Device for charging separation buffer liquid to microchip, and microchip processing device equipped with the charging device, electrophoresis method in capillary channel and its microchip processing device

A separation buffer solution filling device, for a microchip having reservoirs opened on the surface on the respective ends of channels including at least a main separation channel in which analysis is performed while a solution moves inside a plate-like member which is placed in a manner such that the reservoirs face upward, for filling separation buffer solution into said channels, said filling device being characterized in that

• the filling device has an air supply port which is pushed while maintaining air-tightness onto a top of the reservoir filled with the separation buffer solution on either end of a channel of said microchip, and suction nozzles which are inserted from above into all of the remaining other reservoirs and draw the separation buffer solution overflowing in the reservoirs from the channels when the separation buffer solution is pushed into the channels by air being blown from said air supply port;
• and
• said suction nozzles are supported to be capable of sliding by a nozzle holding member which moves in the vertical direction, and are forced downward by forcing means, whereby the suction nozzles become in a state forced by said forcing means when the suction nozzles are pushed against the bottoms of said reservoirs.

An electrophoresis method, in which a separation buffer solution is filled into a capillary channel and then a sample is injected and sample components are electrophoretically separated from one end side toward the other end side of said capillary channel, wherein it is characterized in that the method includes a process in which, after filling separation buffer solution into said capillary channel and before injecting the sample, a voltage is applied to said capillary channel to determine whether the filling of the separation buffer solution is normal or not from an electrified state at that time.

A microchip processing apparatus, comprising a holding part for holding a microchip having channels including a main separation channel in which analysis is performed while a solution moves inside a plate-like member, a separation buffer solution filling device for filling separation buffer solution into said microchip, a sample injection device for injecting a sample into said microchip, a power supply device for applying electrophoresis voltage to said main channel, and a control part for controlling filling of separation buffer solution into said channel, introduction of samples, and electrophoretic separation, wherein it is characterized in that:

• said control part includes also a function by which, after filling separation buffer solution into said channel and before injecting the sample into the channel, a voltage is applied to said channel by said power supply device and an electrified state at that time is monitored, and it is determined from that electrified state as to whether the filling of the buffer solution is normal or not.