Microchip for sorting micro particles and cartridge including same

Abstract

A microchip is provided that includes a flow path through which a liquid containing a micro particle flows, an orifice through which the liquid flowing through the flow path is discharged into a space outside the microchip, and a light-irradiated portion provided at a predetermined location of the flow path and configured to be irradiated with light. A width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the orifice are set to be smaller than a width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the light-irradiated portion, and the flow path is configured to gradually decrease from upstream of the orifice in a cross-section area perpendicular to a liquid-delivering direction between the light-irradiated portion and the orifice. A cartridge including the microchip is also provided.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
       1. A microchip for analyzing a micro particle comprising:
 a flow path through which a liquid containing a micro particle flows; 
 an orifice through which the liquid flowing through the flow path is configured to be discharged into a space outside the microchip; and 
 a light-irradiated portion provided at a predetermined location of the flow path and configured to be irradiated with light, 
 wherein a width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path within the microchip at the orifice are set to be smaller than a width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path within the microchip at the light-irradiated portion, and 
 wherein the flow path is configured to gradually decrease within the microchip, from upstream of the orifice in a cross-section area perpendicular to a liquid-delivering direction between the light-irradiated portion and the orifice. 
 
     
     
       2. The microchip of  claim 1 , comprising an oscillating element for transforming the liquid into a liquid drop and discharging the liquid drop at the orifice. 
     
     
       3. The microchip of  claim 1 , comprising a micro tube that introduces, into a laminar flow of a liquid T flowing through the flow path, a laminar flow of a liquid S containing the micro particle, upstream of the liquid-delivering direction with respect to the light-irradiated portion. 
     
     
       4. The microchip of  claim 3 , wherein the micro tube includes a metal on which voltage can be applied. 
     
     
       5. The microchip of  claim 1 , wherein the microchip comprises a substrate and the flow path is provided within the substrate. 
     
     
       6. The microchip of  claim 1 , further comprising: a sheath liquid inlet, and wherein the sheath liquid inlet branches into a first direction and a second direction, and wherein the first direction is opposite to the second direction. 
     
     
       7. A cartridge comprising:
 a microchip micro fluidic structure for analyzing a micro particle comprising:
 a flow path through which a liquid containing a the micro particle flows; 
 an orifice through which the liquid flowing through the flow path is configured to be discharged into a space outside the microchip micro fluidic structure; and 
 a light-irradiated portion provided at a predetermined location of the flow path and configured to be irradiated with light; and 
 
 a cavity in which at least the orifice and the space in which the liquid drop discharged outside through the orifice moves are configured, 
 wherein a width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the orifice are set to be smaller than a width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the light-irradiated portion, 
 wherein the flow path is configured to gradually decrease from upstream of the orifice in a cross-section area perpendicular to a liquid-delivering direction between the light-irradiated portion and the orifice, and 
 wherein the cavity has light transmittance for light transmitted to the light-irradiated portion. 
 
     
     
       8. The cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the cavity is configured to be hermetically sealed. 
     
     
       9. The cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the microchip micro fluidic structure comprises an oscillating element for transforming the liquid into a liquid drop and discharging the liquid drop at the orifice. 
     
     
       10. The cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the microchip micro fluidic structure comprises a micro tube that introduces, into a laminar flow of a liquid T flowing through the flow path, a laminar flow of a liquid S containing the micro particle, upstream of the liquid-delivering direction with respect to the light-irradiated portion. 
     
     
       11. The cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the micro tube includes a metal on which voltage is configured to be applied. 
     
     
       12. The cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the microchip micro fluidic structure comprises a substrate and the flow path is provided within the substrate. 
     
     
       13. The cartridge of claim 7, wherein the micro fluidic structure is a microchip.  
     
     
       14. A cartridge comprising:
 a component for analyzing a micro particle comprising:
 a flow path through which a liquid containing a micro particle flows; 
 an orifice through which the liquid flowing through the flow path is configured to be discharged into a space outside the flow path; and 
 a light-irradiated portion provided at a predetermined location of the flow path and configured to be irradiated with light; and 
   a cavity in which at least the orifice and the space in which the liquid drop discharged outside through the orifice moves are configured,   wherein a width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the orifice are set to be smaller than a width of the flow path and a depth of the flow path at the light-irradiated portion,   wherein the flow path is configured to gradually decrease from upstream of the orifice in a cross-section area perpendicular to a liquid-delivering direction between the light-irradiated portion and the orifice, and   wherein the cavity has light transmittance for light transmitted to the light-irradiated portion.    
     
     
       15. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the cavity is configured to be hermetically sealed.  
     
     
       16. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the component comprises an oscillating element for transforming the liquid into a liquid drop and discharging the liquid drop at the orifice.  
     
     
       17. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the component comprises a micro tube that introduces, into a laminar flow of a liquid T flowing through the flow path, a laminar flow of a liquid S containing the micro particle, upstream of the liquid-delivering direction with respect to the light-irradiated portion.  
     
     
       18. The cartridge of claim 17, wherein the micro tube includes a metal on which voltage is configured to be applied.  
     
     
       19. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the component comprises a substrate and the flow path is provided within the substrate.  
     
     
       20. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein the component is a microchip.