow channel of the micro flow channel wherein the side path communicatively connects a micro flow channel on an upstream side of the intermediate reservoir to a micro flow channel on a downstream side of the intermediate reservoir and a cross sectional area of the side path is smaller than that of the micro flow channel, the liquid sending method for a microchip comprising:
 an initial step to arrange at least 2 liquid clusters in the micro flow channel of the upstream side;   a storing step to store the liquids, having been arranged in the micro flow channel by applying a liquid sending pressure to the downstream side, by liquid sending to the intermediate reservoir;   a filling step to fill the downstream side end portion of the side path with the sent liquids by sending all the liquids having been arranged in the micro flow channel to the intermediate reservoir; and   a liquid sending step to send the liquids having been stored in the intermediate reservoir to the micro flow channel of the downstream side.   
     
     
         19 . In a liquid sending method for a microchip having a micro flow channel and an intermediate reservoir, with a capacity Vs smaller than total amount of liquid to be sent and a side path, to temporally store liquid having been sent through the micro flow channel in a flow channel of the micro flow channel wherein the side path communicatively connects a micro flow channel on the upstream side of the intermediate reservoir to a micro flow channel on the downstream side of the intermediate reservoir and a cross sectional area of the side path is smaller than that of the micro flow channel, the liquid sending method for a microchip comprising:
 an initial step to arrange at least 2 different types of liquids in the micro flow channel of the upstream side in a non-contact state in which a gas is present between the liquids;   a storing step to store the liquids, having been arranged in the micro flow channel by applying a liquid sending pressure to the downstream side, by sequential liquid sending to the intermediate reservoir;   a filling step to fill the downstream side end portion of the side path with the sent liquids by sending all the liquids having been arranged in the micro flow channel to the intermediate reservoir; and a liquid sending step to send the liquids having been stored in the intermediate reservoir to the micro flow channel of the downstream side.   
     
     
         20 . The liquid sending method for a microchip, described in  claim 18 , wherein of liquids sent to the intermediate reservoir, the total amount of the liquids containing no liquid of the most upstream side is smaller than the capacity Vs. 
     
     
         21 . The liquid sending method for a microchip, described in  claim 19 , wherein of liquids sent to the intermediate reservoir, the total amount of the liquids containing no liquid of the most upstream side is smaller than the capacity Vs. 
     
     
         22 . The liquid sending method for a microchip, described in  claim 18 , wherein a wall surface of the side path is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         23 . The liquid sending method for a microchip, described in  claim 19 , wherein a wall surface of the side path is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         24 . The liquid sending method for a microchip, described in  claim 20 , wherein a wall surface of the side path is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         25 . The liquid sending method for a microchip, described in  claim 21 , wherein a wall surface of the side path is hydrophobic.