# US 12,180,440 B2 · Microchip and sample sorting kit

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- Number: US 12,180,440 B2
- Document ID: US12180440B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/057,955
- Filed: 2019-05-21
- Published: 2021-06-24
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2018-06-01
- Assignees: Sony Corporation
- Applicants: Sony Corporation
- Inventors: Kazuya Takahashi; Yoichi Katsumoto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180440B2

## CPC

- B01L 3/502715: {characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces}
- C12M 1/26: Inoculator or sampler
- G01N 15/1459: {the analysis being performed on a sample stream}
- G01N 15/1484: {microstructural devices}
- G01N 35/08: using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis
- G01N 37/00: Details not covered by any other group of this subclass
- B01L 3/502776: {specially adapted for focusing or laminating flows}
- B01L 2200/027: for microfluidic devices
- B01L 2200/0652: Sorting or classification of particles or molecules
- B01L 2200/0689: Sealing
- B01L 2300/0816: Cards, e.g. flat sample carriers usually with flow in two horizontal directions
- B01L 2400/084: Passive control of flow resistance
- G01N 15/1409: Handling samples, e.g. injecting samples
- G01N 2015/1006: {for cytology}
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- 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}
- 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)

## Abstract

A technology capable of preventing a sample from being retained is to be provided. Provided are a microchip that includes at least a sample inlet into which a sample is introduced, a sample flow path through which the sample introduced from the sample inlet flows, and a sorting flow path in which a target sample is sorted out from the sample, in which a first tube is inserted into and fixed to the sample inlet, and a sample sorting kit that includes at least the microchip.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A microchip, comprising:
a sample inlet into which a sample is introducible, wherein the sample inlet includes an abrupt expansion flow path;
a sample flow path, wherein the sample introduced from the sample inlet is flowable in the sample flow path;
a sorting flow path, wherein a target sample sorted out from the sample is flowable in the sorting flow path; and
a first tube fixed to the sample inlet, wherein a volume of the abrupt expansion flow path is equal to or greater than πφ2L/4 m3, where o is an outer diameter of the first tube and L is a length of the first tube.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The microchip according to claim 1, wherein the first tube is coaxial with the sample flow path.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The microchip according to claim 1, wherein the first tube is fixed to the sample inlet with an adhesive agent.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The microchip according to claim 3, wherein the volume of the abrupt expansion flow path is larger than a volume of the sample flow path.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The microchip according to claim 4, wherein
the abrupt expansion flow path is upstream of an end of the sample inlet, and
the end of the sample inlet is on a side of the sample inlet where the first tube is fixed.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The microchip according to claim 1, wherein
each of the sample inlet and the first tube has a tapered end,
the tapered end of the sample inlet is on a side of the sample inlet where the first tube is fixed, and
the tapered end of the first tube is on a side of the first tube where the first tube is fixed to the sample inlet.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The microchip according to claim 1, further comprising a second tube fixed to a first end of the first tube,
wherein the first end of the first tube is opposite to a second end of the first tube that is fixed to the sample inlet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The microchip according to claim 1, further comprising a third tube fixed to an outlet of the sorting flow path.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The microchip according to claim 1, further comprising:
a disposal flow path through which a non-target sample different from the target sample is discardable; and
a fourth tube fixed to an outlet of the disposal flow path.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The microchip according to claim 1, further comprising:
a sheath fluid inlet into which a sheath fluid is introducible;
a sheath flow path, wherein the sheath fluid introduced from the sheath fluid inlet is flowable in the sheath flow path; and
a fifth tube fixed to the sheath fluid inlet.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The microchip according to claim 1, further comprising:
a gate fluid inlet into which a gate fluid is introducible;
a gate flow path, wherein the gate fluid introduced from the gate fluid inlet is flowable in the gate flow path; and
a sixth tube fixed to the gate fluid inlet.

### Claim 12

A sample sorting kit, comprising:
a containing unit configured to contain a sample; and
a microchip that comprises:
a sample inlet into which the sample is introducible, wherein the sample inlet includes an abrupt expansion flow path;
a sample flow path, wherein the sample introduced from the sample inlet is flowable in the sample flow path;
a sorting flow path, wherein a target sample sorted out from the sample is flowable in the sorting flow path; and
a first tube fixed to the sample inlet, wherein
a volume of the abrupt expansion flow path is equal to or greater than πφ2L/4 m3, where o is an outer diameter of the first tube and L is a length of the first tube, and
the containing unit and the microchip are hermetically connected.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The sample sorting kit according to claim 12, wherein
the microchip further comprises a second tube fixed to a first end of the first tube,
the first end of the first tube is opposite to a second end of the first tube that is fixed to the sample inlet, and
the containing unit is hermetically connected to the microchip via the second tube.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The sample sorting kit according to claim 12, further comprising a reservoir unit configured to contain the target sample that has been sorted out, wherein
the microchip further comprises a third tube fixed to an outlet of the sorting flow path, and
the reservoir unit is hermetically connected to the microchip via the third tube.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The sample sorting kit according to claim 12, further comprising a disposal unit into which a non-target sample different from the target sample is discardable-discarded, wherein
the microchip further comprises:
a disposal flow path through which the non-target sample is discardable; and
a fourth tube fixed to an outlet of the disposal flow path, and
the disposal unit is hermetically connected to the microchip via the fourth tube.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The sample sorting kit according to claim 12, further comprising a sheath fluid containing unit configured to contain a sheath fluid, wherein
the microchip further comprises:
a sheath fluid inlet into which the sheath fluid is introducible;
a sheath flow path, wherein the sheath fluid introduced from the sheath fluid inlet is flowable in the sheath flow path; and
a fifth tube fixed to the sheath fluid inlet, and
the sheath fluid containing unit is hermetically connected to the microchip via the fifth tube.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The sample sorting kit according to claim 12, further comprising a gate fluid containing unit configured to contain a gate fluid, wherein
the microchip further comprises:
a gate fluid inlet into which the gate fluid is introducible;
a gate flow path, wherein the gate fluid introduced from the gate fluid inlet is flowable in the gate flow path; and
a sixth tube fixed to the gate fluid inlet, and
the gate fluid containing unit is hermetically connected to the microchip via the sixth tube.