Microchip

Abstract

The present invention provides a microchip which is made by bonding a first substrate having a groove provided at the substrate surface and a second substrate together, and has a fluid circuit therein, the fluid circuit having a separation portion for separating a first component, and a groove which constitutes the separation portion including an approximately V-shaped region surrounded by prescribed flow channel walls. At a top of the separation portion, a flow rate limiting portion limiting a flow rate of a fluid is preferably provided.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A microchip, formed by bonding at least a first substrate including a groove on the surface and a second substrate to each other, having a fluid circuit formed by said groove and a surface of said second substrate closer to said first substrate therein, wherein
 said fluid circuit includes a centrifugation portion for separating a specimen introduced into said microchip into a target component and a nontarget component by centrifugation, and   said centrifugation portion includes:   a first storage portion, including a first opening for introducing said specimen on an upper portion, for storing said target component separated by centrifugation,   a second storage portion, connected to the bottom portion of said first storage portion and including a second opening on a position different from a connectional position with said first storage portion, for mainly storing said nontarget component separated by centrifugation,   a first flow channel connected to said second opening, and   a waste liquid reservoir connected to another end of said first flow channel.   
     
     
         11 . A microchip, formed by bonding at least a first substrate including a groove on the surface and a second substrate to each other, having a fluid circuit formed by said groove and a surface of said second substrate closer to said first substrate therein, wherein
 said microchip has a specimen inlet, penetrating from the surface thereof up to said fluid circuit, for introducing a specimen into said fluid circuit,   said fluid circuit includes a centrifugation portion for separating said specimen into a target component and a nontarget component by centrifugation, and   said centrifugation portion includes:   a first storage portion, including a first opening provided on the side of said specimen inlet for introducing said specimen, for storing said target component separated by centrifugation,   a first flow channel connected to a side of said first storage portion opposite to the side of said first opening,   a second storage portion, connected to another end of said first flow channel and including a second opening on a position different from a connectional position with said first flow channel, for mainly storing said nontarget component separated by centrifugation,   a gas introduction channel whose one end is connected to the connectional position between said first flow channel and said second storage portion and whose another end is connected to a through-port penetrating from the microchip surface up to said fluid circuit,   a second flow channel connected to said second opening, and   a waste liquid reservoir connected to another end of said second flow channel.   
     
     
         12 . A microchip, formed by bonding at least a first substrate including a groove provided on the substrate surface and a second substrate to each other, having a fluid circuit consisting of said groove and a surface of said second substrate closer to said first substrate therein, wherein
 said microchip has a specimen inlet, penetrating from one surface thereof up to said fluid circuit, for introducing a specimen into said fluid circuit,   said fluid circuit includes a centrifugation portion for separating said specimen into a first target component and a second target component by centrifugation, and   said centrifugation portion includes:   a storage portion, constituted of a wall surface formed in a U-shaped manner, having an opening provided on the side of said specimen inlet and narrowed,   a measuring portion, provided in said specimen inlet-side direction of said opening, connected with said storage portion through said opening,   a first wall surface arranged along inner walls forming said measuring portion and said storage portion up to a portion of said storage portion inward beyond said opening so that an end portion is not in contact with the inner wall of said storage portion,   a first flow channel formed by the inner wall forming said storage portion and the first wall surface,   a second wall surface arranged along another-side inner wall forming said measuring portion up to said opening in said storage portion,   a second flow channel formed by the inner wall forming said measuring portion and the second wall surface,   a specimen introducing portion formed by said second wall surface and said first wall surface, and   a third flow channel formed between an end portion of said second wall surface and said first wall surface for connecting said specimen inlet and the inner part of said storage portion with each other.   
     
     
         13 . A microchip, formed by bonding at least a first substrate including a groove provided on the substrate surface and a second substrate to each other, having a fluid circuit formed by said groove and a surface of said second substrate closer to said first substrate therein, wherein
 said microchip has a specimen inlet, penetrating from one surface thereof up to said fluid circuit, for introducing a specimen into said fluid circuit,   said fluid circuit includes a centrifugation portion for separating said specimen into a first target component and a second target component larger in specific gravity than said first target component by centrifugation by applying centrifugal force to said microchip in a first direction, and   said centrifugation portion removes said first target component and partial said second target component while holding the rest of said second target component by applying centrifugal force in a second direction after applying the centrifugal force to said microchip in the first direction, and   discharges the rest of said second target component from said centrifugation portion by applying centrifugal force in a third direction after applying the centrifugal force to said microchip in the second direction.   
     
     
         14 . A microchip, formed by bonding at least a first substrate including a groove provided on the substrate surface and a second substrate to each other, having a fluid circuit formed by said groove and a surface of said second substrate closer to said first substrate therein, wherein
 said microchip has a specimen inlet, penetrating from one surface thereof up to said fluid circuit, for introducing a specimen into said fluid circuit,   said fluid circuit includes a centrifugation portion for separating said specimen into a first target component and a second target component larger in specific gravity than said first target component by centrifugation by applying centrifugal force to said microchip in a first direction,   for discharging only said first target component from said centrifugation portion by applying centrifugal force in a second direction after applying the centrifugal force to said microchip in the first direction, and   the rest of said specimen is held in said centrifugation portion after applying centrifugal force in a third direction after applying the centrifugal force to said microchip in the second direction.