# US 11,898,194 B2 · Method for detecting target molecule > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,194 B2 - Document ID: US11898194B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/872,855 - Filed: 2020-05-12 - Published: 2020-08-27 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-17 - Assignees: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Takumi Hirase; Yoichi Makino; Yosuke Horiuchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898194B2 ## CPC - B01L 3/502761: {specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads or physically stretching molecules} - C12Q 1/6806: Preparing nucleic acids for analysis, e.g. for polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay (C12Q1/6804 takes precedence) - B01L 3/5027: {by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip} - B01L 3/50851: {specially adapted for heating or cooling samples} - C12Q 1/02: involving viable microorganisms - C12Q 1/686: Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] - G01N 33/50: Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing (measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms, compositions or test papers therefor; processes for forming such compositions, condition responsive control in microbiological or enzymological processes C12Q) - G01N 33/53: Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor - G01N 33/536: with immune complex formed in liquid phase - G01N 33/68: involving proteins, peptides or amino acids {(involving lipoproteins G01N33/92)} - B01L 2200/0668: Trapping microscopic beads - B01L 2200/0689: Sealing - B01L 2300/047: Additional chamber, reservoir - B01L 2300/0829: Multi-well plates; Microtitration plates - C12M 1/34: Measuring or testing with condition measuring or sensing means, e.g. colony counters - B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE - C12Q: MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS (immunoassay G01N33/53); COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} ## Abstract A method for detecting a target molecule, including supplying a liquid dispersion of a structural substance including a target molecule into a well array such that the structural substance is introduced into wells of the well array, supplying a sealing solution into the well array such that a layer of the sealing solution is formed on the liquid dispersion in the wells, and that the liquid dispersion is sealed in the wells, extracting the target molecule from the structural substance, and detecting the target molecule. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for detecting a target molecule, comprising: providing a fluid device having a flow path and a plurality of wells arrayed in the fluid device and connected to the flow path; supplying a liquid dispersion of a structural substance having a target molecule into the fluid device such that the structural substance is distributed into the plurality of wells in the fluid device and has the target molecule in or on the structural substance; supplying a sealing solution into the fluid device such that a layer of the sealing solution is formed in the flow path in the fluid device and individually seals the plurality of wells containing the liquid dispersion; extracting the target molecule from the structural substance in the plurality of wells sealed by the layer of the sealing solution in the fluid device such that the liquid dispersion in the plurality of wells includes the structural substance and the target molecule extracted from the structural substance; and detecting the target molecule extracted from the structural substance in the plurality of wells in the fluid device, wherein the fluid device includes a substrate and a cover member attached to the substrate such that the plurality of wells is formed in the substrate and that, the flow path is formed between the substrate and the cover member, and the supplying of the sealing solution includes forming the layer of the sealing solution between the substrate and the cover member such that the layer of the sealing solution entirely fills the flow path formed between the substrate and the cover member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting of the target molecule includes extracting the target molecule from the structural substance by using an extracting substance for a chemical technique. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting of the target molecule includes extracting the target molecule from the structural substance by using an extracting substance for a biological technique. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting of the target molecule includes adjusting an extraction condition in the plurality of wells. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting of the target molecule includes immunoassay. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting of the target molecule includes an ICA reaction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting of the target molecule includes a signal amplification reaction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: detecting the structural substance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the detecting of the target molecule and the detecting of the structural substance are conducted in a same process. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the structural substance includes a second target molecule, and the detecting includes detecting the target molecule and the second target molecule. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the structural substance is at least one of an exosome, cell, bacterium, virus, fungus, and endoplasmic reticulum. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the target molecule is a nucleic acid or a protein. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the introducing introduces at most one structural substance into each well of the well array. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the extracting of the target molecule is conducted by at least one of physical, chemical, and biological techniques. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: bringing the structural substance into contact with a capture substance having a specific binding substance to the structural substance such that the capture: substance binds to the structural substance. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the introducing of the structural substance comprises introducing the capture substance into the plurality of wells in the fluid device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the specific binding substance is an antibody. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, further comprising: bringing the structural substance into contact with a capture substance having a specific binding substance to the structural substance such that the capture substance binds to the structural substance. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the introducing of the structural substance comprises introducing the capture substance into the plurality of wells in the fluid device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the specific binding substance is an antibody.